Carmike Cinemas Majestic 12 Ovation Club VIP Auditorium now offers on-site catering for private movie viewings, business meetings and other special events.
"The club itself is business as usual, however, we are branching off into hosting and catering special events," says Ovation Club manager Justin Wright. "We can cater those from the Ovation Club menu or, since we have a full kitchen upstairs, we can also do a specialized menu. It all depends on what the host is interested in having for their event."
The Ovation Club VIP Auditorium can hold up to 52 people. Wright notes that younger groups can be accommodated with catering in other theaters on-site, since the Ovation Club is only for those age 21 and older.
For larger gatherings, Majestic 12 can host more than 52 guests in one of its larger auditoriums, like the Big D, which can hold 389 people.
Already, the theater's schedule is filling up with specialty catered events. One of the upcoming parties will include 300 guests for a private screening along with a private menu and cash bar for wine and beer. Wright says staff will set up an outdoor patio near one of the exit doors with a bar there to provide guests with even more space and comfort.
The theaters are actually very well designed not just for movies but also for mingling, says Wright.
In most of the auditoriums there is plenty of space before the front row and screen for anyone to make a presentation, provide a small dance floor or perform a play or dramatic acting skit.
"The Ovation Club is a dinner and a movie all in one environment and this is the same concept," says Wright. "It keeps everything in-house. Rather than finding a venue and hiring an outside caterer, you come in and we take care of all of it for you. We are hoping to do more of these events in the future and we hope it will happen so often that the Ovation Club catering can be a separate entity in and of itself."
Anniversaries, birthdays and other special days can be the perfect excuse to host a private screening. The host does not have to choose a movie that is already showing on the big screen; the theater has the equipment and setup so that if the host wants to bring a Blu-Ray copy of a homemade or Hollywood movie not currently in theaters, it can also be played.
Though Majestic 12 can host fantastic parties for fun, the theater also has the ability for businesses to present PowerPoint presentations on its screens for employee training or development purposes.
"It's very affordable,"
Wright says.
"The ones we have done so far we did a flat rate for renting out the auditorium, which included the food. We can give you one lump sum for the food, service, location and entertainment."