my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Ground Level   » Do you charge for babies? (Page 1)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Author Topic: Do you charge for babies? Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-04-2006 03:23 PM                        ...We currently let anyone under age 3 in free, but I'm wondering about others. My wife thinks we should charge for EVERYONE even if they're 1 day old, since babies cause such disruption. I'm thinking of compromising by lowering the age to 2. What is your policy on this?  |  IP: Logged Mitchell Dvoskin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1869 From: West Milford, NJ, USA Registered: Jan 2001 posted 12-04-2006 03:29 PM                     If there big enough to occupy a seat, they pay. If they are small enough to require them to be held by mothers/fathers, they are free.  |  IP: Logged Mike Spaeth Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1129 From: Marietta, GA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 12-04-2006 03:59 PM                        Child 2-11 Cinemark charges at 1 for that very reason - they do not wish to encourage the bringing of children that small to the theatre.  |  IP: Logged Ron Curran Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 504 From: Springwood NSW Australia Registered: Feb 2006 posted 12-04-2006 05:41 PM                        That free child can disturb a whole audience and add to their reasons to give up cinema visits in favour of home theatre. Good value! Parents of littlies become ferocious when they are asked to pay for them to see a kids’ film. “No other theatre charges,” they insist. You have to stand up to a lot of abuse to enforce the policy of charging for 2 and up. We do explain that, in case of emergency, it is our duty to account for every body and every body must have a ticket. Babes in arms are an exception because they remain attached to the parent. We do request that any upset child must be taken out to the foyer.  |  IP: Logged Don Anderson Master Film Handler Posts: 312 From: West Bend, WI, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 12-04-2006 07:15 PM                     If they can walk or talk they pay. It amazing me how many parents will try to get their kids in for free to a Disney or any other animated film.  |  IP: Logged Christopher Crouch Expert Film Handler Posts: 128 From: Holywood, ca, usa Registered: May 2006 posted 12-04-2006 08:27 PM                  The theatres I've worked at have tried to go with 2 and up. Of course, enforcing this has often proved problematic. Parents tend to automatically omit small children from ticket purchases, claim the child is under the required ticket age, and/or try saying the child will sit on their lap. I've always been amazed by how many parents are angered with having to pay for their small children; especially when they are attending a childrens' film (ie. they don't want to pay for the very individuals that are the reason they are attending the film in question).  |  IP: Logged John T. Hendrickson, Jr Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 889 From: Freehold, NJ, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 12-04-2006 08:29 PM                     Infants are charged at the child price, for the disruption reasons previously cited. Everyone needs a ticket to get past the ticket taker- no exceptions. The "they'll sit on my lap" doesn't cut it. Listen to your wife, Mike.  |  IP: Logged Charles Greenlee Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 801 From: Savannah, Ga, U.S. Registered: Jun 2006 posted 12-05-2006 11:55 AM                        We let children 3 and under (or is it 2 and under? I don't work box much and don't remember) in for free, of course since I work for a major chain, you know that's company policy rather than a house rule. Oh well, we don't seem to have a problem with it though, si it's one I won't complain about.  |  IP: Logged Chad M Calpito Master Film Handler Posts: 435 From: San Diego, CA Registered: Apr 2006 posted 12-05-2006 12:29 PM                        For us, it's 2 and under that get in free. Other than that, the parents have to pay the child's price. No exceptions! Of course, luckily, I haven't worked box office since June, so I don't have to deal with the upset parents who don't want to pay the child's price since I am now working booth 100% of the time.  |  IP: Logged John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 12-05-2006 02:32 PM                     For the outdoor cinema we do 4 and under free. it's a big part of our business..families who can't afford (or don't want to subject others) to have their kids at a hard top. We welcome them...but they can make a lot of noise and still not disturb the others too much. If it's a big issue, why not advertise a matinee per weekend as kids 6 and under free? They'd most likely come to that and leave the other shows free of little 'uns making noise.  |  IP: Logged Stephen Furley Film God Posts: 3059 From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England Registered: May 2002 posted 12-05-2006 02:59 PM                     No, we give them away free. Seriously, I've seen several cinemas recently that have special 'Babes in arms' shows, usually up to one year old.  |  IP: Logged Caleb Johnstone-Cowan Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 593 From: London, UK Registered: Mar 2006 posted 12-05-2006 05:20 PM                     The mother and baby screenings are becoming more common in the UK. Some distinguish between babes in arms and toddlers. I think that most put the sound down and have half lights on for the feature. The chain I worked for had a policy that if the parent wanted a separate seat for their child they had to pay for it.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-05-2006 06:26 PM                        quote: Stephen Furley No, we give them away free. Yeah yeah yeah, I thought about that after I posted it but figured someone would make that joke, so decided to leave it. I'm just surprised it took this long!  |  IP: Logged Charles Greenlee Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 801 From: Savannah, Ga, U.S. Registered: Jun 2006 posted 12-05-2006 10:18 PM                        quote: Caleb Johnstone-Cowan The mother and baby screenings are becoming more common in the UK. Some distinguish between babes in arms and toddlers. Dejavu, the feeling you've read this thread before.  |  IP: Logged Matt Fields Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 545 From: Ohio, United States Registered: Jun 2005 posted 12-05-2006 10:38 PM                     Were 2 and under is free.  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

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.