Source: Pixabay
It's no secret that movie theaters are struggling. While many of us prefer the magic of the silver screen, the majority disagree. Cinema attendance has been decimated by streaming, while many have been deterred by the ever-increasing prices of movie tickets and concessions, which have largely outstripped inflation by a wide margin. As a result, some of the most beloved movie theaters in America could soon close their doors forever, while many already have. So, how can ailing movie theaters turn things around and get bums back in seats? Here are some ideas.
Enhance the Experience
One thing that struggling cinemas could do to turn things around is investing in upgrades to offer a more luxe moviegoing experience. One could take a page out of the AMC playbook. The US theater behemoth recently spent hundreds of millions renovating their venues, adding sofas, VIP booths, plush furnishings, and even champagne on tap. These kinds of investments can encourage an experience-seeking public to shell out for tickets instead of watching Netflix at home.
Invest in Some Freebies
Other sectors of the entertainment industry have been keen to invest in free giveaways as a means of luring in new customers. One solid case study in this regard is the online casino industry. As this page here explains, many online real money game providers have begun offering 'no-deposit bonuses' such as free cash and free spins on slot games in order to lure people in. A business-savvy theater owner could learn from this example and invest the necessary dollars in some freebies for customers to remind them why they should pay for tickets in the future.
Source: Unsplash
Bring Some Personality to the Venue
Even if a movie theatre is part of a chain, it can benefit from being given a distinct personality. Some movie theater owners have used social media to great effect to give a unique voice to their venue, especially if the venue is in a historic theater. You can also use themed movie nights and decor to bring the personality of your theater to life. This is the kind of thing that will attract loyal, paying customers.
Bring Back Cinematic Events
One thing that many big-budget cinema chains have lost sight of is the beauty of the cinematic event. Standard blockbuster screenings are not enough to convince anyone to swerve streaming sites for the evening. What matters is positioning a trip to your movie theater as an evening out to remember. Think of back-to-back movie marathons or themed nights such as vintage horror nights, bad movie nights, western nights, or nights themed around a specific actor. Don't just focus on the movies - make sure the food, the decor, and the vibe are all tweaked to help contribute to your cinematic event.
By following these simple tips, even the most beleaguered movie theater can turn its fortunes around. With a little bit of marketing savvy and an ability to recognize why people choose a trip to the movies over a night at home, you can start selling tickets like hotcakes again.
Remember when, back in August, we learned “The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth” would be playing in only around 350 U.S. theaters, "maybe fewer"? Well, it's fewer. A lot fewer.