We just sponsored a morning movie event during winter vacation. It is one of the most popular events we hold. The theatre hosts a special showing for us at 9:30 or 10:00am on one of the weekday mornings. We charge 5.00 per ticket child or adult and that includes a free drink or popcorn too! The theatre only charges us 4.75 per ticket. We have a raffle for a family 4 pack of tickets. You need to wear a school t-shirt or bring in a general mills box top in order to enter. We, of course,have tees on sale there. We do not run it as a money maker. Just a fun thing to do. The theatre here is so easy to work with. This year we had 150 people. It was a lot of fun and not much work at all! I am sure that the theatre made a few bucks on the extra concessions that were sold too!
You should have better luck with a privately-owned theater and may get more for your $$$.
Having it in a smaller theater you can be sure that everyone will stay in the place they're supposed to be..... and not wander over to the next cinema to see some "R" rated movie.
I don't know what area your in but there are a lot of dollar shows in Michigan. They are usually very accomodating. Although the movies they show aren't new releases, you can get a movie that everyone wouldn't mind seeing again if they've seen it. Usually, the dollar shows are close on weeknights and you could do a 6:30 movie. Good luck. Oh yeah, It's usually a flat fee to rent the theater!
When I was out gathering donations for our carnival auction today, I asked the manager at a local movie theater about doing a special showing for our families.
I was slightly dismayed by his offers. First, he wanted me to consider having a showing for only 30 or so people and have it during the day on a school day? First of all, I don't think it's a good idea to pull kids from school to go see a movie. Secondly, I told him it was a family event and we'd be having probably about 100-150 people.
Oh, I regress, so his second offer was on a Sat or Sun morning at 8 or 9 a.m.! Now that's pretty early for me. He said they'd have to do it at a time when they were normally closed?
Okay, here is my thought on what would be a wise thing to offer. I've been to the theater on a Sat or Sun afternoon and frankly they generally aren't very busy! Now you'd think they would jump at an oppertunity to sell 100+ tickets to a single show on a Sunday matinea? Wouldn't it make more sense to have a private screening on a movie that has already been out a few weeks and have full during regular business hours. As opposed to opening early (paying staff to come in earlier)?
Anywhoo, I would really like to arrange this as one of our family events, but the theater just doesn't seem very accomidating. Maybe I'll give the manager another call and see what else they might be willing to do.
They were also going to charge $6.50 per person, which included a pop and popcorn. Which is slightly cheaper, maybe by $1, than the regular matinee price.
I think I'll call another theater that is privately owned, not part of a large chain, and see if they will be more willing to work something out. I know that theater does a special showing every year for the local Chamber of Commerce where kids get in free with an adult. I mean the theater makes a good share of money from concessions and if the adults are paying, then I think that's a good deal for them too!
so, I'm just sharing some thoughts here. Feel free to comment!
