Irequim,

Was that shop for Certified???

Thanks Much

So glad I read this thread. The last time I did the trailer checks was way (way) back in 1993. Back then, you phoned in your report (ah, the good old days!) and I remember it being mostly patron count, trailer check and advertising check - it wasn't bad for the money. I've thought about getting back into it but not after reading this! Thanks everyone for enlightening me!

Around here, people are apparently lined up to work at my theatre. My scheduler said that he has a list of 20 people who want it on a regular basis and he has no problem replacing me! There is another theatre in my town that he easily has covered as well. I'm surprised that no one likes the simple trailer checks. I can run errands and do other shops in between show times, very often other jobs for other companies in the theatre, like ad audits. Some times all of the screens can be done in less
than an hour and I don't even leave the theatre. (This is the location where another checker's husband threatened me with air karate because they saw me working there--very competitive area!) Maybe it's just that the location of "my" theatre is so convenient to doing other things in the area, but it works for me!

The only blind or open checks I'll do are in the premium theatre near me that only has 58 seats per screen and only has 2 price points. That makes counting and reporting pretty easy!

blessedmama,

Were they doing trailer checks prior to 1993???

Very curious to know exactly how long ago they started doing them.
Just got into it myself about 6 years ago.

Thanks Much.

I did one once, a few years ago and the movie which the trailers lead in to was Jackass 3D. Well, you could bring a friend for the assignment, and I happened to choose my teenaged son to assist me. He was beyond thrilled! We were allowed to stay during the showing and there were only two theaters opened. We each got to see the movie and performed the correct checks. The ten dollar fee wasn't really worth all the effort, but getting to see the movie - and the delight of my son - was priceless.

Tried to do one of those standees for "easy/beginner" once. Once.
Never, ever again.

I was so thrilled when I finally got the theatre gig, until finding out that I wasn't going to be watching the movie...after noting the trailers at the start, I was supposed to leave. I sat there as the movie started...wanting to stay...beginning to sweat thinking of the someone coming in there to escort me out, or the company finding out that I was actually enjoying the movie...sat there awhile longer...finally, couldn't stand it anymore and left! Not doing them, anymore.

There were other shops, though. Where it was free admission to the movie and an overt audit of the available snacks. Those were the fun ones, but haven't seen them for a long while.

This MSC used to be good to work for. I had done a few trailer checks for them at really good money not that long ago. However, they have reduced the pay drastically down to single digit $ per check. Not worth the time. I have not had any issues with the management at the theaters. It's been a year since I have done any work for this MSC, too bad because they were a fast pay company.

Yes Arch Stanton it was. I had just signed with them and they called me that evening.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/27/2014 08:07AM by Irequim.

Holy Moses! All the horror stories. I admit there were times when I regretted accepting a theatre assignment. That was usually because I was not organized enough. But I have accepted theatre shops not only from CFA but a few others. I was reimbursed for my ticket and a combo of concession items. I paid for my companion's ticket. And we had a choice of the movie to watch. It was a relaxing time and all I did was report on the theatre's cleanliness, interaction with the staff. There was also an evaluation fee. Then on to an upscale restaurant shop in the vicinity.

Don't get me wrong, not all theatre assignments are created equal. Not all MSCs are all created equal. So I accept theatre assignments when I want a relaxing time or I am well organized and I like the MSC. It is really personal preference.

There are various types of movie shops, and I think I have done all of them. Just to try them out. These are on the list: Auditing, Blind checking, Lobby checks, Open checking, Theatre checks, Theatre evaluation, Theatre Installs. I have tried each and every one, mostly in my rookie days and I have never had anything rejected. But I would never do Installs again. This requires physical labour. Maybe there are more theatre shops that I don't know about.

Blind and Open checking, as the names imply are overt or covert. The overt, you require the manager's cooperation. Covert, of course, you have to observe, count the patrons, evaluate the show etc. without anyone knowing it. Most of the time, your fee includes reimbursement of your ticket and your partner's, depending on how many screens are showing the movie. And of course, not all shops are the same. Others require more data and following the Guidelines is not that difficult. I had been involved in a group assignment were there were a number of people assigned (overt) and I was the leader. The shop required patron counts, evaluations, etc. The fee depended on how many details were needed. The report must also be mailed out together with all the tickets and filled out forms.

There are other types where you just have to count the patron, demography, etc. and the movie tickets are not included, therefore, you are forbidden to watch the movie. And this is clearly written in the Guidelines or on the Letter of Authorization. Which really does not bother me.

All the other types also do not include viewing the movies free. When I like a movie, I buy a ticket after my work is done. Even
when I am invited to view the movie by the manager, I decline. I stick to the Guidelines.

