Reserved Seating - The Movie

Butch went to the movies this past weekend.  Our local theatre is testing a reserved-seating-only policy.  You pay $2 per ticket more for this benefit.  In a press release about the test, the company explains that reserved seating gives guests an enhanced "experience."

I didn't like it at all.

1.  It slows the box office sales process.  Each customer has to take the time to select their seats from a computer monitor.  Green seats are open, red seats are claimed.  I'm color blind.  They all looked the same.

2.  It forces you to choose a seat next to someone you can't see.  If I don't want to sit next to the five teen girls who talk throughout the entire movie, I no longer have the option of making that decision once I enter the theatre. (Reminds me of the new SW Airlines policy of now letting Business Class fliers board the plane before families with small children... as a special benefit.  The best thing about babies being on board first was that I could choose not to sit next to them.)

3.  It's a ridiculous addition of incremental staff -- hence, the $2 per ticket increase.  Each theatre screen has attendants who show you to your seat.  No thanks, I don't need that.

4.  One of the benefits touted by the company is that you can now show up at the last minute because you have a reserved seat.  This is the same company that sells my clients pre-movie theatre-screen advertising because they have a "captive audience."  Not anymore.  Hope the cost of advertising just went down, because the number of eyeballs just went down (more last-minute arrivals AND fewer people due to increased cost).

Overall, I found it to be an unneccesary and forced "experience."

Great idea or epic failure.

What do you think?
- Butch