At first glance, a mystery shopping assignment at a movie theater can seem like a pretty swanky job. You can’t really go wrong with getting a free movie and getting paid for your time to watch the movie, right? This is sometimes the case, but not true for many assignments. Before you sign up for a movie theater mystery shopping assignment, there a few things you need to know.
Yes, You Have To Watch The Trailers. Many folks like to show up fashionably late to a movie to skip the trailers and advertisements that run before the movie. The vast majority of movie theater checks, however, are actually trailer checks. Meaning, you need to take notes on which trailers are running and in what order. Typically you will be permitted to stay and watch the rest of the movie if you wish, but even this is not always the case.
Counting Heads. Often, a movie theater assignment will require you to count the number of people in the theater. The easiest way to accomplish this in an small theater is to get a seat at the very back of the theater. Then wait for the movie to start and folks to come back from buying their popcorn and snacks. If you are in a large, crowded theater, you may need to break the theater up into sections and count one section at a time to avoid losing count. Be sure to show up early to the theater to ensure you get the optimal seat for counting heads.
What Time Does It Start? It’s not uncommon for a movie theater assignment to require a mystery shopper to check the trailers of a certain movie for every single show time that movie is playing in the theater on a given day. If the movie is playing in multiple theaters, the show times may require you to basically hang around the movie theater for the entire day. So if you have other commitments, such as children or a job, be sure you have the free time to commit to this. In addition, you don’t want to draw interest from the ticket person by purchasing a ticket for each show time of the day, so some mystery shoppers have resorted to having friends and family buy tickets for them. If you go this route, make sure your support team of ticket buyers is ready and willing on the day of your assignments. Further, if the movie is playing in multiple theaters, you may not have the chance to see the whole movie if you have to run out before the end to check the trailers in another theater.
No Talking Please! Many mystery shoppers enjoy this type of assignment because there is very little interaction required with the movie theater staff, whereas most other types of assignments are fairly intensive with regards to interaction. There is really no need to concoct an elaborate cover story or play any specific role out.
Be sure to read the assignment requirements closely before you sign up to do a movie theater check. You don’t want to sign up to do an all-day job for a partial day of pay, or commit to an assignment that you don’t have time to fulfill. Yet these types of assignments can also be fun and easy if you choose the right ones. So keep your eyes open to catch the next good movie theater assignment that comes your way!
I love the all day shops. It gives me time to catch up on my reading in between if it is a one screen gig. If it is multiple theatres my spouse is a great partner. Just make sure it is a movie you would like otherwise it can make the job very long and boring. Arrive earlier than suggested, something always comes up including the person that can’t decide on which movie to see. I have waited 10 minutes for someone to pick one so I could purchase my ticket. Happy Shopping.
Thank you for the article and tips. I’ve considered movie shops but had a different idea of what I’d do, your tip to sit in the back is something I hadn’t thought to do. I’ve wondered about using stroke-counting tool golfers use to count those seated in a theater. Does anyone have suggestions for counting heads in a theater? Do you merely count the people row-by-row versus as they enter through the door?
Theaters are requiried, by fire marshalls, to post the maximum occupants count and frequently the signs a very easy to find. For a popular movie it is easier to count the empty seats. Most shop companies will offer suggestions when you sign up, even if it isn’t your first time.
On very popular shows they may be playing in several theaters and start every 40 or 60 minutes and have ads and trailers for 25 of those minutes so you’ll get to watch the beginning of the same movie for 12 hours. I usually find that be the time the last show starts at midnight or 1 am, I’m too tired to watch the rest of the movie. The good news is that such a shop has paid up to $100 and while that only worked out to about $8 per hour, not counting the 45 minute commute each way it was a nice chunk of change. It would have been even better if I’d brought my own food (even leaving it out in the car between shows) because I ended up eating very expensive theater food.
Counting patrons entering is tricky because there is invariably traffic going both ways until the show is well under way. Moreover leaving the count until the exit is challenging too because some patrons may use alternative exits if available. If it is a new location for me, I like to survey the perimeter before the shop. Hence I usually count on entry, exit, plus the filled or empty seats. Open checks are the easiest, (where management is aware of the tasks you are performing), if patrons are to be counted.
Arriving extra early cannot be stressed enough. Reading the details of the shop closely is really important since there are many types of theater shops. If there are multiple screens for each showing, assistants who are aware of the shop protocol, are necessary. It is good to line up multiple, dependable, potential assistants. My experience with theater shops has been good. Be aware, the fee paid for multiple viewings on one screen, is varied. Just check the details.
I completed a Trailer Check for a particular movie the last two weekends. It was a reveal shop so I presented the manager with an Authorization Letter. The movie had three show times to be checked. I could leave when the movie title came on. This particular movie was 163 minutes long so I went back home or took care of other errands between show times. This was easy for me because I live within a mile of this theater. It paid $10 for each show time that took about 15 to 20 minutes each for Saturday and Sunday.
It was required I physically count the seats in the theater it was showing in. I only had to do this once. Not only was the head count required, but also Male – Female and that broken down into four approximate age groups. Because it was a reveal, I carried my clipboard with me. I used a blank sheet of paper to block the categories I was to track. I made sure I was early enough to get a seat on the isle on the back row at the entrance. As customers walked into the theater, I put a Hash mark in the block for M or F and in the appropriate age box. When the movie started and I was ready to leave, I would recount the people in the theater and double check my hash marks to make sure the total number was the same. A few people will leave and come back. I try to make sure I recognize those people as not to count them twice.
I prefer to do trailer checks (not theater evaluations). Read the assignment carefully, as assignments differ in their requirements. I don’t sit in the back as I need to check audience reaction, gender, and age. I take a friend to help with the counting although usually its just a percentage full.
Get a clipboard and attach a tiny flashlight, a glow-in-the-dark watch, and a pen. Check with manager to get exact theater times, screens as these may change. Plot out the screens & times before the show starts.
My question is this, what companies do trailer checks? I do many for Certified, but can’t find other companies. (TES never offeres me any jobs)
I’d love to find other sources. I live in the Chicago area.
What companys hire for movie shops in the San Francisco Bay Area, or in general? I’m a serious movie fan, and would love this information, please help.