| The Flayed One |
04-03-2006 07:54 AM |
Well, I worked in a 16 screen theater in Seattle for 3.5 years. Let me tell you something, a theater that big is a HUGE pain in the ass. I can't imagine running a bigger one.
I'd definately keep it simple. No more than six screens. Probably only three. Remember, the more screens you have, the smaller they end up being because of limited space (unless we're going just all out, fantasy unlimited resources type of theater.)
The large number of screens are also why most theater chains are filing bankruptcy right now. Theaters make NOTHING on movie tickets. That's why a large bag of popcorn is over $5.00. Granted, the popcorn itself only costs about $.03 a bag to make. Consider though, you have to pay an employee to sell tickets and make nothing back on them. You also have to pay the eployee to stand at the door, tear the ticket and clean the theater. So really, that's another employee you're paying who makes you nothing.
Then of course, there's the concession guy you have to pay. Not to mention theaters use a phenomenal amount of electricity, water and such. The bigger you get, the more of that there is. Not to mention you'll need more people to sell and tear tickets, run concession, etc.
I think I'd have four screens, ideally. Then you can time your movies out to have the minimum amount of employees. That way you're constantly busy, but with not a lot of down time where they're standing around doing nothing. I'd have three screens of retro and one for the new Indy stuff that came out. I'd also make sure to have lot's of anime in the rotation.
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