That's where the solutions lie. There's no template in how to run a business with an active pandemic. Good/bad/whatever, best to throw the ideas out there and see what inspires anything.

I’m envisioning a sort of open alcove in front of every game. The lexan barriers could maybe attach to something like the 8020 racks people have built for mobile streaming rigs.

I was thinking a cheap shower curtain on a electrical conduit pipe assembly you could move but yeah, just some kind of a barrier idea. Private pinball lol.

I’m surprised you are happy with the opening at 50% occupancy. This is exactly what I am dreading. We can’t survive at 50% occupancy. If that is the route Chicago goes, we will be killed in expenses. At that point there is no longer the ability to challenge our rent and additional costs all of which will be at the full rate. Even our liquor minimums would be brutal to pay but rent at 30k a month on top of everything else doesn’t work at a 50% cap.

Most venues will have to deal with this. It really means a whole new evaluation of your business plan. It's simply not possible to get the same amount of revenue from fewer people. Almost every revenue number will change. Places that were viable at the old normal may not be viable at the new normal. Will the bankers, landlords, and other creditors be willing to renegotiate without government intervention?

The economic fallout will be far reaching. Equipment vendors that used to recoup the cost in three years may not survive if it now takes five years.

I've spoken to my wife about what we would be comfortable paying to go out for entertainment in a way that made us feel safe.

It's not realistic for any business to just have 50% capacity and charge the same money.

So how can you turn a negative into a positive?

What packages/offerings can be created for a smaller audience, one that may not want to be sharing the space with others?

Like for example, we discussed what we would pay to go to an amusement park that had so few people we were riding alone on rides.

How much would I pay to go the the movies and be the only family in the theater?

What would I pay for an arcade to give my family exclusive access window?

Fine, I am not "typical", but there are people like me out there, so why not serve them and serve your business at the same time?

For the foreseeable future, I’m shifting a lot of route pins to home rental. While this model is probably unsustainable long-term for many “route Players” budgets, it has been a blessing as a short-term solution for them (and me). 100% of the people I know who already own pin(s) have turned down the pricing for this... they can clearly see that it’s a far better solution for them to buy another or save that money until they can get a new pin, a sentiment that will be echoed, I’m sure, by this new renters market within a few months. I’m extremely concerned about the post-covid future of operating, and it seems like the mask/hand washing/distance model is going to have to be how it is for a while... the idea of “how much would I pay for exclusive access” is interesting, and it begs the question... is increased pricing along with increased spacing feasible? While not ideal, I think there are many out there who understand the gravity and magnitude of the situation, and would be willing to help operators and locations eat the cost, lest they lose the location altogether. Clearly not ideal, but could this possibly save some businesses? What to y’all think?

Plastic partitions are an interesting idea, but a bit too “medical”. Might make the room look like an ICU. They’d only protect you from a side-sneeze or heavy breathing... and each would require a dedicated fan to keep the airflow moving.

Since maximum attendance will be an issue regardless, I think maintaining at least one empty game in between would accomplish the same goal without the spookiness.

I predict pinball (for now) will only succeed within controlled environments with hand-washing and airflow protection upon entry and exit. No one will want to drop money into “unprotected” machines randomly sitting alone on location. Visitors want to be assured they are stepping into a controlled zone for their fun.

It’s actually worse for barcades/breweries because it is risky for people to be touching glassware/food to their lips while playing bare-handed. I won’t be allowing any eating or drinking within our “shared touch zone” for this reason... only before or after entry.

This will cut into our concession sales a good bit, but there’s no alternative. Consumption means no masks and things touching your lips/face. Whereas sharing touch means masking up and high airflow/purification.

No in-between.

Barcades and breweries should plan to zone off their games and require hand washing at entry/exit. I don’t think consumption and shared touch can be safely mixed. Fingers on masks, masks being removed/put back on, won’t work. Has to be either/or.

Asking people to pay more for the same old seldom works. Although for the current crisis, it might be totally acceptable to justify the base prices going up.

But offering people new exclusive offerings for premium price would be the direction I'm thinking.

I'd look at VIP packages for other industries for inspiration. Glamping, festivals, theme parks, etc.

This is a marketing challenge. Coming up with something cool and unique.

