For the past year and a half, I’ve worked seasonally at my local movie theater, and it has been quite the enlightening experience. Not to be dramatic, but working in customer service is a fate worse than death. And specifically at a movie theater, the high prices and strict policies seem to set you up to repeatedly take the fall for things out of your control.
My resume says that I “executed customer service skills while serving a diverse group of guests in a fast-paced atmosphere.” But in my heart and soul, I know that I really “executed immense patience and kindness, sometimes toward people who didn’t deserve it, to make the seemingly straightforward experience of going to the movies pleasant for people who do the absolute most in every situation.” Whether they’re outright rude or just clueless, some movie theater customers can be quite annoying to deal with. Here are some of the struggles of being a movie theater employee:
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1. When a customer loses their ticket.
Some people are perpetually frazzled, and these people tend to misplace their ticket on the short walk from the concession stand to the podium. They empty their entire bag on the podium and before you know it, you’re faced with a mountain of their belongings: their phone, wallet, sunglasses, makeup bag, a sweater, their high school diploma…and then they realize the ticket is in their pocket.
2. When a customer has their ticket, but it has clearly been through something.
On more than one occasion I’ve been handed a sopping wet ticket. Whether it’s butter, water, soda or something else, I’m never really sure and frankly I don’t want to know what atrocities took place between the concession stand and here. Sometimes women pull their tickets out of their bras. But nothing tops the guy who came up to me with his hands full and his ticket in his mouth. So I had to take it. Out of his mouth. And rip it. And put it back. Into his mouth. My only question is, whose mans is this?
3. Customers who think they’re funny.
In my experience, it seems like men over 30 tend to think they’re hilarious, and no, simple dad jokes are not the extent of it. Men who come in with their gal pals or their teenage sons oftentimes use a trip to the movies as an opportunity to try their hand at stand-up comedy. One guy started talking to me while his wife went to the bathroom, and he spent the entire time trying to convince me that it would be ~hilarious~ if I messed with her when she walked out by telling her I needed to check her bag.
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4. When customers don’t listen to you and are then confused.
I can’t say how many times I’ve pointed to the theater directly next to the podium and then watched as they walk right past it and gaze confused around the hallway. Pro tip: the theaters are numbered and in order.
5. When they wait until the end of the transaction to give you a movie pass.
Thank you for ordering five IMAX tickets and then handing me five passes. Passes are rung up differently than full price tickets, so now I have $75 of cleared sales and have wasted both of our time.
6. When they wait until the end of the transaction to ask for a discount.
It’s already difficult for me to tell if someone is over 55 to give them the senior price, but there’s literally no way for me to know just by looking that someone is a college student or in the military. Again, these tickets are rung up differently, so please ask at the beginning.
7. People leaving their trash in the theater.
Yes, it’s my job to clean up after your accidental spills, but if you could not make it a point to leave your entire large bag of popcorn, box of chicken tenders, wrappers from candy we don’t sell and large drink in the middle seat of the back row, that would be great.
8. When people look at the wrong theater’s website and get mad when the movies or show times are different.
No, this isn’t Regal.
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In addition to their odd behaviors, customers say the darndest things. And they all tend to be the same. Some of the most common customer blurbs are:
1. “I remember when a movie ticket used to cost 10 cents.”
Well Phyllis, movies also used to be silent and black and white. The quality of movies and the cost to make them have increased, so naturally, the cost to see them has increased too.
2. “What can you give me for free?”
… A water cup.
3. “Two tickets.”
First of all, hello. Second, tickets for what movie?
4. “I need one adult and one child ticket.”
Ma’am, the six-foot bearded young man standing behind you is at least 17 years old. I get that Jason will always be your baby, but he’s an adult and he gets an adult ticket.
5. “I want the FRESH popcorn.”
Scooping the popcorn as it pops out of the kettle puts me at a 99% risk of getting shot by blazing hot oil. Also, the “old” popcorn was made five minutes ago, so there’s almost no difference.
6. “Can I take this bucket to put my small bag into?”
Can you literally have a large popcorn for free? No.
7. “Candy is $4? WOW, at the store it’s $1.”
Literally within a mile of this theater is a Target, Publix, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens and about five gas stations. You know what to do.
Courtesy: PopKey
Like any job, working at a movie theater has its ups and downs. The ups include seeing free movies, getting to keep posters and promotional items, getting food discounts and generally working in a fun environment with cool people. Movie theater customers, however, truly do the most. But if you can handle the wrath of the customers, it’s a pretty cool job to have.