|
|
This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3
|
|
Author
|
Topic: Theater Handouts / Sampling
|
Jim Casterioto
Film Handler
Posts: 32
From: Wilmington, DE, USA
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 02-18-2002 12:58 PM
Here at Cinemark theaters, we are forced to handout various items ranging from Cologne, Breath-Mints, Antacid Tablets, Gum, Power-bars, and soon Skittles. I realize these items bring revenue to the theater, however it is also harmful to hand them out. Many customers complain, think about it, how would you feel if someone forced you to take a breath mint, or a stick of gum? Or how about cologne....one could get the wrong impression, and several customers have gotten very angry. Items such as skittles, take away from concession sales. I was wondering how everyone feels on this issue, and if other chains hand out items such as these? Jim
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brad Miller
Administrator
Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99
|
posted 02-19-2002 10:27 AM
Actually that does work quite well, of course like you said though, assuming it tastes good! Most theaters I go to can't make good popcorn though. The oil/corn mix is off, or the kids let it sit too long in the popper or under/over salt it and so forth. Making good popcorn is like making good sodas. There ARE variables to the mix that can be controlled by a caring manager/concessionist and will increase taste and overall sales substantially. (Any manager who does not have a "brixing kit" for their soda fountains really needs to request one from their vendor along with training the next time the "Coke guys" come out.)Of course things like popping at the start of a rush to get the smell in the air and offering a courtesy cup of popcorn to anyone walking by who even glances at the popper works wonders too. Around Dallas the best popcorn *consistently* from theater to theater is at Loews and AMC. The best sodas *consistently* from theater to theater are at AMC and NEWER Cinemarks. (The older Cinemarks have those stupid "mix in the cup" soda dispensers that are pretty bad.) UA used to have everyone beat hands down with popcorn, but something has changed and it's not very good anymore. (I have no idea why this has changed because I don't have anything to do with floor operations.) UA's sodas have never been very good because they are too hung up on "turbo nozzles" to see just how fast they can pour a drink. (Those super fast dispensers always lose their brixing VERY quickly and a "top off" of a drink further screws up the brix.) Want a quality soda? Get a regular speed Lancer dispenser! You can actually pour drinks faster on a regular speed Lancer than any "turbo" type of nozzle because it doesn't foam as much. (And don't get me started on those idiots who scrape off the foam to try and hurry up the order!) I should note that *consistently* means that there ARE exceptions, good and bad from theater to theater, manager to manager and from concessionist to concessionist. Regarding sampling, I've always hated dealing with it...mostly the MESS people make with them! However Jim has the best argument for it here, so count me in with him and Sean.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Evans A Criswell
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1579
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Mar 2000
|
posted 02-19-2002 01:48 PM
quote:
However, the local Regal has something for popcorn that is quite unique: Yeast! It's some kind of pale yellow powdered yeast in a shaker like salt or popcorn seasoning. I tried it and it's actually good, gives the popcorn a unique flavor. May not be for everyone's taste though.
Can this type of seasoning cause severe headaches or nausea? I had popcorn at Regal Green Hills 16 in Nashville and by the end of the movie, I had a very severe headache and was so nauseous on the way home I had to pull over. I ate nothing else unusual, and tend to blame the popcorn, but I've had popcorn many times at other Regal theatres with no ill effect. I don't know if that seasoning was put on there.
------------------
Evans A Criswell
Huntsville-Decatur Movie Theatre Information Site
| IP: Logged
|
|
Joe Beres
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 606
From: Minneapolis, MN, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
|
posted 02-19-2002 01:58 PM
The substance in question is either brewer's yeast or nutritional yeast, and they are very similar to one another. It is really tasty on popcorn for some reason, but i can't really describe the flavor. If you see a shaker of it next time you buy a tub of popcorn, give it a try. It's also really good for you. I usually see it only in the arthouse theaters (Ian, do you guys have some?), but I wish it would catch on at the multiplex. Evans, if it was the yeast that made you ill, you would have had to put it on your own popcorn. I doubt that the concessionaires would have put it on all of the popcorn. If you did put it on, I suppose you could have had an allergic reaction to the yeast. However, I've determined that some theaters just make bad popcorn. There is one theater here whose popcorn made me quite ill everytime I've had some.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All times are Central (GMT -6:00)
|
This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3
|
Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classicTM
6.3.1.2
The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion
and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.
|
Home
Printer-friendly view of this topic