Regardless of how bad it gets, we still chug along, doing our best to make the customer(s) happy & the employer(s) pleased. As I said, I'm in it for the money, that's for damn sure, but I simply LOVE what I do. Having the best day EVER at my place today and hearing only 4 complaints, and very minor ones, while working WAY understaffed AND having a woman go into labor in your building is nothing more than a one of the greatest feelings I've ever had in the business! I'd be willing to bet that the home office folks have a gripe about something that wasn't good enough or wasn't right, but the fact that I was THERE and made it all happen makes it all worth while. Knowing that all those folks were entertained and fed under MY control, it's awesome!

That's the reason I'm in this business!

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When I started, it was for the experience of working in "the magic of the movie business!" God forbid that such magic would exist on nights here in Minnesota, when it's snowing three inches an hour, no one's coming in, and I'm stuck closing out the place. Sure, we do have fun just slacking & fooling around in our massive lobby, but it doesn't really strike me as magical!

So, I once concluded that it was the money. But what money? And for this?! Half of our staff is 15 or younger, and won't take any orders! So, I'm left with doing the menial tasks like garbage (cause' they got to be 16 to use the five foot tall compactor), and bathroom maintanence. I could be doing more respectable work at Best Buy, where my fanaticizm with DVD could be put to good use for the planet!

But then, one night (which just happened to be that snow night I told you about), this guy walks in from the snow and asks: "What digital movies do you have playing?" THIS IS WHY I'M STLL AT A THEATER!!! You see, only half of our screens our digital, the others are SR, which doesn't totally suck (hey, it could be mono!), but in terms of clarity and explosiveness, I just like digital better (at least at our theater it takes the top notch, I have heard good SR presentations elsewhere, & I'm looking to improve on ours.
But this guy's question showed me, that out of all of the 15 year olds and teenagers who make up our staff, I was probably the only one ther that night or that week (save the projectionists) that could really answer his question.

Just think of how much he wanted just one thing of our theater, and I was the one that gave it to him. Maybe that's the real magic of this industry.

After work one evening the theater manager went to a local bar for a cool one. He struck up a conversation with the waitress and eventually began complaining about his job. Long hours, no recognition, low pay, rude patrons, teenage staff problems, etc. He went on and on and on.

Finally, the waitress said to him, " If you hate your job so much why don't you just find another one?"

In the past 10 years, I worked my way up from a lowly weekend usher to head projectionist in charge of nine screens. I have seen my place of employment grow from a dinkey three screen to a remodeled multiplex. Throughout this time, my independent employers respected my work, put me in the positions I was most qualified for, and even let me stay at the theater ALL NIGHT LONG to type an 18 page term paper when my word processor was on the skids (yes, I did have a rough draft pre-written).

I enjoy my work because it is esentially me out there on the screen and not Jim Carrey, Harrison Ford, or Sandra Bullock. My work is just as important as those actors and actresses because if a print is scratched or an speaker is crackling, those guys works are ruined as well. I like being in the booth with the lights down and the machines humming. It gives me a scense of accomplishment. Do I say "Yeah Baby, Glad to be here!" as I start my usual every Saturday noon-to-midnight shift. Of course not, but I like my privacy and it gives me a sense that I'm getting something done. One of the best feelings I get from operating is looking over a crowd from the upstairs port just prior to pressing START, and a little kid turning around and pointing at me. I guarantee you, that kid will remember me in that window for years to come - maybe forever, and thats another reason why I enjoy this work.

Finally, like all other jobs, you work to survive. I need this income to put gas in my car; buy my cloths, food, and trinkets; and help defray the costs of living. I supplement my income through teaching at a local community college such subjects as European History and World Geography, but niether my work in movies or my part-time professorship gives me benifits. These health and safty payments are the missing link in giving me what I need for ultimate survival. I need these benifits to marry my wonderful partner of almost five years, Christie (OK, OK, I'll stop). But most importantly, I need benefits because in my family if you live past 60 your doing good. Thats not too far down the road for me folks.

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Movies are my passion, there is nothing I would rather work around. There are definatly the down sides, teenage employees (who, when actually show up, I jump for joy) , long hours, and anyone who knows me knows how much I HATE making and breaking movies.

But, being a GM and a projectionist I get to see all aspects of the job. The best part that keeps me there would be the smiles on peoples faces when they come out of a good movie.

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Enjoy,

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