I am doing my first shop for Verites tonight. It is a sneak peak theater evaluation. The instructions seem to contradict themselves. It says I must get a count of total seats in the theater but do not ask the manager. I also need to give the manager a letter of authorization asking for box office reports and a total seat count. Has anyone done these? Any input would be greatly appreciated. I emailed the scheduler this morning but haven't received a reply.

Maybe they want you to count the seats separately to verify it is the same as the count the manager gives you later?

LisaSTL is right. The theatre management will provide you with their info and you have to enter them and yours. Don't give them your tally. When you make your report and there is a discrepancy, you have to explain why. That is why you have to be in the theatre where you can see the people entering the screening room. Be very inconspicuous but alert. If some people were allowed in without a ticket, report it.

I found it hard to count when I was inside the theatre as people came and went again and again. What I did was count them when they went in and count them as they came out. This means you have to be out ahead of anyone. Frustrating if you want to watch the movie. Good luck!

Rising--Did you do the sneak last night?
My theater chain gave tickets away online to members of their loyalty club, so my tally didn't matter. They knew that 98 people were sent tickets, though. Only 35 showed, but I didn't have to report the discrepancy as I've had to with open checks.

No. I am not signed up with Verites. And I am in Toronto but I have done sneak shows a number of times. It is very hectic and when sold out, much more. Open checks are much better especially if you have to bring a couple of friends.

What was the movie? I am going to the movies tomorrow.

It was "About Time". Bill Nighy is in it. There was some affiliation with the staff of "Love, Actually" and it showed. Very nice movie. Funny throughout, not hysterical all the time, but I laughed very often. I think the wide release is on the 1st. This weekend is "Bad Grandpa" and "The Counselor"--tough choice. I cannot see myself seeing "Gravity". That's like my worst nightmare!

The sneak assignment was very simple. Admission price, number of people, trailers, audience reaction to specific scenes.

Some theatres have on the plate outside the auditorium the total capacity or number of seats per theatre. Although that is the number of seats, your responsibility is to see or observed ---->how many are occupied.

I wish they had movies in my area

Some theaters don't post the correct number, especially when they had to become ADA compliant. Sad to say, but some owners try to cheat the studios. When a theater under reports their take for a movie, the studio makes less money. That is what my scheduler told me, which is why I had a project to count the seats myself.

Theaters that are ADA compliant are generally on the floor level of each auditorium. The number of seats are the stair level of each auditorium would never change. I have seen patrons in wheelchairs be the ones whom situated in front of the screen. Generally you can count them, but they are in there own seats not theatre seats. The auditorium will list the actual number of seats but also be informed of the maximum number of ADA seats availability.

If you are counting the patrons as they are leaving the auditorium, there are two doors to exit/enter because of the ADA compliance, but upright persons travel through both doors.

Although cheating may be going on, the owner should be more concern with compliances and fire codes. Those are stiffer penalties to pay for.

You're lucky. Most of my sneak peak shops required more info like demographics, quality, etc. Come to think of it, I had one which was just very easy and I really enjoyed it. Plus it was bonused. Since it was almost sold out, I sort of asked the staff, "Why, what's the capacity?". She blurted the figure. And you're right Sandi, it wasn't what the theatre posted. The only drawback to that shop was the movie house was located way out, though on the main subway line. But the show was good.

Oh no! I was thinking of going to "Gravity" because I missed it at the Film Festival here in TO. I used to regularly do a movie trailer or something at the end of the week, as a filler or a break, but I have a dinner shop tonight. They have Carrie and Counselor in that theatre this weekend so I will check my companion's interest. But Carrie? Not for me.

risinghorizon Wrote:
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> You're lucky. Most of my sneak peak shops
> required more info like demographics, quality,
> etc. Come to think of it, I had one which was
> just very easy and I really enjoyed it. Plus it
> was bonused. Since it was almost sold out, I sort
> of asked the staff, "Why, what's the capacity?".
> She blurted the figure. And you're right Sandi, it
> wasn't what the theatre posted.

Yep, the independent theaters around here are especially
suspect. The large chains probably are more accurate.
Older theaters were questioned when they added the
seats with the spaces in between for wheelchairs to
accommodate disabled people and their companions.
One of the theaters in my area just didn't include those
in their count!
There are two "dine-in" theaters here that have bar stools
and office chairs for seating. The exact number of seats, as
opposed to the capacity, can change. There are constant
offers for blind checks at those locations. It's very hard to
count patrons and seats. On open checks, their report very
often did not jive with my count.

>
> Oh no! I was thinking of going to "Gravity"
> because I missed it at the Film Festival here in
> TO.

Well, it's been very popular, but I tend to put myself in
movie situations and I just. Can't. Do. It.

>I used to regularly do a movie trailer or
> something at the end of the week, as a filler or a
> break, but I have a dinner shop tonight. They
> have Carrie and Counselor in that theatre this
> weekend so I will check my companion's interest.
> But Carrie? Not for me.

I really want to see "The Counselor" but everyone else
wants to see "Bad Grandpa". I may not be able to stay
awake for anything, though! One of those days.....

I used to do seat counts. they want to see if the posted count matches the actual seats in the theater. Go early, and just stand and count seats. Multiply rows by the number of seats.

I wanted to ask you guys signed up with verites. I just tried to sign up and their form just goes round and round. I hit submit and it hangs for a while and then it can't take the current captcha because I think it expires in the time it takes to submit. I tried in 2 different browsers. Any suggestions?

Actually, you should count the seats in two rows, then multiply by half the number of rows. This is because every other row is offset from the row in front of it. It is possible that every other row could have 2 seats less than the row adjacent rows.

vloglady Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I used to do seat counts. they want to see if the
> posted count matches the actual seats in the
> theater. Go early, and just stand and count seats.
> Multiply rows by the number of seats.

mleighb Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I wanted to ask you guys signed up with verites.
> I just tried to sign up and their form just goes
> round and round. I hit submit and it hangs for a
> while and then it can't take the current captcha
> because I think it expires in the time it takes to
> submit. I tried in 2 different browsers. Any
> suggestions?

What part of the US are you in? Really that doesn't matter...ironically I was just about to respond to your post before this one and thank you for responding to mine...your response was exactly what I was hoping you'd do...also offering to assist you in getting in with VeriTes...but you’ll have to PM me...for now...call the main office in Burbank, CA(someone will answer phone upto 5pm(pst)today) and let them know you're having a problem signing up...I will PM you with who to ask for...

I just refer people to my scheduler who sends them the forms. Sometimes that doesn't work, though, depending on the scheduler's need.