Thread: Guided Home Haunt

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This year I plan on opening up a home haunt I do for my kids classes to the general public. My concern is maintaining control as victims pass through the haunted maze. I'm toying with the idea of guides, so is it better to have the guides in front or behind the group they are escorting? Considering my home haunt is based on a maze, I'm thinking a guide leading the group would take away from some of the effects that are designed to create disorientation.

Thoughts & Comments Welcome.

Halloween Reaper

I personaly hate guides. It gives a sence of safety and security. I like it when you have to go through by yourself and gives such a creepy feeling that has real fear. Now if it's at your house I would understand. I wouldnt want people just walking through to only be supervised by actors (if you have any). My idea is if your only having guides to watch the guest and make sure they arn't doing anything they shouldn't, I wuold would dress the guides in normal clothes and just throw them in with the rest of the guest like they are one of them. that way the geuest still feel insecure and they are secretly being watched the whole time.

I'm not fond of guides either, HOWEVER, I can see the need for them, and we use them in our haunt... but we don't have a maze. Essentially the headless hostess led small groups though a portion of the haunt... this worked nicely because I was able to pace them a bit. Also, it enabled me to direct their attention to enjoying everything around them rather than hurry past it all in a frightened scurry. I could tell from the first room if someone was going to make it through or not, and if too scared, we'd turn up the lights and set them at eaze... and usher them out (sorry no refunds). I could also serve as a distraction for patrons to be scared from another direction. I then passed them off to a group of witches, who passed them through a "cave" to another scareactor, scaring them forward to each room until the end. We have people in each of our rooms, so it works out nicely. They can keep an eye on people and things, whilst attempting to give patrons the full effect. SO, for a maze, I would have someone behind with enough distance to let them get a little disoriented and unprotected, but also keeping an eye on them. Then someone at the end to maintain that control... you'll maybe have an actor or two inside.
Have fun!!

I do a home haunt walk through in an old house next door and I guide each group. Its open to all TOT's and of course the adults with them. I like guiding them through, that way I dont miss anyone's screams lol I hang back and bring up the rear ... they go through at their own pace...I followed them all the way out the back door and ran around to the front to begin the next group.. I made a hundred trips through the house.. got blisters and before the night was over I was bare foot LOL but it was soooo worth it. Also my kids (14 & 11)guided groups through, they LOVE it and it keeps them involved
Anyway thats my two cents worth