This summer, I will be working my fourth summer at a movie theater. Through the theater’s program, I am able to work seasonally, helping out at Thanksgiving and over winter break, while being on school leave while classes are in session. Overall, it is a nice set up for me, as I am able to make money whenever I am not in classes. However, to some, working at a theater for that long may seem a crazy task. Therefore, I have decided to lay out some of the benefits with working at a movie theater.
Firstly, the perks are absolutely fantastic and hard to match, even if the pay is only about minimum wage. As an employee at my movie theater, I get free passes for me, plus one, for any not too busy show time. There are rarely restrictions on movies, with Star Wars being one of the few to ever receive one. Furthermore, almost the entire concessions menu is half off due to employee discount. What was once a bit expensive now becomes a great deal worthy of the price.
Secondly, by working at a movie theater, you become smart to the movie theater business. For example, why are the previously mentioned concessions prices as expensive as they are? Well, quite simply, the theater only makes a couple dollars at most per movie ticket, as much of the other money goes to the studios. Therefore, the movie theater makes all of its profit at the concessions stand. One can also learn why some theaters get one movie, while another does not, and why certain movies last a longer time than others.
Thirdly, since I am constantly around the theater, I am very knowledgeable about the movie business at the time – what movies are slated to come out soon, what movies are in development. I get to see trailers earlier than many people. Moreover, in order to do the best work possible, it is important to know what films are doing well commercially or what films critics have praised, and vice versa. By the end of a movie theatre season, I can probably tell someone all of the marquee movies coming up in the next season.
Fourthly, the movie theater has allowed me to hone skills that can be applied to any job. Because I have to talk to customers frequently, my customer service and communication skills have improved. With all the various tasks to accomplish, especially on an usher shift, I have had to practice prioritizing certain activities. Furthermore, since I cannot do the job on my own, I have been able to further my capacity to work well with others, building a good team mentality. These are some of the more general ones, but there are plenty more as well, such as learning how to set up a three sink dish washing station, use a broom and butler properly, counting change in a monetary transaction, and so forth.
Lastly, everybody comes to the movie theater – no matter what race, gender, economic class, or other category. Each customer is different, but they all unite over their interest in movies. One of the taglines in the introductory advertisement for our theater tells the audience to “enjoy the movie, together.” Now I will not pretend that there is a sense of comradery in the theater, but there is a sense of unity and oneness in watching a movie. Everyone may not react the same, but various different individuals come together as one to do a simple task – sit back, relax, and enjoy the movie.
The movie theater I work at holds a special place in my heart. I am fiercely loyal to the brand, and will support the movie industry as long as I can. I have made so many memories, learned so much, and grown tremendously throughout my time at the theater. If one is looking for a job to get their feet off the ground, the movie theater is the place to work at. Even on my fourth year, it will be hard for me to leave the place when the time does come.
