Have you observed any creative practices at movie theatres to get people to shut up?

Question

I manage a movie theatre and we are trying to come up with methods to get people to turn off their cell phones, stop talking during the movie, and deal with crying/distracting babies.

I'm just curious to know if you've observed any creative yet effective practices at movie theatre which can be easily implemented.

I know some babies offer crying rooms in the auditoriums, but at my location that is not a practical choice at this time.

We are reluctant to do the age restrictions at this time because some theatres who have implemented these policies have been sued and those cases are still pending. I think it's a great idea, but right now my company feels we need to wait before implementing this type of policy.

Answer 1

I'm partial to having an employee (or volunteer audience member) sit in a good spot with a squirt gun and spray water on anyone who speaks excessively, answers their phone, or doesn't take their baby/child out of the theatre if the baby/child has been crying for more than 2 minutes.

However, I think that might make people angry. Then again, I get angry when I have to put up with dumb teenagers or twenty-somethings who don't know how to shut the hell up.

Answer 2

Excellent question.

Here's a possibility: if the noise level gets too high, "pause" the movie...can you do that?

Or, lie and tell them in the beginning that if the noise level reaches a certain level, that the movie will be paused so patrons won't have to miss parts of a movie that they've paid to see. Sounds good to me :-)

Or, I love the squirt bottle idea - kudos!! But how about a mega watt spotlight that can be shown on the offenders. Damn cell phones - really it's rude people, but they are just obnoxious.

I'd applaud a jerk and a spaz - b/c you can't just do whatever you want in any public place - and if the teenage employees or the management at the theatre can't monitor and control the ambience, then John Q. Public will.

Answer 3

At the local theater I go to they don't allow children under 6 into any R-Rated movie after 6 p.m. no matter who's with them. Helps with the crying baby problem in at least a few of the showings and I know it's a small part of the reason I keep going to that particular theater.

Answer 4

You can buy cell phone scramblers for about 200 bucks. I dont know why they just dont have them installed in every theater.

Answer 5

try to be nice about it- this one guy who didn't even work at the theater was a spaz and jerk!