Film-Tech Forums: How to stop / discourage kids from making out or more in theaters.

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Topic: How to stop / discourage kids from making out or more in theaters.

Andrew Bangs
Film Handler

Posts: 95
From: Kerrville, Texas, United States
Registered: Sep 2008

posted 09-18-2008 02:30 AM

We have a problem now and it is kids, usually high school or college, doing some serious making out or even other more private activities, in the theaters. This is happening during the movies, usually with a towel or blanket which we now discourage our guests from bringing, after the movies in the very front rows or the very back rows.

What have some of you done to discourage this or is it just our kids?

The major problem is the parents of some of our employees are complaining because they, understandably, don't want their kids walking in on this or having to be exposed to it period.

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 8810
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 09-18-2008 03:39 AM

Turn the hose on 'em!

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James R. Hammonds, Jr
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 931
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 09-18-2008 09:16 AM

Walk up behind them and whisper "I got next"
That'll at least keep them from doing it again.

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Galen Murphy-Fahlgren
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 238
From: Canton, MI, USA
Registered: Oct 2007

posted 09-18-2008 09:40 AM

Your employees work in an establishment where they are expected to be exposed to certain things. Would you let them out of doing theater patrols because the movie was R rated? In fact, teenage employees are your greatest asset in combating this type of behavior, because they are likely to know who at school has a reputation that would suggest this sort of behavior. I can understand staff being uncomfortable approaching people engaged in this sort of behavior, but at the least, they can find them and go get a manager or older staffer to come and take care of the problem.

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Marc Hansen
Film Handler

Posts: 85
From: Seattle, WA, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 09-18-2008 09:59 AM

How about a camera and a bulletin board in the lobby. First time their parents come in...

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Robert Minichino
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 197
From: Haskell, NJ, USA
Registered: Dec 2005

posted 09-18-2008 10:50 AM

Yeah, and the flash will certainly startle them, too. [Smile]

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Jennifer Pan
THE JEN!

Posts: 1124
From: Tempe, AZ
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 09-18-2008 12:21 PM

But its just so fun!! [sex]

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Louis Bornwasser
Film God

Posts: 2064
From: prospect ky usa
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 09-18-2008 12:28 PM

I really like the camera idea! Louis

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Dominic Espinosa
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 869
From: Los Banos, CA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 09-18-2008 12:56 PM

I prefer the direct approach.

"Get out."

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Jennifer Pan
THE JEN!

Posts: 1124
From: Tempe, AZ
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 09-18-2008 05:29 PM

I think its just your kids.

People over here don't do that. The theater would have to be almost empty before anything freaky would happen. [Wink]

Walking in to do a presentation check would probably stop most people. And a handy dandy flashlight.

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Charles Greenlee
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 704
From: Savannah, Ga, U.S.
Registered: Jun 2006

posted 09-18-2008 05:42 PM

A squirt from a water bottle from the booth window usually cools things off, or if it's not in an important spot in the movie, such as commercials or policy, just switch on your lights. Cleaning preferred if acessible from the booth, or just max houselights if not. Make it sudden, so they're suprised, and hopefully the act will be openly visible to the other patrons (if there aren't any sensitive eyes in there, kids). Maybe it'll teach them a lesson about doing such in a public environment, or at least embarass them enough not to try it again for a while.

I usually just hit them with the squirt bottle tho.

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Caleb Johnstone-Cowan
Master Film Handler

Posts: 297
From: London, UK
Registered: Mar 2006

posted 09-18-2008 07:51 PM

You have to take a stand on this. We had this a lot at a cinema I worked at. People even advertised on craigslist looking for sexual encounters at the cinema that's how bad it got. We'd find at least five couples a week who were way too intimate and were always trying to combat the problem.

I would always try to do one screen check during the programme if/when the lights are up, walking up and down all the aisles, making yourself visible. In my experience this prevents some people from causing trouble as they'll assume you're checking regularly even if you don't get the chance to. If your screen design permits this do the same every 20-30mins during the feature. This is how we caught most people.

We played it by the situation with regards to kicking people out, depended on the severity and their manner when confronted. Just be upfront and say you saw what they were doing and would like an explanation. Some people only need a warning in the screen, others need to come out to the lobby for a chat or to be removed.

Also, always go in twos. We had a couple where the guy needed four security staff to restrain him after we found them. Some people's reaction to embarrassment is anger it seems. You'll also get aggressive denials and accusations. A way of shutting people up to remind them they committed a crime (if sexual activity in public is one in the US), possibly with minors present, and we could call the police. We actually had serial offenders (some who wanted to get caught) and in the end had to resort to this to stop them.

Hope this helps, we were literally a road away from Soho which is the kinda red light and gay district of London and the whole West End is pretty seedy so lots of sex about. If you make it very clear you don't tolerate this behaviour it will drop off.

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John Wilson
Film God

Posts: 2631
From: Sydney, Australia. 8602 m (13844 km) SW of Rockwall. Don't forget your swimmers!
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 09-18-2008 08:02 PM

quote: Caleb Johnstone-Cowan
If you make it very clear you don't tolerate this behaviour it will drop off

Good choice of words there. [Eek!]

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Caleb Johnstone-Cowan
Master Film Handler

Posts: 297
From: London, UK
Registered: Mar 2006

posted 09-18-2008 08:07 PM

Bring on the puns! I've found it difficult to keep a straight face when dealing with this situation so many times.

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Monte L Fullmer
Film God

Posts: 4255
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004

posted 09-18-2008 08:18 PM

or, do the vid then with the monitor in the lobby so everyone will see, then when they walk out, have an applause rating for the best makeout session an give them a 'white elephant' award.

We did that once at a complex (not with vid setup though) but we recognize the "spitswappers" as they came out and gave them a round of applause...

they never came back again .....

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