So yesterday I posted about the idea to allow the horrible seats upfront in the theater to sell for slightly cheaper once 75% of the other seats have been sold. The discussion in the comments section has been fantastic, and you guys have made me change my mind to a specific seating strategy.
So the new system that we’re proposing here (apparently one that is already widely used in Europe) would be like concert or Sporting event tickets. You buy a ticket for a specific seat (ie. Your ticket is for seat 4M).
Here is what I see as some of the advantages and disadvantages of this strategy (some of these are taken from your comments in the previous post).
ADVANTAGES
1) No need to show up an hour early in line to make sure you get a decent seat. You’d already know what seat you’re getting.
2) No having to save seats for friends showing up a little latter (I HATE HATE HATE doing that).
3) Theaters can then just keep all the tickets the same price. If a theater is filling up… then that means its a hot ticket and no need to reduce the price.
4) Adults going with a group of kids can ensure that they get seats all together (same thing goes with groups of friends going).
DISADVANTAGES
1) Theater chains will have to upgrade their ticket sales systems. I’m sure the cost of that process will be passed on to us.
2) Many people will (like Doug suggested) use this system to show up AFTER the commercials. Theaters know that… and would probably either increase the commercial times to catch us… or increase ticket prices to make up for lost commercial revenue.
Ok, that’s all I can think of off the top of my head. How does this sound to you guys? What are some of the advantages or disadvantages I’ve missed here? Do you think any of the ones I’ve listed are incorrect?
so you guys are asking in the Audio Edition how long we have had this “pay per seat” thing here in Europe
well i’m 25 and i can not remember that we ever had anything else. Ofcause the online booking thing is not that old since the internet didn’t really kick off till mid/late 90’s…
but stil before the internet u had to phone the theater to book tickets…and they would sell you a specific seat.
so yeah…we had it here in Denmark all my life…
Ages ago there was controversy over the Government approving mobile phone blocking devices in a French Cinemas.
https://www.themovieblog.com/archives/2004/10/mobile_phones_banned_and_blocked_in_cinemas.html
I also find this all bizarre. I can go online and choose which seat I want for a performance from one of our cinemas in Edinburgh. I can select it on screen and book the tickets, even see who else is reserving a seat at the time and which have already been booked.
Other cinemas you are usually asked where you would like to sit and they are more than willing for you to look at the screen and select a seat. Or as I say, “middle, middle”.
I think the disadvantages you presented are more than enough for your system to never be implemented. People gripe enough about the cost of movie prices and any buisness will take potential revenue over customer comfort. Any system that would be presented to movie theaters must ensure no revenues are lost or that the loss of customers would out weigh any commercial revenue that might be lost. Well thats my two cents.
You know, I’ve argued this with a theatre owner before, but the best way to safeguard his business from a depressed economy is to sell a monthly ticket package, quarterly, or year-long pass. For one price, this ticket package would encourage those of us real die-hard film lovers to see films EXCLUSIVELY at his theatre, guaranteeing the repeat business and concession purchases. I can’t see how this would be a lose/lose proposition for any interested party.
Sorry, off-topic comment: WinFixer seems to be serious hard-core spyware. I just updated my Spybot Search & Destroy, and even so the WinFixer infection keeps re-appearing.
I have really liked your site, but even so I can’t visit here any more. I asked that that ad be blocked. It wasn’t, and my machine started throwing WinFixer popups occasionally after that. I don’t think running an advertisement of this kind is acceptable.
another reason why the Arclight is more expensive is that they treat it like a legit theatre rather than a movie house. they have ushers in the viewing theatre during the entire movie to shut up talkers, get you a booster seat for your kid etc.
I would have to say another advantage to this “seat selection” in the theatres is that if there are no good seats left for a particular time/theatre, you won’t waste valuable time and money going there. You can wait until you can find great seats or “shop” around for the best seats in any theatre.
