Can anyone elaborate on those? I have read the description for each type and I am not getting it. However, any personal experiences that you can share would be great. TIA

If you could elaborate on what task you are talking about I would be able to tell you more. Are you asking about "theater checks, lobby checks, evaluations?" All the the above? There are several different types of audits done for a single theater.

MzDiana, right below your post there is a blue box to direct you to conversations both about Trailer Checks and Movie Theater shopping. I don't do enough of either any more to answer any questions you might have, but I feel sure the threads can give you a good notion about them.

I do not understand any of it. But I am going to go and read the thread (for some reason my search feature disappeared). There are many (all kinds) in my area and the company wrote a description but for a novice it is still not clear. I do not want to take on something that I can't complete. Thanks for your replies.

Other than Market Force and TES are there any other companies that conduct trailer checks?

I just seen this Ad from MF for Theater's and Trailer's. I am not yet a member of MF and would like to know if this is a favorable company to work for and any info on the T n T's.


Thanks from the newbie in Cheyenne, WY!

I do quite a few theater assignments...they are super easy. I enjoy them because they are super easy, and the report takes less than five minutes.

For trailer checks, you make a list of the trailers shown before a particular movie. Sometimes, there you might have to look for a specific version, and note if the audience reaction was positive, negative, or neutral. You do this for every copy the theater has of that particular movie. Sometimes, with new releases, it specifically has to be the first showing of the day, and the reports have to be submitted within the hour. I've done a few where I had to count how many seats were in the theater.

Materials checks/lobby checks are also easy. You just have to walk around the lobby looking for specific items. It might be a specific style of bag for the popcorn, or a certain poster, etc. Usually those require you to take a photo.

Sight and Sound checks might be the easiest of all. Literally just walk in and watch the screen for 10 minutes, and check the picture and sound quality are acceptable.

I did have one assignment that was a pain...it was a covert ad check where I had to go in half an hour before the movie and make a list of every ad shown, the time it was shown and how many seconds long it ran. Plus list the seating capacity, and count the audience members. But, it had a nice bonus, and I was reimbursed for the two movie tickets.

I recently did a few weekend blind checks for one MSC.

It involved selecting a certain feature film and auditing each showing of it on a particular day. The ones I did each had two matinees and then the Saturday film also had 2 full priced evening shows while the Sunday one had 1 full priced evening show. I had to purchase tickets for each show, do a patron count for each show as well as a maximum seating capacity for each show and a few other minor things. Overall a very easy shop but I would only recommend it if the theater is relatively close to you. Otherwise you will spend a lot of time driving back and forth to the theater. The MSC reimbursed me the costs of all the tickets as well as $10 for each show on top of that. Pretty sweet deal for getting to watch movies.

For those of you who have done these, I'm curious about doing the patron count. The theater I'm auditing has stadium seating, and he seat backs are very high, so unless I get there before anyone else is there and keep my eyes glued to the doors on BOTH sides of the theater to watch to see how many people come in, I don't know how I'll be able to get an accurate count. Especially for those who come in after the movie starts.

Also, I'm supposed to watch for (and count) employees doing a "theater check" randomly throughout the film. How are you supposed to watch the film and also notice when someone pops in to check on things in the dark? Any suggestions?

Trailer checks are super easy and the theater employees are usually very friendly. Make sure you find out from the manager how many "original" prints of each movie they are showing.

For patron counts, you definitely need to be there super early and pick a seat with a good vantage point. I use a pitch counter to track people walking in and out. Click, click, click, etc.

Good luck.

Just got back from doing this and you're right, it was one of the easiest and most enjoyable shops I've done. There were only 34 people in the theater, so counting was a piece of cake, and at this particular theater, they carry a huge red flashlight (think light saber!) in and walk across in front of the screen when they do the theater check, so I couldn't have missed them if I'd tried!

My FAVORITE part of the report? "Please do not comment on anything you marked 'Yes' or on anything you marked 'Excellent.'" What a refreshing change after all of the nit-picky narrative-heavy reports I've been doing lately!!