For about a year and half I have been running a projector and a pull down screen in my living room. A couple months ago I decided to make it a dedicated theater room.
I finished about a month ago. Yesterday we had a Birthday party for my wife and she invited her "twilight people" to it for which I hand never met. So about 15 strangers came to my house.
I forgot how blown away people can be when they actually see someone who has a REAL home theater set up. I played some of the new movie trailers first like, the new Terminator, Star Trek, Transformers, Harry Potter. I was very surprised that there was so much excitement in the room. People actually were freaking out on the experience.

In the last month I have had several people ask if I could do the same to their house.
There is a real market out there to make these rooms. I wish I was more qualified to do them. I don't feel comfortable doing construction on someone elses house.
I was just wondering if anybody else has had any recent experiences like this.

For about a year and half I have been running a projector and a pull down screen in my living room. A couple months ago I decided to make it a dedicated theater room.
I finished about a month ago. Yesterday we had a Birthday party for my wife and she invited her "twilight people" to it for which I hand never met. So about 15 strangers came to my house.
I forgot how blown away people can be when they actually see someone who has a REAL home theater set up. I played some of the new movie trailers first like, the new Terminator, Star Trek, Transformers, Harry Potter. I was very surprised that there was so much excitement in the room. People actually were freaking out on the experience.

In the last month I have had several people ask if I could do the same to their house.
There is a real market out there to make these rooms. I wish I was more qualified to do them. I don't feel comfortable doing construction on someone elses house.
I was just wondering if anybody else has had any recent experiences like this.

Ya, Ive been in the same situation. Most of my friends are in the process of putting together their own systems to a lesser extent. I have people come over and sit in the theater and I cant get them out. They will be over for a 15 minute visit and end up sitting through a whole movie. Next thing I know, they are at Best Buy buying a 52" LCD.

I forgot how blown away people can be when they actually see someone who has a REAL home theater set up. I played some of the new movie trailers first like, the new Terminator, Star Trek, Transformers, Harry Potter. I was very surprised that there was so much excitement in the room. People actually were freaking out on the experience.

In the last month I have had several people ask if I could do the same to their house.
There is a real market out there to make these rooms. I wish I was more qualified to do them. I don't feel comfortable doing construction on someone elses house.
I was just wondering if anybody else has had any recent experiences like this.

Yeah, just about everytime someone "new" comes over to watch. Naturally, I do it up real big too! :D

Oh yeah, you know, you kind of "play it down" before I show them the theater downstairs. "Well, it's kind of fun, but you know, I think it's cool, but well, its kind of neat.."....etc.
Then you show them the theater with the lights only partially up, kind like walking into "real theaters"... ( I HATE when people say that.. "it's like a real theater"....It IS a REAL theater!!! :mad:)

They see the seats, try them out, then figure out they recline. Almost got 'em now.....

I usually have my "theater music" playing in the background, or even better, my "pre-show" DVD is already in and playing. You know the one-the one that shows the Coke stills with trivia, or whatever.

I had my sister-who does voice overs for a living-do the sounds. "Please turnoff all cell phones", or "welcome to le Cinema Rockhurst.." you know.

Then the cool "Welcome to le Cinema Rockhurst-Fox" animated short comes on, with full, and I mean FULL surround-sound LFE et al. THAT usually blows 'em away...Now you have their attention!!

Then I put on my DVD that has all the "teaser" LFE-heavy movie scenes, the ones found here on the forum....After that I spin the DVD that has a cool concert short, maybe Boz Scaggs, or someone else.....Just a taste though!!!
I then gradually "fade up" the house lights, and gradually fade sound out.

The look on their faces and the excitement in their voices makes the whole endeavour worth it.. I usually spend a few minutes now giving my little talk about "how I did it". Depending on who my audience is, I can go a few seconds or several minutes answering questions and pointing out features.

I find that the guys want to know everything, and in detail, while the women just seem to say something like, "that's really cool. Hey, lets go upstairs and talk!" :) Go figure!!

PS Many times I hear the sames wives murmuring under their breath to the ol' man as they head on upstairs "Don't even THINK about it!!!..." (Guys)
"but Honey, it would be so cool!"....

So yeah, I guess we all kind of forget how others respond. I have also had lots of people ask if I could help. I did help one, and realized after I was about three weeks and several hours into it, that I just could'nt afford to do this! Now, I just tell 'em I can help, but can't do the actual work. I can point them to this forum, I give good references to those who can do it too.

Enjoy your theater!

So yeah, I guess we all kind of forget how others respond. I have also had lots of people ask if I could help. I did help one, and realized after I was about three weeks and several hours into it, that I just could'nt afford to do this! Now, I just tell 'em I can help, but can't do the actual work. I can point them to this forum, I give good references to those who can do it too.



I will keep the helping part in mind. I already have had two people ask me.

I enjoy using my bar / theater room but most of all I enjoy sharing it with others simply because of that reaction.;)

After almost two years I am no where near being desensitized to the WOW and WOWEEE of the big screen and - LOL - I keep it mostly all to myself.

