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Don't text at the movies and CERTAINLY don't complain about getting kicked out
The Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, TX reeeeeally doesn't want you to text during movies. They recently kicked a woman out for doing so. She called and left a voice mail to complain. The theater then turned that complaint into this announcement, which they now show before movies.
Warning: lots of swears.
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This is the latest in a long line of irreverent, humorous videos from the Drafthouse with the message "Don't talk or text during the movie, or we'll take your a** out." Love their policy, and their attitude! It's the only movie theater I go to anymore.
I understand she got two warnings.
The fact is that each auditorium should have a single screen, not a multiplex. And any phone or other electronic device that lights up distracts everyone near or behind the user. That means our attention for the movie we came to see is now interrupted and the magic vanishes.
Our theater employs Destruct-O-Cell which will cause a device to self destruct if used during the show. Plenty of warnings in the lobby including a framed damaged phone.
I want to go there! It makes me sad that I rarely go to movies anymore because of all the idiots talking on their phones or lighting the place up with the screens or beeping. The 20 minutes of commercials were bad enough. But if we had an Alamo Drafthouse....
I'm guessing she showed up late, if it was too dark to find her seat AND she missed ALL the other visual/audio clips Alamo runs that directly state they will "take your ass out" if you use your phone during the movie.
Thanks for kicking out the texters, Alamo. This is (part of) why I will always enjoy your theatre! Also, the beer served during the films.
Texting with your phone on silent at a theater isn't a big deal. These guys were crazy for kicking this girl out. It's not like other customers are going to leave a theater because a couple people text during a movie... it should be discouraged, but kicking people out is a great way to run your business into the ground. Especially putting out a video like this so you can feel like a bada**. I won't be going to their theater...
It is a big deal if you're sitting near the person who is texting. Regardless, if the policy clearly states that if you text, you will be kicked out, don't do it. If you don't like the policy, don't patronize the business. And, since they were clever enough to turn a voicemail rant into nationwide exposure, it seems unlikely that they will "run their business into the ground." I imagine that there will be a market for device-free moviehouses that serve beer for quite some time.
Texting in a darkened theater IS a big deal. It is rude, distracting and selfish. Alamo makes it VERY clear that it is NOT tolerated. One warning is all you get--do it again, and you are out. People complain any time someone texts or uses their phone (all you need to do is put a note in the order rail and a server will pick it up silently and anonymously), and Alamo is vigilant in responding.
This (longstanding, well-explained and well-understood) policy has "run their business into the ground" all right--bigger and busier every single year they have been open, most every show sold out in advance, now with 12 successful theaters in 4 cities.
We should all have our businesses run into the ground this way.
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