Thread: Rules for volunteers

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With added exposure I should have no trouble finding volunteers, ok they have found me. I may have more then I wanted but the more the merrier. I am to have a meeting at various times with the volunteers on Sunday. Does anyone else do this? What rules should I place for the volunteers? Some I have never met before.
I buy pizza and pop for all my volunteer, good thing Dominoes has buy one get second pizza free on Tuesday.

Like you, we have no trouble finding folks to help. Once they do it, they are hooked on scaring people and are on for the following year. Most of our 40 helpers are friends, so we have a pot luck after the trail is done. I have people be here an hour before hand, in costume ready to go. I communicate via email prior to that telling each person the specifics for their role. I do remind them not to scare anyone to the point of hysterics, don't touch anyone (although we are known to touch people we know well) most of our 200+ guests are family and friends of the rest of the haunters. I let them know if anyone is caught kicking or touching props that they can escort them out. That is pretty much it as far as rules that are strict.

Lil

Scorpio,

Make sure they understand who they can scare and who they should not. We never go after "little" TOTs. We want them to go into the holiday.

One biggie with me is "No Touching". Jumping out to scare people is fine but no touching. Someone broke my glasses once at a haunt by touching my face and knocking them off. They didn't even offer to have them fixed. Needless to say - I never went back.

If you do get a good list of rules I hope you post them on this thread.

Good luck with your "extra bodies"!

When I worked in the JCs HH we had a very simple list:

1 No touching guests (with hands or props)!!
2 Know who is in charge, and make sure you follow all rules and instructions.
3 Make sure any debris or anything blocking paths through the house are cleaned up immediately.
4 Get there on time.
5 No touching guests!
6 If you have to leave, make sure you tell the person in charge.
7 Know where the scaredy-exits are (exits for folks to scared to continue through the house).
8 If someone (you or a guest) gets hurt, tell the person in charge immediately.
9 Be aware of traffic through the house.
10 NO TOUCHING!!

Pretty basic and common sense, but sometimes folks have to see it in writing to 'get it'.

Good luck & have fun!

We'en12amEternal,

Very nice list but couldn't you stress the no touching part a bit more?!? LOL

LOL, yeah it was kind of important because at that time, they still had high schoolers helping out. (And please don't take that as a slam on all high schoolers - it just always seemed like most of the ones who volunteered were a smidge agressive.) They don't do their own anymore, but get a cut from the local Haunted House (not sure how that works; maybe the House makes a donation?!) They still raise a lot of funds for their community work from it though.

No matter how many volunteers you have working, communication is still one of the keys to a successful run!

Best of luck to everyone. I look forward to reading how eveything worked out with everyone after Halloween.

scorpio, make sure you stress the no touching rule. My volunteers last night kept suggesting I let them jump out and grab one of the TOT's or something. That's a big no-no!

And make sure you let your volunteers know to be at your Haunt early. That way, you're not missing anyone. Let them know to watch for your props that are closer to your visitors. People do sometimes swipe props =/. So my volunteers helped keep an eye on my stuff so nobody grabbed something on their way through.

Best of luck! Happy Haunting >=)!

Also have them to keep a lookout for flames sources (lighters, cigs). If they see something to inform someone in charge immediately (even have them stay in character). Best thing I have done was use a code...Like have the actors/volunteers yell "there is a spider web in the .....(what ever area they are in when they see it). Then have other report the SAME message till security or someone in charge is there to assist.

If they do not adhere to the rules they will be murdered violently placed in a shallow grave and be used next year as new props. And follow it up with a nice thank you.