Each to his own and we are all different critters - I don't go out of my way to share the big screen WOW with anybody -I didn't put up the screen and mount the projector to entertain anyone except wife and I.

I want the privacy of watching whatever I want and whenever I want and am not too keen on watching movies with others. Our two sons enjoy the big screen but if friends are at our house we usually stick to chit/chat, adult beverages at the bar and the social interplay while playing pinball, foosball and dart machine or cooking out in the backyard.

Sitting in a dark room in imposed silence watching a flick is just not our idea of fun with friends but I'm sure it works for a lot of people.

Desensitized hasn't infected us yet!

Your right. That is propbably why I was so surprised to the reaction. I do not have a lot of people(adults) that I entertain with it either. It has become the neighborhood rock band hand out though for the kids.

A lot of people really don't know that theaters are very affordable these days. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people think putting a theater in your house means a film projector LOL. If you can do the labour, for 10 grand you can build a pretty kickin' system. I showed my mom my set up the other day and she was pretty impressed with and my sound system only cost like 1300. When I have a house, the first thing that is going in I tell you is a projection theater. Why go to a Theater, i can stay in my house in a chair that is 3 times more comfortable and a sound system that is as good if not better, and pretty much the same experience. Because of Home Theaters, movies are being released on physical format to the public faster, and hell, while I am sure the big screen will never completely die, Home Theaters because of equipment getting cheaper and cheaper and better and better with mass production, are going to really start driving theaters out of business.

4 People to a Movie these days cost upwards of 40 dollars not included popcorn and coke. So lets say 60 dollars with popcorn and drinks and tickets for a Family of 4 to go to a movie theater. Say you go to a movie once a week (i know plenty of people who do) ... or i can get a Blu-Ray for over the next ten years at an average cost of 25 dollars per movie ...

Over 10 years, the cost of going to a Theater once a week is $28800. To be conservative lets cut that figure in half. 14400 dollars over 10 years for a family of 4 (every other week). Lets consider a Home Theater will cost this family 8 Grand ... 4 for sound and 4 for a projector and screen. The cost of a new blu-ray over 10 years, ever other week is 6 grand ... which means the Home Theater would cost roughly the same as going to a Theater every other week. Of course you also get the added value of having your movies in High-Def format on physical media ... soo unlike a Big screen downtown, you can watch you movies when ever you want to again and again.

If you used Netflix for your blu-rays it would be EVEN LESS money lol.

The Math doesn't lie lol.

I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people think putting a theater in your house means a film projector LOL.

While I'm building my room, I set up my outdoor theater projector in the living room with an HTiB. I run it on the wall, get a 2:35 about 65-70 inches (limited only by size and orientation of room and furniture in it). Looks and sounds pretty good, especially if you've never seen a projected picture like that.

We had some friends that we kept inviting over "to watch a movie." They wouldn't come, wouldn't come, wouldn't come. FINALLY they come. Then after, the woman says, "I thought you were talking about watching HOME movies."

While I'm building my room, I set up my outdoor theater projector in the living room with an HTiB. I run it on the wall, get a 2:35 about 65-70 inches (limited only by size and orientation of room and furniture in it). Looks and sounds pretty good, especially if you've never seen a projected picture like that.

We had some friends that we kept inviting over "to watch a movie." They wouldn't come, wouldn't come, wouldn't come. FINALLY they come. Then after, the woman says, "I thought you were talking about watching HOME movies."

Doh!! That is pretty funny.

My brother and his girl were at my house the other day for Easter. He had seen pics of my setup but never experienced it. As I was firing up everything he was saying things like "Wow, this is Crazy" the he said "But do you have these side speakers hooked up?" I'm telling him to wait for it, all in due time...
I haven't gotten a good demo disc and I've been meaning to make a couple of the one's from somewhere here on the forum, so I was trying to thinkg of which DVD can I play that gonna blow his socks off, hmmmm.

The Dark Knight, nah shown that one enough. Iron Man, nope takes to long to get some really good intense LFE. I got it, yes this it, it's perfect. I slide the disc in and I figured I was gonna have to jump a chapter or two to get to some good action since it had been a while since I saw this flick, low and behold as soon as the movie started, everyone was silent. The sound started coming from every direction and the subwoofer was doing it's thing. He wasn't asking about those side speakers no more:D. Things settled down in the movie after the intro so to add to the atmosphere I then threw on my star panel and everyone let out a Woh.....:eek: at all once.

What movie was it, none other than The Incredible Hulk with Edward Norton. Man it's funny cause we all sat there and were in awe. Sometimes the space is taken for granted, but since I am not entirely finished everytime I reach a milestone it gives me newly renewed appreciation for the space.

Also when a friend recently said to me he wanted his sister in law to see my space, because they have a Home Theater in their basement I thought to myself that's cool. He then went on to say "but what you have created is on a whole different level" I was sincerely flattered. We often don't always get to sit with adult guests thru an entire movie but they get to enjoy some of it and check it out and that leaves them blown away and makes me feel like it was all worth it.