"Haunted House Hecklers"

[wendyzski]

story in the Tribune online today about how much crap (and physical abuse) haunt performers get.

I sent the reporter an e-mail thanking him for writing it.

For the record, in 8 seasons of haunt performing, I was set afire twice, and had to deal with attempts to punch grab grope kick or otherwise physically assault me on a daily and sometimes hourly basis. unclevlad put himself between me and a patron with a rock and ended up with months of physical therapy for it. The rest of our security will swear till their dying day that the patron who climbed up on the parade float after me was simply unlucky enough to get in the way of an elaborate dance move - when I circle-kicked him in the chest. And don't get me started on the patron who actually showed up with a taser the first season I was there...

But in the end it wasn't that that ruined things for me. I learned to take care of myself. My last season as a performer I made bloody sure my costume had a staff as a prop, and it came in VERY handy more than once. And I always worked my people in pairs and trios for safety (and because it makes for a good scare tactic). But it was having to watch people that I was responsible for - as a director and team lead - taking that kind of abuse and being utterly unable to do anything about it - that was too much for me. Watching the thrill and excitement in their eyes get beaten down, watching them get hurt...I couldn't handle it.

It wasn't always like that. The first few years we were able to bring our own security. We looked out for each other. I will never forget the people that I worked these shows with. We literally went through hell together. One of my most precious memories will always be of the year that I ran Mayhem Manor, the small House over near the Demon roller coaster. I have always been about safety for my people, and this got me into a lot of trouble with management over the years. Plus I had a really great team that season - most of them were a bunch of LARPers. Eventually the House Designer went to management and got me fired. I cried but I left. Well, apparently as soon as this happened, word got around and my ENTIRE TEAM went to management and told them that they'd walk if I wasn't brought back. The next weekend when I walked back in to the House for morning meeting I was in tears. I will never forget that these people put their jobs on the line for me because of what I did for them.

But it was a hint that support from above could no longer be counted on, and I only made one more season. Management had stopped going to bat for us, and we were even told that we weren't allowed to even TELL the new people about the dangers they might face. Sorry - no dice. So I left and never looked back.

I miss working haunts. When you get down to it,wetting paid to make people wet themselves is pretty awesome. And I was GOOD at it - without speaking a word I was able (with careful timing of movements) to cause patrons to walk into bridge supports or fall over trash cans on a regular basis. But it's not innocent fun any more.

Comments

[wifeofset.livejournal.com]

I.. *hangs head* I admit to punching a guy once. The signs all said, "our performers WILL NOT touch you, don't touch our performers" ..so when the guy reached out and started playing with/grabbing onto my hair I just reacted, turned and punched him.

felt BAD about it...but there it is

[stormdog.livejournal.com]

Touching you was crossing a line there. I'd be more than a little unhappy if someone grabbed my hair...

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

yeah - it was unfortunate, but the performer crossed the line there I agree.

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

That's different - that's a knee-jerk reaction. As a performer you learn how to deal with those.

And he was out of line as well - no touching means no touching. So while it's unfortunate, it's not like you went there intending to beat up the performers.

[stormdog.livejournal.com]

What the hell? Why would you do stuff like that to performers? What are people thinking? The thought of doing anything like that would never cross my mind! Does being scared tie into some stupid-ass hind-brain guy instinct that says you have to beat something up? Maybe it's like football that way...

*sighs* I had no idea this kind of thing went on. That's incomprehensible to me.

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

It's a power/control thing. Some people can't handle the loss of control that comes with letting go and allowing themselves to be scared. So they act out against the performer as a way of taking control of the situation.

Add in the idea that somehow a performer in a costume isn't a "person" in their heads somehow, and you can see how this happens.

Doesn't excuse any of it of course

[stormdog.livejournal.com]

I guess I can see that. I can also see a bunch of people being arrested on assault charges. When you go to a place expecting scary things to happen to you, you should be fully responsible for your actions when you get scared.

Like any power and control game, you shouldn't participate if you aren't mentally up to it and willing to be responsible for yourself.

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

Oh I agree. And I wish we could have the bastards arrested. See my note above about getting no support from the park or from our own management.

Rileybear67 was in my Mayhem Manor crew and worked there a couple of seasons - she can tell you what it can be like.

