To date, I have only taken assignments where I am testing and rewarding certificates for concessions and getting free movies. Those are pretty fun. I just accepted two assignments for "trailer checks" where we will monitor trailers and look for "movie xyz" and once we see it, the assignment for that print is done. I have also signed up for a theater count assignment just counting attendees - both overt assignments. My question is for those who have done these before - can you stay for the whole movie or do you HAVE to leave once the trailer reaction or count is noted?? Thanks!!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/14/2015 01:19PM by MysVal.

Read the guidelines.

I did a similar shop and was instructed to.leave the auditorium after the first trailer and to leave the theater after gathering all information.

Your guidelines will tell you how to proceed.

Odds are you are instructed to leave, unless the assignment calls for a ticket purchase.

I leave because I find most movies unwatchable anyway.

Your authorization letter, if it is overt, will specifically tell you that you are not authorized to see the movie. If it is covert, the Guidelines usually say to just do the trailers unless you paid for your ticket. A few times that the manager told me to see the movie if I liked to, I declined. It could mess up the records of those who were counting the attendance vs the ticket booth records. With even one discrepancy, you will have to provide an explanation. There were some posters who claimed they watched the whole movie. To each his own. I buy a ticket if I really like the movie. And as Alfred said, some are not worth the time.

Got it and makes sense!! I could not get to the guidelines yet since they don't make them available until the night before, but thats makes sense. Thank you!!

@risinghorizon wrote:

Your authorization letter, if it is overt, will specifically tell you that you are not authorized to see the movie. If it is covert, the Guidelines usually say to just do the trailers unless you paid for your ticket.

If it's covert, you're automatically supposed to pay for the show. You will, however, be refunded for the ticket(s).

I'm doing a phone interview this morning with a dude looking for someone to mystery shop the folks doing exit interviews with movie watchers after a premiere has finished. He mentioned having me do Blade Runner this Friday. I thought the original was overrated, imo. Pay is good, free movie, so why not? This would be a recurring gig, once a month.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/15/2015 12:20PM by retrodaddy.

retrodaddy,

Are those exit interviews for Cinemascore???

I think the exit interviews are done by eWorks.

@OceanGirl wrote:

@risinghorizon wrote:

Your authorization letter, if it is overt, will specifically tell you that you are not authorized to see the movie. If it is covert, the Guidelines usually say to just do the trailers unless you paid for your ticket.

If it's covert, you're automatically supposed to pay for the show. You will, however, be refunded for the ticket(s).

Only if you are doing the other type of covert trailer checks where you are supposed to count the patrons or something else and expected to see every screen showing. If you are just there for the trailer of one print, but without the authorization, you are not supposed to watch the movie and be refunded for the tickets. You could pay for the show if you want to see it. Maybe you are talking about theatre checks for other MSC. If they require you to see the movie, then they will refund the ticket. But that is a whole day affair if it involves covertly counting the patrons.

Actually some say you positively may NOT leave... so read the guidelines.

@risinghorizon wrote:

@OceanGirl wrote:

@risinghorizon wrote:

Your authorization letter, if it is overt, will specifically tell you that you are not authorized to see the movie. If it is covert, the Guidelines usually say to just do the trailers unless you paid for your ticket.

If it's covert, you're automatically supposed to pay for the show. You will, however, be refunded for the ticket(s).

Only if you are doing the other type of covert trailer checks where you are supposed to count the patrons or something else and expected to see every screen showing. If you are just there for the trailer of one print, but without the authorization, you are not supposed to watch the movie and be refunded for the tickets. You could pay for the show if you want to see it. Maybe you are talking about theatre checks for other MSC. If they require you to see the movie, then they will refund the ticket. But that is a whole day affair if it involves covertly counting the patrons.

So, they're willing to pay you to attempt to sneak into the theater to verify the trailers shown without actually paying? I doubt that, especially since blind checks are supposed to be inconspicuous. Perhaps some MSCs do not reimburse for the tickets in addition to the shop fee, but at least every shop I've seen pays enough to cover the cost of the ticket and at least some extra.

I know there are some kinds of theater checks where you do stand outside the theater to record how many people go in, but since the OP mentioned monitoring trailers, it's a pretty solid bet that they actually do have to go in. It wouldn't really make sense for a client to schedule both a trailer check and an 'attempt to sneak in' for the same shop. There's too high a chance you couldn't complete both in one go. (I've also never seen the second type of shop listed, but for all I know, maybe somebody does them. Doesn't really sound too different from some of the other integrity or loss prevention related shops I've seen other types of businesses do.)

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/16/2015 07:02AM by OceanGirl.

There is no covert shop that will allow you to sneak in without paying. Trailer checks maybe done in connection with other theatre assignments, covertly, depending on the type. Those are the ones where the ticket will be reimbursed. Not for the trailer checks alone.

