I saw a similar thread on another forum and, assuming I'm not violating the Halloween Forums Geneva Convention, thought it might be interesting to explore here.

The reason I was interested in the topic was that last year, I added something I don't really use for my haunt - someone in costume - and it was ridiculously successful.

Every year, I do have my sizeable older brother and a sizeable friend of his done up as ghouls, but only to keep traffic flowing, watch out for little ones, discourage any anti-social behaviour, etc..., but I don't have costumed actors or anything.

I had, however, purchased Death Studios' truly awesome Alternate Vampyre mask and matching hands last year - as a lifelong fan of Nosferatu, I had to have them - and wanted to put them to good use. Given the themes are a cemetery on one side of the driveway and a haunted farmer's field on the other, it didn't make sense to have a vampire running about.

I therefore decided that ol' Nosfy would be the agitated homeowner. My younger bro, clad in a black robe, played the role. I didn't want him to get mauled by the crowd, so I put him on a second-floor balcony that covers our front porch (X marks the spot in the picture) together with a smoke machine and a couple of strobes.



This is him up there in the costume:



We agreed to a few things he could do (e.g., point menacingly at people) and couldn't do (e.g., make violent gestures).

He was really into it, acting like he didn't approve of all the commotion on the driveway and in the road. It...was...awesome. The crowds ate it up. I had no idea it would work so well.

Needless to say, Brosferatu is now a permanent fixture on Halloween night.

JD