Haunted houses can be terrifying for customers, and just as scary for the actors behind the masks. It isn’t unusual for actors to touch and injure customers in an attempt to scare them off.
But are actors at haunted houses allowed to touch you? Here are a few facts you should know before visiting one.
Actors are trained to scare.
If you have ever visited a haunted house, chances are you’ve encountered at least one or more actors. These professionals are responsible for the scares, laughs, and gasps associated with your visit – although their job might appear easy at first. Be warned though; terrorizing people takes hard work!
Scare actors must continually assess and improve their performances in order to stay in business. It is vital that they understand their place within the house’s narrative as well as being able to ward off guests from scenes which don’t quite fill them with fear, and read their audience appropriately in order to respond properly and meet audiences where they stand.
For instance, if a guest suddenly screams without any apparent reason or is just plain scared, an actor could move onto someone else. Therefore it’s essential to stay with your group so you can hide behind them should anything arise that needs your attention. Furthermore, be conscious of where you’re heading at all times and stay on the designated route.
They are not trained to touch.
Haunted houses blur the line between real and fake in an unpredictable manner that differs significantly from movies. Actors may brush against you or segregate you from your group before even pincer-ing you against a wall or bed; some require signing a waiver while others will allow visitors to opt-in/out of physical contact as desired.
Collia says her team constantly monitors customers who appear to be impaired. Additionally, they keep an eye out for customers who appear overly boisterous inside the house by screaming out obscenities, cursing or being physically aggressive towards staff or fellow customers.
Stay safe by remaining vigilant, looking scareactors straight in the eye, wearing earplugs to block out loud noises that could be disturbing, not touching props (it would be unfair to the actors!) and not using phones/cameras in attractions.
They are not allowed to touch you.
Certain extreme haunts allow actors to touch visitors. These attractions have detailed guidelines and require that visitors sign a waiver. Touches could include brushing up against you, grabbing and shaking you, pulling you, getting in your face or mock torturing you.
If you are in a group, try to keep close so you can use one another as protection if an actor approaches. Conversation with friends or looking at your phone may make you an easy target.
Harassing actors – be it asking them for their phone numbers or telling them how hot they are – will get you ejected from an attraction, both because it is unpleasant for both you and the actors, but also dangerous as it could result in injury to yourself or other visitors. While using “safe words” may quickly remove you from a haunted house attraction, use them sparingly as this allows actors to prepare a scare just in time to catch you off guard! It is best to move quickly so actors don’t have time to prepare a scare just before scaring you!
They are not allowed to scare you.
Actors or directors participating in haunted houses must commit fully to their roles – either acting themselves, or directing other actors. Practice is required to get into character and connect with an audience in such a way that truly scares them; for this reason many actors take acting lessons and watch horror movies before working in one of these facilities.
Staying vigilant in a scare zone requires staying aware of what’s around you and looking directly at any scareactors that approach. Dozens of potential targets could easily target an unfocused or distracted target, making an easy target out of you.
Haunt owners strongly advise visitors to avoid caffeine and alcohol before entering an attraction, as both substances can hinder your ability to respond quickly when something frightens them, potentially spoiling everyone’s experience.
Be sure to observe all rules for each haunt. Disobeying house rules could put other patrons or actors at risk; following them ensures everyone will have fun while giving the actors time to perform their jobs properly.
