Our Sales Team partners with B&B Theatres to provide you with the full-service package described below. Contact Steve Zimmerman or Eric Olson for a PDF copy of the Sonic Equipment Company Package letter and more details.

Below is information on our Project Development department and how we can help make your cinema plans a reality.

SEC Consulting Services

The best way to explain what we offer is to start by explaining who we are:

Sonic Equipment Company is a full service theatre equipment supply and service company. Sonic was opened in the 1970s by one of the owners of B & B Theatres to help service other independent theatres in Kansas. Sonic currently services all B & B Theatres as well as an additional 300 screens throughout the country.

B & B Theatres is a family owned and operated theatre chain established in 1924. We currently operate 30 theatres in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma with a total screen count of 177. We traditionally operate in regional and mid-size markets. Our company slogan of “Bringing Hollywood to your hometown since 1924” aptly explains what we do.

While B & B Theatres history dates back to 1924, the vast majority of the company’s facilities are less than 15 years old. Since 1997, B & B Theatres has completed 25 projects for themselves, including 19 new theatre projects. Our new theatre facilities includes stadium seating, wall to wall screens, state of the art projection equipment, a family arcade and a full service concession stand.

In 1998, Sonic Equipment Company, working with B & B Theatres, began advising clients on theatre projects. Since that time our consulting with clients has resulted in 11 new theatres, two expansions of existing theatres and a remodeling that included the addition of stadium seating to a facility after a fire. This consulting included a feasibility review, site selection, help proceeding through the banking process, design and layout of the facility, construction consulting and bid review, business structuring, and operational advice well beyond the theatre opening.

The bottom line is that B & B Theatres and Sonic Equipment are uniquely positioned to provide consulting and advice to clients in every aspect of a theatre project. The Movie Theatre Consulting Agreement is the best way to implement your plan for a movie theatre.

The consulting package encompasses all aspects of the theatre construction process. The package provides for:

• Demographic Review: A demographic and competitor study will be done for the proposed area and will compare the results to several of our existing theatres.
  
  
• Pro Forma Income Statements: From the Demographic Review and comparison theatres, Year 1 through 5 pro forma income statements will be developed for the possible project. The statements will break out potential income and operating expense for the project.
  
  
• Potential Project Costs: Given the number of projects completed in the last few years we have a very good feel for potential project costs. Combining the material and labor cost data from previous jobs with the particulars of a new project, we will de velop an estimate of potential project costs.
  
  
• Finance Modeling: Estimates of project costs will allow us to develop financing models. Debt load is analyzed in relation to the pro forma statements. Through this modeling the client can determine if the project is feasible and if it meets the expected return on investment.
  
  
• Location analysis: While a theatre is a retail business, the approach for finding a suitable location is often very different for a theatre than other retail businesses. The consulting package will include information about general search criteria such as lot size, location, and price. In addition, we will provide a review of specific sites.
  
  
• Layout and Architecture: Our consulting clients receive access to our proprietary design and architectural plans as models for their project. Clients will typically need to have a location specific set of plans drawn, but if our plans are used as a model, clients should save money and time as they will not be starting from scratch on a design. The client also has the option to hire our architect directly, which could save more time and money.
  
  
• Design: We will help clients achieve the design features they desire. Having gone through the design process many times, we will help clients choose the features that are cost effective and eliminate more frivolous features. We also have experience with what fixtures, finishes, and equipment work the best in a theatre setting and will help the client choose the features that best suit their project.
  
  
• Advice on Ownership and Business Structure: Business structure and ownership issues are typically different from client to client. However, our experience with a number of other clients allows us to review the options with clients and help them structure their business in the way best suited to their project.
  
  
• Construction Consulting: Our experience in the construction aspect allows us to help with construction consulting. Under the consulting agreement we will provide advice but will not be responsible for construction management. We would act as a resource to the client and contractor through the process.
  
  
• Operations: With over 80 years in the exhibition industry, B&B Theatres has learned a lot about theatre operations. The client will get an up-close look at how we operate our theatres. Client access to our operational side is almost completely unhindered. Our goal is not to create a theatre that operates exactly like us but rather to provide the client with information about what has (and has not) worked for us and other clients. Clients can pick and choose procedures to incorporate into their operations and clients are welcome to question us on how we arrived at the procedure or policies to see if the procedure fits their operational model. This process is designed to be as “hands on” as possible. As such, the client, prior to the theatre opening, will receive:
  
  
  •  Policy and Procedure Manual: Clients receive a copy of our “Employee Handbook” with over 200 pages of policies and procedures including: formal written procedures, forms, paperwork samples, and reference materials. All of our 84 years of experience in a user-friendly, easy-to-read format.
    
    
  • B&B Theatre visit: Clients will be allowed an extended visit to any of our theatres. Clients will observe all operations including the projection booth, box-office, and concession. A member of our upper management staff will accompany the client to help facilitate the visit.
    
    
  • Grand Opening Training: The Grand Opening Weekend can be extremely stressful for any client. To help ease this stress, B&B Theatres will provide at least two operation personnel to help train staff on Grand Opening Weekend. These personnel are trained in theatre operations and are typically working in upper management.
    
    
  • Ongoing Consultation: After the theatre is open, B&B Theatres staff remains available for consultation about all aspects of theatre operations. Clients can call or email us with questions. In addition, B&B Theatres will continually provide manual updates and additional information as needed when our policies or laws change.
    
    
• Phone and Internet Support: The items above are the basic consulting areas needed on every project. However, each project is different and there will always be questions and concerns that may not fall directly into one of these categories. We have designed the consulting to be as encompassing as possible, so we encourage clients to call or email with questions, concerns and ideas. We will do everything in our power to answer or explain these items or point the client in the direction of someone who can. 

I believe the best way to sum up our consulting package is that B & B Theatres and Sonic Equipment Company have a tremendous amount of experience in all facets of the movie theatre industry. Over 80 years of hits and misses, rights and wrongs and successes and failures will be available to our clients so that our clients can open and operate a first class facility.

If you have any questions please contact Steve Zimmerman or Eric Olson at Sonic Equipment Company.

Project Development

Past Project Examples