Part of the theatre experience in Canada is not knowing who will be around you or where you will sit. By the sound of it, that won’t change with seat selection..in fact it will be worse. I’m short so if a tall person sits infront of me, I like to be able to move, even if it’s only over one seat. With assigned seating, I won’t be able to move until after the movie has started and everyone is in their “seats”…causing disruption to those around me.
I think seat selection should be used for newly released movies and blockbuster films. Otherwise it should remain as general admission.
Many of the cinemas in the UK adopt different schemes depending on the expected demand for the showing. If a showing is expected to be popular (i.e. opening weekend) they assign people seat numbers, otherwise it’s what’s referred to as General Admittance, which means grab any empty seat.
It seems to be in decline, and although you can book in advance, they don’t usually give you a choice on the seating, but if you’re there in person they let you look at the screen a pick where you’re sitting.
Hi! Here in Sweden we have had the system you propose in your blog for a long time. Nowdays we also often book the tickets online, sometimes several days ahead just to get the best seats.
The system you seem to have in the US (or are you in Canada?) would never be tolerated by the demanding swedish audience. We pay around 12$ for a ticket, and for that price we really want the best seat available! We almost never have the problem with people showing up late to avoid the commercials, maybe because of the high ticket price.
By the way, we at the swedish movie blog Filmomat really like The Movie Blog. Keep up the good work!
Just thought I’d mention that this kind of seat reservation system is also widely used in Japan. I definitely felt it was a plus Japanese theatres had over American ones (though movies costing $18, with no matinee discounts, was a not-so-good feature of Japanese theatres).
It also seems to me that it would be possible to incorporate seat reservation in online ticket booking. I’m not sure if they do this in Japan, since I never ordered tickets online there.
One strike against U.S. theatres adopting this system might be that it could require more ushers on hand to direct people to seats, etc. though.
Slightly ot: If new Disney CEO Robert Iger has his way, Studios would release movies SIMULTANEOUSLY on DVD and theatrical.
Here’s the response from John Fithian, president of the National Association of Theater Owners:
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=filmNews&storyID=2005-08-19T091036Z_01_DIT933036_RTRIDST_0_FILM-THEATERS-DC.XML
basically, i agree with that and how would the studios deal with the huge loss of revenue, as well as the built-in advertising for the DVD? Raise dvd prices?
I just moved back from europe after living there for three years. I hated this system. I love walking into a theater and sitting anywhere I want. Usually, the dopey ticket vender would sit me next to a couple in a mostly empty theater and while I could probably just sit anywhere, europeans don’t think like that. If they walk into a nearly empty theater and you’re sitting in their seat, they’ll make you get up and sit somewhere else. Rightfully so I guess. But I love to go to those matinees nobody goes to and sit in a theater by myself. I don’t want to have to sit next to someone because that’s the ticket I was given. I guess because I grew up with the privelege of general admission, I really like it and would miss it if theaters went to a new system.
In most theaters at least half the seats are fine-by-me. My seat selection is based on scanning the room and avoiding the old people, or the large groups, or anyone at all (if possible). What good is a prime seat if it’s in back of a couple of whisperers?
And don’t tell me to shush them, or to find an usher. It would be ridiculous to complain about someone disrespecting a terrible movie (say, Wedding Crashers) by leaning over to their date and saying “This movie sucks, please stop laughing or I’ll begin to think you’re an idiot”. But still, I don’t want to hear that conversation and so I choose a seat away from those people.
The other problem that I can see is that staff don’t know if the session is going to fill up or not. People like leaving a space between people when they see the movie. And if it fills up their is going to be lots of spaces, if it doesn’t fill up everybody is going to be squashed in together.
wow, that is actually a discussion. Here in Slovenia we have this system like forever. Sure, if the cinema is empty you can seat where you want, but on premieres it’s nice to know you have the seat you paid for.(prices are the same for all seats).
I like that proposed system but unless some major corporation starts it, I dont forsee it picking up anytime soon. But here are a few add ons I would like to see implemented:
1) A small EMP device that activates upon a ring (not vibration) when a cell phone goes off after the movie has started…Its sole purpose is to destroy the fore-mentioned phone so as not to spawn a second attempt.
