Make It a Michael Jackson Weekend

They could just as easily add another showing of 'Transformers 2' or 'The Hangover' in the movie time slot and make just as much money.

You're forgetting that the Alamo has to split the ticket with the distributor and studio for the Hangover and Transformers 2. And since it's opening weekend for Transformers 2, the split is higher for the distributor.

But you're also forgetting that it's not just about filling the Alamo restaurant on each night this weekend. By dragging people in to this sing-a-long on Saturday, that person will come back on another day to see Transformers or Hangover. The Sing-A-Long adds another visit to their restaurant that shows movies. They've only got so many copies of Hangover and Transformers. The sing-a-long puts butts in chairs that otherwise couldn't get tickets to the other two films, but will come back later in the week to see those movies and put down an additional $20-$30 in food & beverage purchases.

Seth

My day job requires me to perform simple math calculations similar to those used to make the assertion that you're disputing.

I don't understand why you can't see that Tim and Kerry League are multi-millionaires. They own three massively popular restaurants that show popular Hollywood films. They charge patrons a standard ticket price and then sell tons of food and drinks. I don't know anyone who walks out of there spending less than $30 per couple.

With the Michael Jackson sing-a-long, they don't even have to pay a studio for the movie they're showing. I wonder if they're even paying royalties on the content they're charging people to see. The $5.00 admission probably is pure profit after they've paid someone to download a bunch of stuff off the internet and mix it on a Macintosh.

I think it would have been nice if the $5.00 would go to a musician charity like HAAM. HAAM provides Austin musicians with mental health (and medical) services that could help someone avert the pitfall that killed Michael Jackson.

Seth

(As someone helpfully pointed out,) running the Alamo Drafthouse takes money. The very reason the downtown location moved from the Warehouse "district" was because of skyrocketing rent. For every seat that no food or drink items are not ordered they are taking a loss - they could be charging a lot more. Five dollar entry seems very reasonable when mega movie theaters charge $10 a pop, and then you have to deal with screaming children, patrons talking on cell phones in the theater with no fear of retribution.
Your assertion that Tim and 'Kerry' (assuming you mean Karrie) League are robber barons money-grabbing on the heels of a celebrity death is disingenuous.

Nickc,

You're right. Operating a downtown theater costs money. Fortunately, the League's have tons of it. How else would they have the luxury of opening a bowling alley next to their South Lamar location? While the downtown location might be costly to operate, the Village and South locations are cheap-cheap-cheap. Their landlords there were desperate to get someone in those spaces and the Leagues were smart enough to sign a long-term lease in both.

If people think the proprietors of the Drafthouse are generous, you need to visit a few theaters in Portland, Oregon. They ALL serve beer there. And it's cheap to get in and cheap to eat food. Some show current movies. Others show recent releases and the arthouse releases that the Alamo rarely books anymore. Anybody wondering why the Anvil documentary never showed in the Live Music Capitol?

In this economy, I watch current Holloywood films like the Hangover at the Galaxy Highland where I enjoy stadium seating and pay the exact same ticket price ($8.75) as the Downtown Drafthouse. But I don't have to deal with buying tickets online with the surcharge because the Galaxy rarely sells out. And somehow that theater stays in business even though many of its seats are empty. If I want a beverage, I'll buy a $3.50 soda, which is the same price as the Drafthouse, but I get free refills at Galaxy Highland. Refills at the Drafthouse are $3.50 apiece. If I want beer, I'll bring my own to the Galaxy.

I wish a local restaurant would install a movie screen and compete head-on with the Drafthouse to bring their prices down. The success of the Leagues is proof the market is there.

Seth

Seth said:
"Anybody wondering why the Anvil documentary never showed in the Live Music Capitol?"

Seth, this was screened at SXSW last March at the Drafthouse. Twice. http://sxsw.com/film/screenings/schedule/?a=show&s=F16530

it is apparent that it is a very limited release film. No doubt the program directors at Alamo would love to screen many such niche movies with low $ returns, and IMO they are doing a good job of balancing them with the Hollywood pablum coming down the trough.

I commend you on finding cheap alternatives (hey, I used to sneak my six-pack into the Dobie as well. And let's not get started on how much that "arthouse" has gone to the dogs.) My point is simply that the proprietors are not being cynical in showing these tribute MJ singalongs.

Nick,

Fully aware of the SXSW screening. That wasn't programmed by the Alamo, and the popularity of the screenings meant badges only. It wasn't really something locals could attend.