[stormdog.livejournal.com]

That's pretty horrendous. I'm sorry. I wouldn't work there either.

[jcw-da-dmg.livejournal.com]

I worked there once. ONCE.

[rileybear67.livejournal.com]

Uhm - yeah!
Nuthin' like getting punched in the face and then told "my dad's a lawyer, you'd better not say anything!" I always hated that first weekend!

While the first few years were great - the scares and the excitement made the lack of pay (we were designated as office furniture so management didn't have to pay wage taxes) seem inconsiquential.

Then we were told, not only were we not allowed to even defend ourselves, but that we were not to scare people - we were supposed to be atmosphere! PSHT! Once that edict came down, that's when the real shite started because the PARK told the patrons that we were not allowed to do anything to them, but extracted no such promise in return.

*wistful sigh* I still miss it sometimes though...

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

Yeah - like I said. The first few years were hard work but fun.

I kept going one year after it stopped being fun, and then gave up.

[socratesthecat.livejournal.com]

And thats why I can't for the life of me figure out why someone would choose to go to a haunted house. I haven't been to one since I was 9 years old, the two major reasons being 1)I don't like being scared and 2) I don't like losing control of a situation. So what kind of moron says to themselves I hate being out of control and allowing myself to be scared goes to a haunted house? where is the fun in that?

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

I can understand that. Part of why I never found drugs attractive - no thanks, I LIKE knowing what I'm doing.

The problem is that when people react like that they don't KNOW why they are doing it. They just think it's cool, or want to impress their frieneds. It's not like they say "Hey, today I think I'll go looking for a short woman to be scared by in front of my girlfriend so I can act out my insecurities about my manhood by punching the 5'2" zombie-girl."

You learn a LOT about human nature by working haunts.

On the other hand, I can't be scared by a haunted house any more because I know too much about them. I can tell where they want me to look so I reflexively look the other way and always see what's coming. I'm no fun.

[socratesthecat.livejournal.com]

I know how that sort of stuff works also and where not to focus but I still scare real easy. Plus when I get scared it's not the immediate fright thats a problem it's later when I'm alone and it replays in my head that I end up freaking myself out that I can't stand. I'm almost 40 years old I sometimes I still have to sleep with the lights on.. its a bit shameful.

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

but you know yourself well enough to admit it. This puts you light year ahead of most.

[eacole72.livejournal.com]

Some people can't handle the loss of control that comes with letting go and allowing themselves to be scared

I'm one of them. Thus, I don't frequents haunted houses.

How difficult is this?

[tully-argyle.livejournal.com]

I read that article. It is sad to see that much combative, rude, and anger-oriented behavior during something which is supposed to be fun, and mildly scary. Sure, I've been to some bad haunts, with lame makeup, bad lines, etc. But I've enjoyed them anyway. There is always someone in the line before you or after you who really liked it, and the time, effort and expense of putting them on for the community is never lost on me, regardless of the skill in execution. I respect them all. A minority opinion, unfortunately, if you read the types of behavior these folks typically get.

Now, I did have one really awful experience once, and I was a little mad about it. But I waited until the walkthrough was over and made a polite mention to the organizers on the way out. (A performer mis-timed his 'jump out' in the dark and gave me a really serious crack in the head. But he didn't apologize or break character, and went right to the next person. Which was fine). My complaint was solely about performers being more careful in the dark.

But reading some of this junk, the stuff that goes on with the customer behavior, is sad. Crappy world sometimes.

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

Yeah - accidents happen. It's DARK in there! I got clocked in the head with a (chainless) chainsaw in the clown room once - we both zigged when we ought to have zagged.

If it was my house, I would have thanked you for your comment, and brought it up at morning meeting the next day.

The performer probably felt bad too - we wanna see you scream and yell and laugh and hide behind your friends and even fall on the floor. We don't want ANYONE to get hurt, or it's not fun any more.

[bigblued.livejournal.com]

We were walking into HD and they had corn stalks, with the corn still on, for sale for decorations. Darkwing830 pointed at them and said, "look, weapons!" It was fun, it was hard work and we both do miss it at times. But it also changes your view of people, as individuals and as crowds, forever.