An Inside Look At Becoming A Haunt Character

It’s almost that time of year again… HAUNT! I can smell the fall even during a heatwave. When I was young, I lost sleep over the idea of Halloween. It was almost the same as Christmas, but I wanted monsters, scary things, vampires, zombies, whatever I could scare my mom. My favorite costume was the year I got a Crypt Keeper mask. It was the best time of the year; now, I get to share with my daughters, learning the ropes about getting the best type of candy.

Instead of feeling defeated because I can’t trick or treat anymore, I scare the pants off people. Haunting is an art. You have to leave all your negativity at the door, and once you get that costume on, it’s like a switch. You become a different person at the snap of a finger. Some people get a split personality. Whatever we do to become our alternate egos, There’s something about it that’s magical, to be honest.

We go through a lot at first; we have to face our anxiety or nervousness head-on. However, once you do, the world becomes different, Especially if it’s your first time learning the ropes. You become a demented family; everyone helps each other and trains even the most novice person. That’s one rumor about working a haunt, and this stuff is easy. The answer is no. That’s all there is to it. You are on your feet or crouching. Stuff yourself in a tight spot and tell me how you feel because I feel great about it. It’s like pro wrestling, knowing it’s fake, but the bumps are natural. It’s a hype; it’s a moment of excitement.

I have a skill, and it works so well. Whatever crap I have been through during the week before, you will have a blast letting it out. It’s a job you don’t have to be cordial about; we can terrorize whoever. I guess it’s a little intense sometimes, but they paid for it. I don’t know what people expect at a haunted house. One rule we push to the front is not to scare anyone under 9. Some of them don’t like it at all, but their parents made them walk through it. I guess it’s their fault their kid is scared.

When we start and get our character costumes and the makeup artist, I dig deep down for that character and come gurgling back up. Like most of us, I am very timid when out of character. We all wait for that haunt manager calling over the summer. Once they call and you tell them which attraction you want to be in, no excitement can compare to that phone call. It’s like colleges calling someone to say they have a scholarship. If you know anyone working this wild six-week ride of haunt life, hype them up.

We are a crazy bunch, a family and psychotic friends. This is like our vacation away from reality. If you are interested, I encourage you to try acting for them, just once, to have that thrill of your first scare. Haunting is a major part of my life; I love it to death. I never felt so human until I became a monster instead. Thank you so much to everyone who plays along with the experience of feeling scared. It’s more of a thrill than a roller coaster.