University Cinema

[ZingerIntl]

Seriously, only make it for singles and put everyone on couches and floors. When I went to visit my buddy in Canada, his college did that for free but no one went to the bar to meet girls they didnt even care what was showing. they just always showed up and flirted with the girls. In arizona and I am sure many other places they do singles activities and its a great idea to meet like minded people wheather its movies hikes bowling whatever. Then you know that everyone there is single and they will always show up. Maybe...

Good luck tho

[Kaizen]

I see where you're going with the idea zinger, but that doesnt sound doable as I don't have access to or the space for loads of couches etc.

Just to let you guys know how I'm getting on

1) I've started a website which isn't ready yet but you can check out the unfinished (bear in mind its VERY unfinished) article at Reading Student Cinema

2) I've just opened an account with the guys at paramount and warnerbros.

3) I've scheduled a meeting with the hall operator too arrange a booking.



Left on my to do list now is

1) Book the Hall
2) Get posters up
3) fix up the website
4) sell sell sell.

Any advice etc at this point?

Kazien

[Kaizen]

A lesson in numbers


Today it emerged that if I got permission from the business society, I would not have to pay VAT.

Also, the price of £460 (inc VAT) that I was quoted was for 4 hours - So for two hours, its going to be half that, minus 15% (to take off the VAT)

ie: (460/2)*(1-0.15) = 195.50

Which means the difference is pure profit -> 460 -195.50 = 264.50

Selling out with a cost of £460 gave me a profit of £340 so,

£340 + £264.50 = £604.50




NOW, I spend the cost of the hall (195.50) and one third of the box office gets spent on royalties (if I sell out at £3 per ticket, thats £400 of the 1200 I take in - there are 400 seats). Thats (195.50 + 400) = 595.50

595.50 + £604.50 =1200.


So my return on capital is 101.5%

And my profit margin is 50.3%

If I sell out I MORE THAN DOUBLE my money.


:-)

[awayoflife]

Thats IF you sell out your 400 seats though. I dont know how easy it would be to complete that.. myabe 200-300 sounds more realistic?

[Kaizen]

yeah I know. I break even at 108 ticket sales. Should be doable in a a uni with 15000 people in it.

:-)

[stri8ed]

Thats IF you sell out your 400 seats though. I dont know how easy it would be to complete that.. myabe 200-300 sounds more realistic?

solid point

[Kaizen]

Yeah I know. I only found it easy to pick a number of sales and work it out becuase of the sliding nature of the payments - the distributors want a percentage and the venue want a lump sum.

[Mega B]

It sounds as if this is moving foreward at a fast rate of knots.Good luck with the new venture.

Mega...

[Kaizen]

After speaking with the university about booking the room, and specificly explaining that I only needed two hours of time (ok two and a half would be better), they have come back saying

"it is our policy that we only let the room out for four hours at a time"

Repeatedly now I have had this discussion with my contact, thanking them for their support and asking if they could please pass on their managers contact details.

Every time they have ignored me and gone off on a tangent, reaffirming that it is policy and that it is not a policy they will change.

I get the impression this is a situation that entrepreneurs come across frequently - essentially a flat and resounding "no".


I just wondered how you guys dealt with it?>


Me? I've cut my contact out of my dealings. I will endevour to go around them from now on. I think I have now found out the name of the manager, and I will be in contact with them shortly.



K

[Mega B]

I think you will find that could be a sticking point and gut feeling tells me it will be a minimum of 4 hours or nothing and as they have the ball they will play the game how they want too.I would say try asking nicely but dont force the issue or you could loose the venue and you dont want that.Good luck

[Shadesz]

Two showings maybe? Different movies? One of them would have to be fairly short? Just an idea.

[Kaizen]

i have thought about that shadesz, but i'm not sure if it "works" as a concept.

just seems a bit confusing in my head, like how i would advertise two diff films on the same night. worth thinking more about though.

@ Mega B, I totally agree with you. I don't want to alienate people i might need in the future, but its tough when shortsightedness and beurecracy closes down a venture as promising as this.

I've got a strong argument though.

1) they are a monopoly and should recognise this and not act like one
2) its in their mission statement to encourage entrepreneurialism
3) its for the students
4) they should think of it as a reliable cash flow rather than a full price, half time booking.


k

[chase779]

Getting students to part with cash is a very hard task, good luck though.

[awayoflife]

If you needed to book for 4 hours then you could maybe show the film and afterwards (or before) do something along the lines that Zinger said at the top of this page of comments. That is, something for people in the college to come and meet up, like a singles night or something. You could sell snacks or whatever at a nice profit, the main problem will be what will they do and where will they sit. I dont really know the answers to those unfortunately. Maybe have some form of "fun speed dating"

Anyone got suggestions for what they could do during the remaining hour and a half after the movie?

[Kaizen]

That is a great idea, thanks for the feedback.

At this point, im just coming up with plan A's plan B's plan C's and D's.

Perhaps I could just put live Tv on, and tell people to come hang out and try and sell them stuff whilst they were there? Maybe snacks, and tickets for the movie (as it would be coming up in an hour or so)

Thing is, the university don't want me to sell food and drink. To be honest, I'll do what I can get away with, but it doesnt look like that is going to be much.

Any other ideas would be great guys, I really appriciate the support!

K