Friday, September 7, 2012

The cinema (s)

Today, I am spending my interesting day working at the movie theater.  It is gorgeous outside and there is only 41 people here. This results in me practically taking a nap in the box office (where tickets are sold, for all you youngins). The theater has 8 cinemas, but the sign the recently placed above our doors says 'Cinema'. I guess the plaza did not have enough money for the 's'...or the 'Gardner' part either.
When September hits the cinemas become a graveyard. The only people who come are the adorable old people and unfortunately, the crazy people who smell like stale cigarettes and bodily waste. The high points for the employees working include: the arrival of the mail, the dumpster guy, or the game guy. The REALLY thrilling days are when all of this happens! The hardest part off the shift is between 1:30 and 3 when we all just sit and stare at each other.... A picture of just how busy it is, is attached.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Birthday Parties

In the movie biz, there are birthday parties to be held. What screaming 8 year old wouldn't love to trash a movie theater and eat all the popcorn he can dream of? Someone is hired to give this child popcorn and then pick it all up. Today that was me. It was pretty simple, except for when I asked if anyone needed anything else and some kid kept screaming "root beer" at me. I get it child, calm your horses. Another child kept trying to be my best friend and tell me stories. If I could have pushed him away, I would have. Next time, I guess.  The Mom was a little frazzled with the whole situation, which I guess is expected. Being a parent and hosting a children's birthday party automatically makes you the Mom of the 13 kids there. I tried to keep my attention on Dad. He seemed calm, cool, and collected. He offered me pizza and I politely declined. He was right there when I was ringing them up for the party and he kept saying thank you to me. That's how you do it. Be nice and get nice back. I do not understand why people do not get that concept. It's not complex... Anyways, I got everyone in the movie, seated, with popcorn and (all but 2) drinks [the father and the older son's] before the movie started. All in all, I would say that it was a very successful birthday party. Easy $25 (plus $9 tip that Dad gave me! Thanks!!)
**The downside to dealing with children is you know exactly who is going to grow up to be rude and awful. I wish there was a way to fix them before that happened.