The overall responsibility of a theater manager is to run the theater profitably. Theater managers hire and manage employees, participate in marketing campaigns to promote shows, schedule performances, order concessions, manage the budget, and generally ensure that everything runs smoothly. A movie theater manager might have a business degree, whereas live performance theater managers might have a fine arts degree. The more hands-on duties theater managers are likely to do on a daily basis, the smaller the theater. Managers in larger theaters may have an assistant on the front line instead.
In a large multi-screen movie theater, for example, the manager might hire a high school student to work as an assistant manager. This employee usually works with others as ticket takers or concession stand workers, but he or she is in charge of the others. Students frequently begin by working nights and weekends. The pay is usually around minimum wage, but some movie theaters offer free movies and help with college tuition. Because small movie theaters have a limited number of employees, the theater manager may be required to perform hands-on tasks such as serving popcorn and soda to customers.
In large movie theaters, the theater manager may spend the majority of his or her workday in an office, keeping track of records, creating marketing materials, and ordering concession snacks. Film distributors must also be communicated with by theater managers. Part of a theater manager’s job is to try to negotiate a lower rate to increase profit for the theater. Film distributors may demand up to 90% of box office sales to show a film, so negotiating a lower rate is part of the job. Managers of movie theaters also have ticket sales targets to meet, so they must select films that local audiences want to see in order to meet those targets.
Managers of live performance theaters must also choose plays that appeal to local audiences in order to ensure a sufficient number of ticket sales. They oversee the construction of stage sets and the completion of costumes in time for dress rehearsals. In theater manager jobs, ensuring that safety regulations are followed is a constant concern, and theater managers must also hire and supervise security personnel. In a live theater, a manager is often in charge of the cast and crew’s accounting and payroll, as well as keeping track of their attendance. A theater manager is also in charge of ensuring that the theater is properly shut down after each performance.