Thread: Safety tips for scaring people on halloween please

Tweet

Well for the last four years everytime i go out on halloween to just scare people inn front of my house i have been hit or kicked in areas that hurt and i was just wondering if anyone here has any advice to avoid such problems please pass them my way

Stop scaring people. Seriously.

Lots of folks like to go out to see the sights, take their kids around, just enjoy the atmosphere. Unless you advertise that your house is "not for the faint of heart" or give a few warnings, then they might not know it's coming - or appreciate it. I'm all for being scared in a haunted house, but if some guy jumped out at me when I was taking my kid around TOT, I'd beat the snot out of him too.

Stacy

If you're running an actual walk-thru, then post a sign that there are scare actors and they won't touch you if you don't touch them...

In any case, you need to adjust the distance you allow between you and the scare-ee. 5 foot rule - they can't hit or kick you if you're not up close to them.

You're dealing with the "flight or flight" response. Even professional scare actors get hit because of getting a tad too close - when some folks are scared they either run or lash out.

If it's under a certain age of kid, I'd also not do anything scary. You need to have someone out there seeing who is coming up to let you know to cool it or go for the scare. If they look like they are really scared just walking up, I wouldn't do it at all either.

Thanks and i would never scare kids under the age of 15 and i do have a warning sign usually though i am in front of the person and when i see i reaction either through face or movement i run and get close but not to close and i guess i should obey the 5 foot rule also i do not run at kids who are with parents for the reaction that devilsfan would have even though its a natural response.

Yeah, keep your distance and put a 'warning' sign letting them know scares are there.

First thing you have to do is put clothes on. If you run around out there naked, of course you're gonna get kicked and hit!



I was thinking even though I only have a yard display, I might just walk around a bit in my front yard and at the end of my driveway. I'm a scary zombie this year. It's either gonna attract people to stop by, or chase them off! I guess I'll see what happens!

You have to be careful with the run-up scare at a home grown haunt. The unspoken rules can be a bit different and people will act differently than waiting on a pro haunt cue line. You should adjust and not move too close into peoples personal space. Put it this way, and arm or leg distance should keep you out of harms way.

Dan

You sound pretty young.

Keep your distance and don't act too intrusive. Also, there's a difference between having display and scaring people within it, and just jumping out at people in front of your house. The latter can seem a little aggressive. Even jumping out at people within your own display can create problems. Just try to be reasonable.

I use no live scares. Everything is mechanical/pneumatic. People forgive these kinds of scares. After the initial heart jump, they think it's cool and want to see it again. Nothing is in range where it could touch them or they can touch it. I use sound, strobe lights and a leaping/hopping mechanical. What's not to love?

I have to disagree with many somewhat. I think it's a balance of what you do to who. If it's a small child that looks afraid then obviously I don't try and scare them, but many are looking to be scared. 2 years ago I was told I wasn't scary enough because they had just been chased with a chaisaw. Sometimes I don't move at all, but usually i'm moving somewhat so they get an idea that I might be real and I never get in anyones face. Sometimes it's just the thought that you might do something is more scary than actually doing something. I had a group of teen boys last year wander up towards the house and when they noticed I was real at my alien autopsy one of them wouldn't come any closer even though I made no attempt to chase him or anything . I actually never chase anyone either since it could be dangerous if they run into something or the street so slow movements of wandering around just knowing you're alive and there is enough to scare some and not moving at all until the right moment is good to get others