I didn't mention that exception because it's no credit to the Alamo that the film played here for two screenings.

Seth

Hate to be contrary, but my festival buddy and I attended one of those screenings. We were pass holders, not badges. The film part of the festival is more forgiving in that respect than the music.

The Alamo deserves all the credit they get for hosting SXSW screens. I'm beginning to suspect your dislike of the Alamo is personal. Did Tim League spill a basket of fried pickles on your lap, or what? :)

If you really used to work at the Alamo (doubt it), you'd know that they've been hosting Michael Jackson sing-a-longs for easily 5 years now because, get this, they love Michael Jackson's music and other people do too. Seriously, they have one every month or so. And they always sell out, usually in advance. (Seth, so much for your theory that the audience is just people who couldn't get into Transformers who the greedy Alamo owners force against their will to buy a singalong ticket!)

Finally, if someone's looking to cash in by charging $5 admission, you're doing it wrong. Don't know if you've heard, but running a theater downtown with rent, employees, licensing and utilities costs money. Who knew!

heyzeus,

Ok, you doubt I worked at the Alamo. Well, why is that?? It is a job that requires no degree(or a high school diploma for that matter) or previous experience. Plus, TONS of people currently have that job. I believe the Alamo South alone has something like 80 employees. So why is it that with multiple cinemas, and many years in business that is is doubtful to you that one of the Alamo's previous employees(of which MANY wise up get out) comments on the Austinist website. I'll tell you why you doubt it: You have no valid argument against me and are grabbing for any flotation device to keep your head above water.

First off, I'd like you to provide me with the schedule(they print one up every few months) that shows where the Leagues have a MJ sing-a-long once a month. Since I know you can't provide this I'll just go ahead and call it for what it is: An outright fabrication.

However, I will give credit where credit is due. The Leagues are MJ fans as many other people are too(including myself) but I saved the $5 rip off to sing-a-long for one night and applied that to the $12 CD of a lifetime of singing-a-long whenever I choose(and the beer is much cheaper at my house or in my car).

And Heyzeus, one more thing, I took the liberty of reading some of your other comments on stories here and have to say that you really just seem like(and no offense here) a idiot.

jr.

I was wrong. I assumed that you'd never worked at the Alamo because if you had, you'd have known that the Alamo has regularly done MJ singalongs for many years. I neglected another possibility: You could have worked for one of the Alamos, but were either oblivious to their programming or not bright enough to read one.

Yep, Alamo's been doing MJ singalongs for years. They even coordinated the "thrill the world" thriller dance here in austin last fall. You can ask me to spend my time digging up old schedules, but I don't have to waste my time on your request. Why don't you look up all those old schedules to show that they haven't? Same reason. It's fine; you were wrong on the internet about whether the Alamo's held Michael Jackson sing alongs regularly in the past. Even I'm not that interested. It just needs pointing out that the Alamo and MJ have been BFF for many moons, lest the uninformed think they're cashing in on that $5 midnight showing the eve of his death.

Finally, kudos to you for deeming me an idiot. No offense, but coming from someone like you, that's a fine compliment. Toodles, Einstein!

Heyzeus,

I'm still waiting on that schedule. I'll personally deliver you $100 cash if you can provide it because the schedule I'm holding in my hand has not one listing for a Micheal Jackson sing-a-long. Seriously, if you can show me a schedule I'll give you $100 cash. But you can't. Also, I noticed you stopped saying the Alamo had MJ sing-a-longs every month and started saying "regularly."

Also, you doubted I worked at the Alamo and now you refer to me as not bright enough to read a schedule. So which is it?? Am I not talented enough to work for the Alamo or are Tim and Karrie hiring people who can't even read. Please clarify your 180 degree shift on this one for me.

So, I've done my part, per your request, of digging up the old schedule(happened to brought home just yesterday by my houseguests), so now do yours and claim your easy $100 cash, or you can just keep changing your story to make it seem like you have some kind of point.

jr.

This is like shouting into the grand canyon, posting here now, but I never had any doubt that you would pussy out like a true internet toughguy "expert" when confronted with evidence that your adamant assertion was completely bogus.

i'm sure it would appear that I pussied out on this one, and I'm sure you'll tell yourself that so you can be right in you're own mind but I really just ceased giving a shit.

And if it feels like you're shouting into the grand canyon here then why are you still shouting??

Did you really think I'd give you a hundred dollars anyway?? That's funny!

I'll see you down at the next MJ sing-a-long the alamo has. Should be in about a month, right??

john.