“Get My Family Out of the House” Platinum Package

-Reserved arcade for 1 car load (arrive together, play together, leave together)
-Exclusive access window of the arcade for 2 hours
-Will not share it with anyone, door will be locked.
-Arcade will be closed for 1 hour before you arrive so that every surface is disinfected. Every controller, button, surface.
-Unlimited games for the 2 hour window
-4 arcade t-shirts for keepsakes
-Selfie Wall for you to record your outing and share you getting out the house
-Includes food and beverage for 4
-“I got to play at Fancypants arcade all by myself” Social media badge to share
-Recognition on our Wall of Honor of supporting the arcade during this time
-Gaming passes for $100 of gaming in the future during a regular visit (valid for 2 years)

Family of 4 Platinum package: $499

Maximum 1 Platinum package available per day, reserve your date now.

That was my 5 minute brainstorm. Just to give an idea of the direction this could go on.

Likely could offer a good/better/best model of that, and a $1000 hamburger option.

Well there is the first problem. Check with your fire marshal. In my city ( Hopkins, MN ) if people are inside, doors must be unlocked.

Not saying it's a bad idea. Just think through all parts of it.

LTG : )

Take the parts you like.

I'll add this, for brainstorming, best to ignore "why this won't work" and just keep adding ideas. Keep the mind focused on possibilities than objections and somewhere a jewel will appear.

Check this out. Air flow could be an issue as well. It could be a very sweaty summer.

https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/04/23/airflow-a-concern-as-restaurants-businesses-reopen-post-coronavirus-pandemic/

My and many other operator’s problem is we have no stake in the business our pins are in. The logistics of that are monumental... I think it’s a fantastic idea for owner/operators and arcades/barcades but the rest of us just can’t without an added strain on our businesses or theirs... that said, some money is better than none, and at the price you mentioned for a package, I would happily organize And supervise that. But it’s about what I’m charging for a month of home rental... which is a better deal?

One package is called “Get My Family Out of the House”, so that will appeal to people who are dying to get out. I can cook at home for cheaper but I'm dying to get back to a restaurant for 5 times what it costs me to cook at home.

For operators like yourself, my mind goes to what ideas you could bring your locations to help them? I don't know the answers, and these aren't easy answers, figuring out things for the first time is always the most difficult. But I like to help people give themselves permission to think different and you never know what will come of it.

That talk was literally less than 1 minute. I was told there is no way and conventional methods of eviction would commence once I am 10 days late.

We made paper.

https://tucson.com/business/tucson-pinball-arcade-d-d-closes-in-midst-of-coronavirus-crisis/article_6c5325ac-0bdb-52a0-8651-fc2388aac193.html

Bummer. I'm glad you tried. No stone left unturned.

Landlords have signed contracts and not likely to be an ally in this. Some may work with you but on a forbearance level and not forgiveness. I appreciate and applaud the operators who do so much for our hobby. However, it’s difficult to see how many survive in an environment where sanitation and spacing are required. I certainly hope I’m wrong.

Your local politicians may be of some use. The Morgantown courts are closed until April 30th and probably won't be prioritizing evictions right away. https://www.morgantownwv.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=413

Our landlord was proactive and came to us with their proposal of cutting rent by 50%. That seems like a reasonable approach at least for now. Not sure if that works for 6+ months however.

Nice. That is what I suspected. Landlords aren't all homogeneous, so you never know what is possible.

As far as I know, only movie stars, music stars, and sports stars can afford to rent out entire entertainment venues for personal use.

The only way to describe this pandemic situation, and it applies to any part of it:

It’s a fucking mess!

The problem is indeed a mess and is focused on the three essential factors: time, emotion and money.

Time, as stated above... can we hold out for 18 months? A couple of months... sure, 6 maybe... but we don't know how long this will last, additional waves, failed vaccines, etc. We're no longer at the point in human evolution where we can wait FOR ANYTHING...

2nd...the emotional factor, specifically.. FEAR. If the thought of playing a game at an arcade or throwing a ball down a wooden floor will create the emotion of FEAR in a percentage of people, well, that's tough to overcome.

And lastly, financial resources are always limited and won't go into ventures that can not be supported. The lack of business investment will lead to a decrease in taxes paid AT EVERY LEVEL, which will lead to higher taxes and inflation.

The ONLY way out has been clear to me from the beginning... we need science to come through and figure out a therapy asap that will cut into two of the three factors: Fear and Time. A FDA approved therapeutic regimen that is adopted within the next 8 weeks and is proven to cut the incidence of death and hospitalizations down 90%. We've got some really smart men and women working like crazy along with amazing technology to prove out their ideas and study participants eager to help. I'm betting on the big brains here. I was hoping the president would have pulled together the best virologists, scientists, etc. weeks ago and put them in a lab somewhere ala Manhattan project and told them that Failure is NOT an option.