There are various types. I believe I have done every theatre shops available, some relating to something else, for about three MSCs. So, one is able to do them in conjunction with the covert trailer check, with special arrangements with the MSC. But they would never reimburse a ticket just for trailer check alone. And the OP was asking about the trailer check. My reply was pertaining to that. Trailer checks do not entitle anyone to see a movie for free. That's why I said check the Guidelines. If all the shops you have seen pay for tickets, then lucky for you.

Thanks everyone for your response and pardon me if I confused anyone with my question. I know I mentioned two assignments, but the one I was asking about specifically was just the trailer check. All I know is that I present a letter to the Manager (I suppose letting them know I am there to check trailers) and then proceed inside to begin my assignment. It makes sense that if I am not paying for a ticket, then I should be expected to leave after seeing the trailer that I am supposed to monitor. Although it would be a great perk to be able to see the movie, I totally get it. Thanks!!

Once the theater management gets to know you, they will gladly let you stay for the movie and even come in on days when you are not doing any trailer checks.

@MysVal wrote:

Thanks everyone for your response and pardon me if I confused anyone with my question. I know I mentioned two assignments, but the one I was asking about specifically was just the trailer check. All I know is that I present a letter to the Manager (I suppose letting them know I am there to check trailers) and then proceed inside to begin my assignment. It makes sense that if I am not paying for a ticket, then I should be expected to leave after seeing the trailer that I am supposed to monitor. Although it would be a great perk to be able to see the movie, I totally get it. Thanks!!

@MysVal wrote:

Thanks everyone for your response and pardon me if I confused anyone with my question. I know I mentioned two assignments, but the one I was asking about specifically was just the trailer check. All I know is that I present a letter to the Manager (I suppose letting them know I am there to check trailers) and then proceed inside to begin my assignment. It makes sense that if I am not paying for a ticket, then I should be expected to leave after seeing the trailer that I am supposed to monitor. Although it would be a great perk to be able to see the movie, I totally get it. Thanks!!

You're welcome. Also, depending on the specifics of your visit, it may not even be possible to sit through the whole movie before you have to start checking the trailers in another room. The last theater check I did, a new screening started every 40 minutes, and the movie I had to check was longer than that. If you are checking a smaller theater or one with fewer screenings/copies, then that might not be an issue. It definitely can be with certain assignments, though.

@Arch Stanton wrote:

Once the theater management gets to know you, they will gladly let you stay for the movie and even come in on days when you are not doing any trailer checks.

Depends on which theater, and they're technically not supposed to do it. You're also not supposed to take advantage of an offer like that....it compromises the objectivity, either is or could be mistaken for bribery, and cheats the studios/theaters out of what they'd make on the ticket. Not that they don't make too much with those things, anyway, but you are technically working for them, and so is the MSC.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/17/2015 03:33AM by OceanGirl.

As I said before, when offered a free pass, while I am doing a theatre shop, I always decline. A number of theatre managements know me that's why I seldom accept blind checking or other covert assignment unless they are located outside of Toronto. If I want to see a movie, I buy a ticket.

During that time that you are watching the show (for free), someone could be tallying the box office sale vs the actual attendance. If the attendance is sparse, it's harder. But as I said, to each his own. I had a personal experience when a manager was so loose and I noticed he allowed a few non paying customers. There was a commotion because a couple of guys went to the auditorium without paying, without his knowledge. Then another manager came in. We worked on the tally. I had to include that in the report because there was a huge discrepancy in the comparison. What if that was covert? Who would they blame?

I have not seen that loose manager since. But is the price of the ticket worth it? I just did a theatre shop where I was reimbursed for two tickets and the popcorn and drink to watch the movie that I liked. All I had to do was report on my experience. No counting of attendance or trailer checks. And I did a number of those before.

I read somewhere in the Forum where a shopper was deactivated because he was accused of seeing the movies when doing the theatre shops or trailers. Ok, enough of this topic. Bye.

@retrodaddy wrote:

I'm doing a phone interview this morning with a dude looking for someone to mystery shop the folks doing exit interviews with movie watchers after a premiere has finished. He mentioned having me do Blade Runner this Friday. I thought the original was overrated, imo. Pay is good, free movie, so why not? This would be a recurring gig, once a month.

Woah woah woah- the blade runner remake is out?

I'd love to go watch a movie and report on the experience. Unfortunately, every shop I've seen advertised with a variety of tasks from the trailer checks to those exit interviews doesn't allow for that. Maybe one day!

The theater checks I used to do were overt counts and lasted from 11am to about 1230am the next day. The theater manager liked me and set me up with a place I could use my laptop and my own wireless broadband connection with an outlet. If my scheduled allowed (I was often checking 2-3 screens per day) he had no problem if I watched the movie or popped into another film if I had already seen the one I was checking. My instructions were not specific either way, only that I was to remain somewhere at the physical theater for the entire check. They also used to let me buy a popcorn and a soda when I got there and they would refill it all day for me. One of my other theaters used give me free popcorn and soda. That one I had to be at from 2pm to 1230am. During the summer and winter release seasons I worked Th-Su only doing movies and I averaged $10-$15 per hour depending on the theater.