Management Practices.

So, this weekend The Coach and I decided to celebrate our anniversary with a road trip to The Big City (TBC). We used to live in a suburb of TBC and we wanted to back to some of our favorite haunts and hideaways. Overall, the day was pleasant:

• We had legendary steaks (mmmm, horseradish encrusted steak…);
• We hit the Williams-Sonoma where I picked up a set of bowls, a spider, a brush, a pasta spoon, and a springform pan;
• We hit Whole Foods for organic spices and good cheese … and I bought a pair of these (something I once swore that I would never do); and
• We visited some old friends (although, for the life of me, I don’t understand how we can be friends with people who are so conservative!).

Of course, a road trip with the Disenchanted Family always has to have a glitch. You see, The Coach and I tried to see Persepolis at the Art House Theatre because it will probably never make it to Sorta’ Cosmopolitan. We had the directions. We had everything perfectly timed. We arrived at the movie theatre with 15 minutes to spare, but …

The electricity was out.

That’s right. The electricity was out at the movie theatre. Now, the management posted a sign on the door that said “The power is out. As soon as the power comes back on, we will reopen the theater.” To make a long story slightly shorter, the power came on while we were standing there so we decided to wait. Soon, a large crowd gathered. {Tick, Tock} We are all peering in the doors and windows. {Tick, Tock} Workers are moving around inside. The popcorn is popping. The movie times come up on the digital board. {Tick, Tock} Half an hour passes and still no news. Soon, a girl comes outside — who was not affiliated with the movie theater, but must have been visiting a friend. She says: “Give them 10 minutes.”

Tick, Tock.
Tick, Tock.
Tick, Tock.

10 minutes pass. Nothing. No manager. No movement inside the theatre. It wasn’t until we had been standing there for a good hour that a new, or rather, a more correct, sign was posted: “This theater will not open until at least 4 p.m. … blah, blah … It takes a while for the 35 mm projectors to turn back on.”

WTF? You know they could have just posted that last statement on the original sign. What I really found obnoxious is that the manager didn’t come out and talk to the crowd that had gathered. I’m thinking that you’d want to soothe feelings or something, just so people would be inclined to come back and spend their hard earned cash at your place. Needless to say, we’ll be renting the movie on DVD.