Now, speaking of the Trailer Checks. These are the easiest to do and really quick money. Not including the fact that you keep abreast of the coming attractions, if you are a movie fan. The First Shows are quick and easy. $10 a piece. Report by telephone and you are out of there in less than 20 minutes. You have to ask for the manager's signature of course and that would be about 5 minutes delay. The $2 additional screen usually does not happen. What confuses a shopper is the idea that it is per screen. It is actually per print. Most of the time, the theatre has only one or two prints of the same movie shown in different screen. One just has to record the trailers for that showing, not all the showing on the different screens. You have to verify with the manager. If the Guideline specifically require data on each screen or auditorium, regardless if there is only one print, then that is another story.

Trailer checks are my Friday relaxing time. Since they are scheduled in advance, I line up my shops around the area anticipating multiple screens/prints. Although upscale shops are supposedly my specialty, I never, ever line them up with movie shops. Why, because I do not want to be all dressed up in heels. lol Mind you, one still has to be dressed properly when conducting a movie shop, as per Guidelines.

Most of the movie theatres I do are usually within the subway line. If I could avoid cars, I do. I am lucky I live in a city where the public transportation is very accessible. That is the reason I did airport shops. Outside of the GTA, I may have to use a car or use VIVA etc. That had not stopped me.

During winter, at the start of the major snowstorm, I had a covert theatre assignment. I could only do one print/auditorium
as I left my place in darkness and I was afraid the power outage was not resolved yet. It was the worst theatre shop I ever experienced. I had someone pick me up and CFA paid me for what I completed.

I am very picky with the shops I take but somehow, I find trailer checks are my relaxing shops. Since they are usually on Fridays, I like the fact that I don't even have to do much. So at times, I also get another theatre shop around the area. But
organization is very important. If this helps, well and good. But as always, to each his own.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/28/2014 08:58PM by risinghorizon.

Rising--I agree with you about the relaxing Fridays. The theatre in my area is very attractive and well-maintained. I often think how nice it is as I'm sitting there waiting for the trailers to start.
And since my husband is in sales, he very often has time to do a couple if I'm busy with something
else.

I have never had to buy tickets to do trailer checks. I'm wondering if some people are thinking of theatre
mystery shops as trailer checks? I have always had to note the trailers on a shop, but that isn't exactly the same because I don't have to buy concessions or report on anything else. I have, however, done audits where I had to watch the whole movie.

One "special presentation" I had once was on a Wednesday night. I was called at the last minute to do patron counts for a school group that had tickets for a movie that wasn't coming out until that Friday. I had to stay until the end of the movie to exit counts or something and I had some other things to do during the movie.

Well, since this was the snobby school district from the next town over, it was no surprise that they had tickets to see the second "Harry Potter" movie two days early. When my 12 year-old daughter came home from school that day, I asked how much homework she had and if she wanted to go. Well, of course she did!

The next day at school, her best friend, a real bragger, told her "My mom got "Harry Potter" tickets for right after school on Friday and I'll be the first to see it!" To which my daughter said, "Oh. I saw it last night." There are perks to the job!

I did a trailer check once, but I think it may have been combined with a lobby advertising audit. I almost didn't get paid because I missed one of the items I was supposed to report on. Basically, I explained that I had to print everything out last minute because they didn't give me the assignment until the last minute (I had easier access to a printer earlier in the week), and that if I didn't get paid on it I'd never work for them again. I cancelled the pending merchandising assignments I had with them (when CFA did merchandising before selling the lot to Spar) as well just to drive the point home. I did get paid and eventually I did some more work for them, however in recent months I have yet to see an assignment on the now theater-only portal that's worth taking. (And I no longer work for Spar. Whether this is fortunate or unfortunate is up for debate.)

I do what is called open movie checks. I love them! I have never done the trailer movie checks. The company I work for is great! Have only done two at two different movie theaters. Both managers were helpful and great to work with. I did turn one down for a company that was asking way too much for the money they paid. I guess you have to be careful about the assignments you take. As for me as long as the one company I have worked for asks I'm in.

But I must say I was shocked at some of the comments about these jobs.

Be careful and good luck if you do any of these.

I have done these shops for about 5 years now. I always enjoy them. They are really easy. The pay differs. Often it's between $5-$10 for the 1st trailer and $2-3 for each additional trailer. Just be prepared to run at the end of each trailer
if your movie is having many showings.

Wow I'm looking at these threads and it sounds really scary. I have had only positive situations. I've been doing these audits for over 5 years. I am friendly with the managers. The theatre I go to has 20 movies going on at the same time. I do my job. Never had problems getting paid. All is good. I guess each situation is different.