2) An electrode built into the seats that zapps the f$*cking hell out of the annoying talkers and niosy ass kids parents insist on bringing to the theatre. Seriously…why in the hell do you all do that…bring a little kid to a grown up movie? Of course the little guy is gonna be scared and cry…and you just sit there and let them. Sorry but I cant stand it when i go to a movie and have to sit behind or in front of balling undisciplined little brats. My daughter is quiet when I take her to see CHILDRENS movies and she is only 2.
3) And for the couples who like to grope and kiss (Hey…who hasnt!!) have seperate seats with like a screen or something that covers it without obstructing the views of others. You would get privacy as well as not having to watch someone else get some while you are alone…you know what i mean!!!
I agree with T-Jax, it’s very rare for people to show up late at the cinema even with reserved seating, at least here in the UK.
I can think of a couple of disadvantages off the top of my head:
1. It’s difficult to buy more tickets for friends, should they decide to come. They usually have to sit somewhere else. Very minor point though.
2. This is more a pain point with the current systems I’ve used, you can’t pick your seat via Internet booking (although you can at the cinema itself).
I’m currently living in Brazil, and we have the same system as it seems in the USA. I’m also surprised that the USA hasn’t adopted this.
But there are many other problems with cinemas that put me off. People taking mobile phone calls, conversation, seat kicking, poor seats (if you don’t book early enough), poor quality prints, poor quality sound (often too loud or too quiet), and just a lack of ushers in the theatre (who could correct some of these problems and tell people to “ssssssssh!”). Add to this the lack of quality films, and the lack of desire from cinemas to show the smaller films.
The ONLY reason I go to the cinema is to see the film early. If it weren’t for this, and DVDs were released simultaneously, I wouldn’t bother.
The trailers normally run for about 15 minutes in the cinema I go to. If I am sunning late, it’s a blessing missing the trailers and the adverts but when I am relaxed, I dont mind sitting through them.
Not all cinemas in the UK have a seating arrangement set up, ODEON has one which I very rarely go to. I guess to avoid this problem of seating, catch the film during the week, in the afternoon when everybody else is at work, you definitely will get great seats then and not too many people around to bother you! *winks*
Yes, but The Archlight is also more expensive than your run of a mill theater. Which could happen with other theaters if they began to follow suit.
I’m not opposed to seat selection, but I don’t want to have to pay an extra $4-5. That adds up for those who like to see 3-5 movies a month and pay for more than 1 ticket. I think people would start being even more selective about the movies they go see in the theater causing even more of a movie slump (hm, there could be an up side to that – better made movies?).
In Hollywood, CA we have a theatre named “The Arclight” which sells tickets like that. It is great, no lining up, you don’t have to rush your dinner, and the Seats are fantastic. I think other theatres should do this as well.
i’m kinda surprised that you don’t already have that system in the states. Maybe that’s just cause here in Denmark we always had that system.
it’s works fine….what we also have is online ticket booking. and then at most theatres there is a machine that prints out the ticket. So you get a members card and then you book your seats to that member card. so when you get to the theatre you just put your member card in the ticket machine and you get your tickets. That way you don’t have to wait in line at the normal ticket counter.
it’s pretty nice…if a movie starts at 8 i will just come to the theater like 5 minutes to 8 and get my ticket
the thing about people waiting to get to their seats til after the commercials…well first off we don’t have that many commercials before the films (atleast not yet…i’m sure that will come) and since most people like to watch the trailers they are almost always in their seats before the film starts
Concerning people showing up after the commercials… this happens very rare here. First, you don’t know how many commercials will be shown and you would risk losing the beginning of the movie. Second, the lights are off and it is pretty difficult to find your sit in the twilight. Third, some theaters have a rule which states that you lose the sits if you come after the beginning of the commercials. Which means that if you arrive too late, you might find your sit occupied by somebody else who had bad sits and changed places after the commercials started, and you will have to sit somewhere else.