Bad moviegoer!

I’m listening to a podcast about pop culture and one of the commenters is talking about why he is diminishing his movie watching at theatres as opposed to watching at home. Theatre patrons are essentially ruining the experience for him—texters, loud talkers, etc.—whereas he can have comforts at home and leave this rude behavior behind. It got me thinking about how theatres are managed. I watch a lot of movies, and I experience a lot of these same things. I try not to be the rude moviegoer, I think everyone is aware nowadays that celling and texting and other rude things should not be tolerated (although they are still tolerated to a great extent). Adding to the frustration is that theatre managers and film studios are thinking too much of themselves and not making it better for us. They are increasingly upcharging for 3-D (at the theatre I attended the other day there were four or five 3-D movies, several of which I have watched and none of which I think really needed or deserved to be). Management and studio security monitor for device use at preview screenings (to benefit themselves against piracy) but not the rest of the time when it it should be benefiting their customers.

I think it is not a secret anymore that customers are unhappy about 3-D upcharging, rudeness, device use by patrons. Why aren’t the powers that be addressing this? It’s like the bottom line is the all-encompassing goal. I know there is pressure to make the biggest profit possible.  Some screenings are barely attended, wouldn't it be better to make matinee prices even cheaper to get more people into seats, and potentially more popcorn and candy buyers?  There are some smaller theatre chains and local theatres trying to make it a better experience by offering better food options, better film options for their patrons, and engaging their customers with special events or giveaways rather than thinking solely of what the profits are.  As a result they earn their dollar as well as a better class of patrons who care about everyone's experience.

Greed is not good.