Wow!!! You deserve a medal for sticking with that assignment, even after getting negativity from the msp AND location manager. It is amazing that the other person (it pains me to call them a shopper-sounds more like a con artist) has the gall to play her game, and the companies are falling for it. There are certain shops that have instructions that seem to accuse a shopper of lying before they ever even accept the job. I always got a little offended reading them. Now I see why they have them written that way. It is a sad state our world is in and I am glad you stuck with it, even to your detriment.

jroby1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wow!!! You deserve a medal for sticking with that
> assignment, even after getting negativity from the
> msp AND location manager. It is amazing that the
> other person (it pains me to call them a
> shopper-sounds more like a con artist) has the
> gall to play her game, and the companies are
> falling for it. There are certain shops that have
> instructions that seem to accuse a shopper of
> lying before they ever even accept the job. I
> always got a little offended reading them. Now I
> see why they have them written that way. It is a
> sad state our world is in and I am glad you stuck
> with it, even to your detriment.

I do not appreciate emails or Guidelines suggesting mystery shoppers are dishonest or stupid. A couple of shops
I did successfully which were heavily bonused, I could have taken a number of times but the tone of the invites were very negative. They suggested that because it was an upscale store, most shoppers would not be able to handle it. It warned
that the staff could smell a shopper a mile away. At first, it was challenging to do them but after a couple of times, I decided it was not worth my time.

I like the trailer checks. They only pay $10 for a first showing, or $7 for any showing, plus $2 for each additional print. A print is an individual copy of the movie, not how many auditoriums they are showing it in. Like a dvd you own...you might watch it on a tv in the livingroom, then in your bedroom, but you still only have one dvd. Same for theaters...they may show the same copy in multiple auditoriums, you only need to check one.

You have to watch and list the trailers, generally 7-8, and takes about 10 minutes. Sometimes you have to keep an eye out for a specific version of a trailer. You have to note the audience reaction...just a check box of Positive/Negative/No Reaction. The report is all dropdown boxes and checkboxes, and takes 5 minutes at most.

The theater usually has 2-3 prints of each movie I'm checking, and often I can get assignments for 2-3 different movie assignments on the same day at the same theater. To do 9 showings takes about four hours, and I get $33. While that isn't very much, It's $33 I wouldn't have for sitting at home. Many times, the next day I get offered a bonus of $5-15 to re-check the same movie. If I have to wait an hour or more between showings, I check my Field Agent, Gigwalk and Rewardable apps, and often pick up a few tasks nearby for a few more dollars.

I like the installations, and do them whenever I can. They pay horribly, and always take much longer than estimated. But I love putting things together. So the "fun" factor overrides "money" factor.

Lobby checks are pretty easy, too-check if this poster is displayed, or if they are using that popcorn bag, etc., and take a picture. Sight/Sound checks are just sitting in the theater for 10 minutes and see if there are any problems with the audio or video. Occasionally I have had to go in and count how many seats there are in a few of the auditoriums.

I also did one mystery shop where I had to go in and list all the ads before a movie, what time they were shown, and how many seconds long each one was. It was a pain to manually type in every advertisement, but it had a nice bonus and I was reimbursed for two movie tickets.

There is one assignment in my area that has been up for weeks to go in and covertly watch every viewing of a movie at a specific theater. I won't touch it. First off, it is a very small theater, and I highly doubt I could be there all day without being noticed, and, secondly, I can't think of a movie I would want to watch 3 or 4 times in a day.

When I did them years ago, we were allowed to bring in one guest per film. We had to buy tickets, so of course we could watch the movie if we wanted. If we could just stay in the auditorium for the second one without buying a ticket, that was fine too.

I remember the first time I did it, it was for, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotted Mind." six times. six tickets, I didn't take anyone with me. I tried to leave after I did the count.

It was early on in the run, I left after I did the count, and returned to the box office about 15 minutes before the second show began. But there was a long line! I got to the theater with about 20 people already seated, so I had to walk slowly up and down the aisle with my little clicker counting. Then take a seat in the last row to count more people as they entered. Theater was almost full. I leave after maybe 30 minutes into the film.

Another way for a seat count, almost all theaters have a capacity listed as you walk in the room. This works only if it is a very full show, just count the empty seats and subtract.

That could work but when I first started I had to count the seats because the studios wanted to be
sure that the theaters weren't under-reporting their capacities.

One of the theaters near me has auditoriums with 680 seats! I quit doing the open or blind checks there. I only do them for the luxury theater that only has 58 seats per auditorium.

Sandi excellent point. 680 would not work either! Mine have 67 consistently. I have done the count actual seat with no movie check too for a different company. All the screens but on an offtime just for the actual seats. I notice ours rents out during the day a lot for meetings.

Hi Arch,

Sorry for the delay - just saw your question today. I started doing them in 1992-1993 and they had been around before that as I found the company way back in 1990 or so in a book called "The Work from Home Sourcebook" which used to be updated yearly, I believe.

I sure wish I could remember how much they paid back then...

Never, ever, NEVER would I do this assignment!!!~~~~