I mean, this is a huge part of it. Regardless of how much prevention, regiments, and etc go into the re-opening, the folks still gotta come out and want to play.

During normal times. But when families aren’t vacationing, or doing anything, then that frees up cash to do some wild things if the right intriguing offer comes up.

All I know is that it’s already a conversation in our house because months of house arrest ain’t going to be fun.

Well....if you can afford to rent out a big place for a few people, more power to you!

They're probably in a world of hurt. Commercial real estate is in serious trouble. Like going to implode trouble. Anyone who evicts someone in commercial real estate probably isn't picking up another tenant for 18 to 24 months minimum, and the rents are probably going to be a lot lower.

So here’s a question for operators with games in someone else’s business, like a pizza shop, bar, etc. If that business goes under, and they padlock the doors, what happens to your equipment? Can you get it out, or does it become embroiled in a lengthy bankruptcy proceeding?

That could be a problem. You'd have to prove ownership and go through the legal process. Takes time and money. You should be able to get them back. Eventually.

LTG : )

I appreciate everyone giving advice and caring enough to offer help in these matters. Some pm'ed and I will get back to you in the next 24 hours. I am wondering what will be brought before us the next 3-6 months. So much unknown and uncertainty has me wondering the future of coin op. Again I don't want to panic. I think taking this a day at a time is the right approach. Hopefully a real solution will be in place and we can adhere to the guidelines so we can continually move forward.

I have a great response to this.

I had equipment at a pizza business at the end of a strip mall maybe 12 years ago.

They had delicious pizza and were a one off business. There was a small eating area and had about 5 booths to sit at. But most of their business was carry out. There was enough room for two pins and one vid. At the end I had a Jackbot, a larger video (demolish fist I think) and a touch screen game that was table top and bike locked to one of the tables. I assume most of the game revenue was from the employees. One of the kids was addicted to the touch screen and bill stacker I had in the Jackbot was always 1/3 full every month.

The business was basically ran by kids and never saw anyone reasonably over the age of 21. I think the owner had some health problems. I went about 10 weeks without collecting because I had gotten lazy. When I got there all their signage was gone, I could see all the booths were gone, menu displays, everything. I could get inside the first set of doors which shared a massage business. I couldn't get into the now vacant pizza business.

After a couple of phone calls to the owner of the building, a real estate agent, I was able to get inside the business.

We went in through the back entrance AKA the kitchen. Everything was gone there too. Pizza ovens and all. I was extremely nervous at this point. By the time I got up to the front area I saw my pinball, my vid, my touch screen game strapped to the table. EVERYTHING ELSE WAS GUTTED. I MEAN EVERYTHING not part of the structure was GONE. Counter top, cash register and all.

The padlocks were neatly cut and cash was gone. No damage done to the equipment. In the business office there was only the front door of a safe.

I didn't have any warning the business was closing, nothing. All I knew is I got my games loaded up and that's all she wrote. I had no documentation of the serial numbers, no tags stating it was my equipment. Nothing. (shame on me for that) The mall owner just had to trust me and I was lucky they left the games there. I guess I left a good impression on the business or something......To this day I still don't know what happened.

I'm hoping , masks , and hand sanitizer will do the trick. I'm a hopeful guy

Here in michigan if a business gets seized for taxes, eviction, etc. the county sheriff is required to contact all vendors. I had a bar seized. When the sheriff called me to come get my equipment I thanked him for giving me a chance to grab it. He said it's the law and he can not hold my equipment. I was lucky that having the keys and codes for the ATM were enough proof of ownership.

Businesses need to be able to open up and the people can decide if they want to go out. High risk heath issues? Stay home. Healthy people should not be forced to stay home. We should have the option to choose if we want to go out or if we want to open our businesses. People are only going to take the forced lock down for a little longer. I don't want a PPP loan that I can't seem to get. I want to be open.

We’re starting to open back up in Saskatchewan in 5 phases. Phase 0 started Friday as we are able to be around people again. First phase is may 4, Small groups, Next phase is May 15, golf courses, other things. Restaurants to 50% capacity to start.
We’ve done probably the best in the world here in Sask to fight this. Very very low positives and we have a low population and people did great staying away from each other.

https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5542461

Counterpoint: it's not about you.

Longer ppl fight this, the longer we will have to do it.

Just to play things safe we pulled our pins, change machines, and higher value arcade equipment out of our locations back in March. We'll put them back on route when things re-open.