Thread: spectators

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This is the first year that me and a couple of friends are doing a big (to us, still small compared to a lot of people on this board ) haunt. We have a cemetery, fog, casket, magic mirror, and a couple of other small things designed to pop up/out to give a little scare. We plan on setting up a ghostly funeral scene with us all dressing up. My wife is wearing her mother's old wedding dress and will probably be in the casket at some point. We have been telling people about it and people have stopped in front of the house when we were setting up saying they would like to come and watch. I'm all for people coming, that's the whole point, but a couple dozen have said they would like to bring lawn chairs and sit. I don't expect them to all show up but I'm worried about what to do with them. I want people to enjoy it but I don't want the lawn filled with spectators in lawn chairs either. Anybody else have to deal with this.

Tell them they'll have to observe from across the street. We've always got family and friends milling about and it drives me nuts! This year I'm telling everyone "if you're not helping out stay on the other side of the yard or in the house."

I tell people:
"the best way to help me, is to let me do everything myself"

Not saying it to be rude, but I know how I am and what I like. If someone else tries to help me, they probably end up getting offended that i dont like their ideas. As far as general spectators, just tell them that they can see it all setup when it's done, and that they are a distraction to you, and will slow down your progress.

Spectators = unnecessary distraction, IMHO. Last year I made the mistake of inviting more kinfolk than normal, and they sat in front of one of the garage bays, blocking everyone's view of the scene set up in there. That, and they impeded the flow of TOT traffic. We had over 300 TOTs last year, so bottlenecks were NOT a good... Needless to say, only folks willing to help are being invited this year!

Maybe give the lookyloos something constructive to do, if they insist on hanging out? Helping to hand out candy, crowd control, watching for double-dippers, spooking TOTs, fetching beverages, whatever. You'll have enough to do without having to worry about providing hospitality to adult spectators!

Any time I've been at the haunt of a friend or family member I've been pressed into service. My firned Tim is more than happy to have anyone who wants to drop by do so, but if they want to hang out, they gotta work. he's got plenty of fog machines to fill, errands to run and candy to hand out. Most friends show up, go through the haunt, say 'hi' and head out [so they aren't there for tear down, the bums ;-)] Suggest as nicely as you can that your display isn't designed to accomodate a prolonged audience and the flow of spectators is an integral part of the experience--in other words, "move along, please". If they want to help--cool.

i actually made a cue line this year for traffic and employed (without real compensation ahaha) to be the usher of people and crowd control. hell be fully dressed up to. i got away with teh cue line as theming cause of my evil circus/clown theme this year. there a section of lawn not being used on the other side of my driveway i usually have people i know watch from. in the house also. for others it's across the street for them. but it can be a pain!

I come to find out the my wonderful wife invited everyone to come down for Halloween night!!!!!!! AAGGGGG!!!! Her parents all 4 of my parents (divorced & remarried) her sister and husband and a few friends......What are you thinking are you mad?????? so now I have all the TOT and try to have a party too!!!

Spectators in lawn chairs could make for fairly scary Halloween displays.

I hear you Creepy Crawler. Every time my other half and I are out he is inviting our friends to stop by and have a look and visit for a while. After a while I just had to say, stop doing that! We don't have many kids coming by but, I don't want a bunch of people they have to walk through to get to the good stuff. And I know they will not be in costume so they just don't fit in. I also don't have time to socialise when I have most of my stuff on remote control this year.

We designated one of my friend's wife as crowd control. She will be at the end of the walkway by the street and direct people, allowing only TOTers in the yard. Others can watch from the street or in neighbor's yards. The street is blocked off so there are no cars coming through which means plenty of room without fear of being run over.