If you’ve never done a movie theater check assignment, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to make some relatively easy money. There are some nuances to this type of mystery shop that you need to know before you start out.
What Is It All About? The good news on a movie theater check is that there is relatively little interaction with the staff. Your assignment is to ensure the proper previews are showing at the beginning of a movie and to report back on how the audience reacts to the previews. Unlike with other types of mystery shops, you won’t have to purchase an item or take the time to return your purchase on a second visit. You also don’t have to check fitting rooms, converse with employees on certain subjects, or any of the other tasks you are normally required to do on a standard mystery shop assignment at a retail store.
Your time commitment is fairly minimal. With a movie theater check, you aren’t required to sit and watch the entire movie. You just need to watch about ten or fifteen minutes of previews. And the best news is that the report is relatively light. You usually won’t see a 60 question report with a movie theater check, although you may see more narrative or free-writing questions.
Are You Getting More Than You Bargained For? Read the assignment requirements very carefully before accepting the job. Some movie theater checks will require you to check the previews in all of the theaters playing a certain movie. If you catch a blockbuster on the first week or two that it is showing, this may mean you are checking three, four, or even more theaters. What this means to you is a considerably longer time commitment, so make sure you can manage that time commitment in your schedule. Keep in mind your downtime between movies as well. Doing four theater checks may equate to significantly longer than what initially may seem like 60 minutes at the theater. There will be down time between the movie start times. So what may initially seem like a one hour commitment may actually be two hours or longer depending on when the movies actually start.
Your assignment requirement typically will not clearly indicate how many theaters you will have to check, but simply say “all theaters.” So you will have to do some outside research and check the theater listings for a future date.
Time Is Of The Essence. With many types of mystery shopping assignments, the job starts when you get there and it ends when you leave. A movie theater assignment starts when the previews begin, so you need to be sure to be at the movie theater well ahead of the scheduled start time for the movie.
Movie theater checks are a nice change of pace from your standard mystery shop assignments. You can make great money for the work involved, and if the theater staff doesn’t mind you may get to sit through a movie for free. Just read through the assignment requirements carefully and be on time for your movie!
Movie checks are fun and easy money.
I’ve done the type you described and often wondered how my report on audience response helped the company wanting the answer. Most of the time the audience is at best neutral about the previews if they’re paying attention at all. I find the type of movie shop where you have to count the audience to be the most difficult. The worst has been one where there are doors on two levels and most of the top level is blocked off so you can’t sit at the very back to make the most of the ambiant light to count people. The very worst is where a bunch of the audience knows each other and they are walking around as well as in and out of the theater. If it was all just previews and a free movie it would be different.
Gail, You are right the auduence count is the hardest to do. When the company ask you to tell them what the reaction was on a certain trailer most of the time the audience is very quiet or talking to their friends. Linda
Jacob,
Thank you for telling us about the Movies for those of us who has never done one before. I look forward to doing them one day, but I will not take it if you have to number people because I automatically know that would be a problem by people getting up going to where ever whether it is to the Ladies Room or the Men’s Room because you could be counting those people repeatedly.
Thank you again for that of the highest importance information from all of us.
Open theatre checks are great! True, it is good to get to know the lay out, where the doors are, etc. For doing patron counts, I usually count on entry, then again as the movie begins and all other questions are answered. By then most people have settled down. I bring my own little clip on light (on my notes). Some situations have required counting on exit as well. To comment on whether there were any “cross-overs” observed, (persons travelling from one screen to another), it is necessary to stay a little longer. Sometimes the count and ticket sales don’t correspond at all. They then ask if you can account for the discrepancy. Sometimes there is simply no rational reason. I just stick to the truth.
Does anyone know who to put me in contact with to do movie checks? Where do I find companies that are looking for someone to do movie checks? I have done some about 15 years ago, but have not been able to find any companies since. Could someone please help me and lead me in the right direction? Maybe contact companies, names, addresses or phone numbers? I would be ever so grateful.
Yes, to Lily who wanted places to do movie shops…I have done many for Certified Reports in Kinderhook New York. I too find that the counts are most difficult. Use a counter/clicker. It makes it a lot easier. The down time between films really ties up a day or an entire weekend. Take along a book to read between films. Or, a lot of times the mgr will let you watch other films while you’re there.
BEWARE_____________be extra careful about following directions to the letter and expect to stay ALL day at the theater and try to not be noticed if this is possible because if you get caught You could be thrown out and when you dont complete the full assignment NO pay whatsoever and they the shop company drops you FLAT.And in Blind checks the manager cannot know who you are so dont expect any freebies and be prepared to pay all upfront costs such as up to 24.00 for 6 shows all different times.So choose carefully and ask for an advance upfront or at least free popcorn and a hot dog and pretzle because you DONT get to watch the whole film. Peace
Can anyone tell me which company offers these type of movie shops. Thanks
please let me know which company offers movie shops.
http://www.certifiedfieldassociates.com has trailer checks, open checks, blind checks, etc.
please let me know what movies are good in seeing.
Thank you! Natalie
I am interested.
Could I get more information? Will this cost me
anything?
Hi, My name is Edna and I am a mystery shopper; I am requesting a Movie Theater Check, shop in my area which is Muskegon, Michigan.49442
Thank you;
Edna
A reguest for a shop in my area Michigan
i would love to work as a mystery shopper for the movies
We love the movies and I would like to provide feedback on the sites & services