[bnralt]

He also says it was during "a movie night for kids," and the author thinks people should be paying for normal movie theater stuff, like popcorn:

>You want to see Spider Man? You desperately want to bring your kids to Encanto or Sing 2? And you want your popcorn, food, and drinks? Cool. But if you don’t tip...

If someone is taking their kids to a movie night, I wouldn't expect them to tip for tickets, popcorn and soda. And if there's a theater where the workers get upset that you don't tip them for those, I'd expect people to avoid it and go to a normal theater.

[sokoloff]

If someone brings popcorn and soda to our table, I expect to/do tip for it.

[bnralt]

I don't think I've ever been in a movie theater other than restaurant/theater hybrids (where tables have specific waiters) where this was done. But either way, the author says he was working the bar (which sounds more like a bar/concession stand hybrid), not serving tables.

[alistairSH]

The Alamo Drafthouse chain of theaters, of which there is at least one in Austin and one in the DC suburbs, has table service. And, if I remember correctly, the bar is set-up like a normal pub bar (and separate from non-alcohol concessions). So, you can order a drink in advance of seating, as you would at a a pub (where you'd normally tip the bartender) and you can order drinks at your seat.

It is a bit strange/confusing that the author didn't clarify, as very few theaters serve alcohol at all. And most that do don't have a stand-alone bar or table service, just beers at the concession counter.