Gerry Lopez Quotes

Waves keep coming, that's the one thing you can count on in life

In my lifetime, I've met a lot of people who never rode a wave, but we share the same consciousness. Surfing is a kind of a state of mind... I mean, it's a feeling that people have about their life that really, in a way, kind of makes them a surfer.

Our focus is on the forward end of things: the customer and what does he want to do? If you're buying underwear and household items ladders and everything else - I buy all sorts of stuff on Amazon Prime - why shouldn't I buy this? Any legal document, contract or otherwise, that prevents me from doing that, I don't want to be a part of.

Well, in regards to surfing, I’ve learned that there is always another wave coming. Translated that means there is always tomorrow. No matter how badly you get caught inside, if you can just hang in there and keep paddling, the set is going to pass and there will be a lull afterwards. So don’t give up, just take your pounding, wait until the set passes, then make your move.

What gods do you pray to?

In an industry that has the capacity underutilization that we have, why wouldn't we? It's just common sense. Apparently they're successful (in Canada). Our standard approach is not to cookie cut things. Every market is different, every theater is different. The devil's in the details.

If I can make an economic deal with Amazon that works for them and works for me, OK - I'll make it available. But I don't want to be part of restrictions that make life difficult for my guests.

Surfing is a deeply wonderful thing – anytime, anywhere and any way

The path between intention to watch a movie and the purchase of a ticket - I want to make it as short as possible. The holy grail is Amazon One Click. One tap and I own it.

We don't believe in limiting access to our product. We believe that making our ticket sales available on as many sites as possible is good for the studios and good for us. We have on any given day 25,000 show starts - five show times at 5,000 screens. We have 1M seats more or less in our circuit. So I have 25M sales opportunities every single day. Why would I want to limit access?

There is wisdom in waves. Some surfers see it right away, others never do. To find success in surfing, we must learn to be in harmony with nature. This will bring a sense of peace. By sharing this peace, and contributing to other people's happiness, we can find the true meaning of life. Keep surfing . . .

If we can use technology to shorten the path between intention and action, that excites me.

Everyone gets caught inside when surfing. You have 2 options. Give up or paddle outside. Life is the same. Keep paddling!

I think I'm getting wealthy in ways that don't count at the bank.

One thing you learn from surfing is how to operate in the present. It's really what the surfing experience is all about.

We don't believe in splitting the experience. We don't believe in taking a row out and putting in motion seats [that shake and move in response to cues from a film]. If you walk into that auditorium you're going to have a communal experience.

The first time you get a ride on a surf board and you are being propelled along by a wave, it’s probably as close as humans can get to being able to fly like a bird

I'm starting to believe that part of the solution regarding the devices is that they have a role to play in engaging the customer and keeping our product in front of them during the pre-show. They certainly have a role to play in ticket sales. Inside the movie auditorium, though, during the feature presenation there's no place for them. Every single weekend two out of the top three reasons people contact us are: somebody's being disruptive, with a device most of the time, or a dirty bathroom.

Why shouldn't people be able to buy movie tickets on Amazon? Or Google or Flixster, or IMDb? I don't care who you have a relashionship with. This isn't about Fandango or MovieTickets. This is about you. Where do you buy stuff? Are you an Amazon Prime member? Then I want to be on Amazon Prime. Are you a Yahoo guy? Then I want to sell on Yahoo. Are you a Google guy? Then I want to sell tickets on Google.

You have to strike the deals, and they have an interest in them. With a revenue share model where you're already splitting with the studios, you have to do something with Fandango and so on.

It's a cakewalk, when you know how.

I don't believe in lowest common denominators. Our focus has been on delivering value. We're rarely going to be the cheapest theater in a market. We strive to be the best.

Surfing is attitude dancing.

Whether any surfer wants to admit it or not, I think we've all had moments like looking at nice waves coming through the lineup maybe, only for a moment, feeling that we are in the presence of something holy. There is a spiritual-ness when you actually get in harmony with something as natural as the waves and the ocean, and yeah, it is definitely a religious experience.