by M. Sparga

Created on: January 23, 2009   Last Updated: February 26, 2009

Box office workers, concessionaires, ushers, and projectionists are all necessary to make moviegoers' experience complete. If you love movies and can hold your own in customer service, a job in a movie theater might be just the ticket for you. But before you go in, it's good to have an idea of the benefits of such a job, as well as the less-than-pleasant aspects.

PROS
Number one has got to be free movies. As ticket costs continue to rise over time, the perk of free movie admission is gold. You might not always be able to get into the latest blockbuster on opening night, but it's still great to be able to see all the movies you want at no cost whatsoever. Depending on the theater you work for, you might also be able to get free popcorn and soft drinks. Bonus!

A lot of movie theaters also give their employees first pick of the promotional film posters displayed in the lobby and hallways. These thin, double-sided posters make great collector's items, as do the promotional movie pins that some employees wear on their uniforms.

Also, when a new movie print arrives, someone has to screen it before it opens to the public to make sure it plays correctly and doesn't have any scratches on it. Some movie theater managers allow their employees to view these sneak previews and see a brand new movie before all their friends.

CONS
If you get a job in a movie theater, be prepared to work on holidays. No holiday is off limits for the tireless theater worker. Most movie theaters are open 365 days a year, and some of the busiest days, which require a lot of staff on hand to handle the rush, are major holidays. You might find yourself having to schedule Thanksgiving dinner around your work shift, or postponing your New Year's Eve plans until after you close down the concession stand for the night. Some holidays might be so swamped that you'll be asked to work a double shift. Others might be so slow, like Halloween night or Super Bowl Sunday, that you'll have to pass the time with extra cleaning.

Beyond just the logistics, there are certain unpleasant job requirements that come with the territory. You will inevitably have to deal with unpleasant customers. Their concerns may be as minor as their popcorn is too salty, or as major as the film projector broke and now everyone in the auditorium needs a refund. You may also have to deal with unpleasant messes. Let's face it, someone has to keep the restroom clean, and don't be surprised if you find even worse messes lurking in the emptied auditorium while the end credits roll.

In all, working in a movie theater, like any other job, has its good and bad points. If you go into such a position, it's good to have realistic expectations as well as a sense of what will make it worthwhile to you.

Learn more about this author, M. Sparga.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.