5 Ways to Find Help for Your Haunted Attraction

5 Ways to Find Help for Your Haunted Attraction

Author: Brian Foreman & Darryl Plunkie: Haunters, Scare Actors, Haunt Owners July 11, 2018 Duration: 12:56

One of the most difficult things for a Haunted Attraction Owner is to find quality Scare Actors and Staff to help make the attraction come to life.

Having your Scare Actors not show up is one of the biggest complaints we hear as haunt consultants...from the bad reviews from your customers to the other actors who have to cover those spots and pull double duty on a busy Saturday night.

These are some of the things we have tried in the past. We now have over 40 scare actors inside our haunt The Dead Factory.

Join us in this LIVE ONLINE MASTER CLASS on Hiring Employees and Recruiting Volunteers

Here are five things you can start doing now to recruit and hire new scare actors for your haunted attraction.

How to get scare actors for your haunted house  

  1. Reach out to family and friends. Use social media to let others know you're searching for help. People aren't mind readers so you gotta put it out there. I know it's tough to ask for help, but it determines the success of your show.
  2. Create an Ad on Facebook. Create a business page on Facebook..yes, they still work. Boost a post or create an ad directly focused on your local area (maybe a 15 mile radius around your location) and interests like Horror Movie Fans, Theater/Plays, Haunted Houses.
  3. Team up with your local theater or high school drama club. Many of my scare actors have come from the local theater. My son was also in the drama department at his high school. You might be able to cross-promote with them by sharing staff members or even hanging banners in each others queue lines.
  4. Ask strangers. Allen Hopps, from The Darkhour Haunted House, carries pre-made business cards specifically for Scare Actor auditions. He carries them everywhere! I usually get a feel for a person and then ask them if they'd be interested in helping work behind-the-scenes of a Haunted House.
  5. Ask your current Actors/Staff for referrals. Sometimes your current helpers don't know you need more help. Ask if they have a friend that may want to try it out as a test run. Once they get that first scare..it usually lights that fire inside. It's either for a person or not...don't try to force it. You'll get a better quality of actor by letting the good ones come back for more.

Treat your scare actors and your haunt staff like family. Have food and drinks if it's in your budget. Make them comfortable as possible. Make their time with you fun and enjoyable so they'll want to come back and bring a friend.

Happy Haunting!


Ever wondered how the chilling atmosphere of a professional haunted house is really built, or what it takes to make a scare actor’s performance truly unforgettable? HaunTopic Radio: Haunted Attractions | Haunted Houses | Halloween | Haunters pulls back the heavy black curtain on the world of professional scares. Hosts Brian Foreman and Darryl Plunkie aren’t just commentators; they’re working haunters, scare actors, and haunt owners who live this passion year-round. In each episode, they sit down with the artists, builders, and visionaries who create the terrifying events we love, capturing their personal stories and hard-won expertise. This podcast is built on practical, real-world advice, focusing on how you can design effective scares and build compelling attractions without relying on a massive budget. It’s a deep, conversational dive into the craft, from makeup techniques and set design to the psychology of fear and the business of Halloween. You’ll hear the triumphs, the creative problem-solving, and the dedicated community that brings the haunting season to life. Tune in for an authentic look behind the screams, where passion for the art form is always the main topic.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

HaunTopic Radio: Haunted Attractions | Haunted Houses | Halloween | Haunters
Podcast Episodes
Haunt Marketing, Haunt Dolls, & Conjured Media [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:21
Vendor Spotlight: Haunt Dolls/Conjured Media Hosted by HauntersToolbox.com Before Haunt Dolls was even a thought, Alex Berland, who also runs Conjured Media, a marketing agency that specializes in haunted attractions, wo…
How to get more people to your Haunted Attraction: Philip Hernandez [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:44:16
Philip Hernandez, the founder of the Haunted Attraction Network and CEO of Gantom, answers all of your marketing questions. He has experience in social media, marketing, video & audio, theme parks, haunted attractions, p…
Create Killer Videos and Photos of Your Haunt with Haunting Media [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38:44
Scott and Jewel Simonson answer all of your questions about creating killer videos and photos at your haunt, marketing on a budget, retaining your actors, haunt technology, and other questions you have about Haunted Attr…
Ask the Haunt Expert: Leonard Pickel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38:44
Start, grow, and scale your Haunted Attraction at HauntersToolbox.com In this episode, we discuss many things like Scare Actors, Safety, Timed Ticketing, Wall panels, Haunt Construction, Tent Haunts, Outdoor Trails, Inte…
The Evolution of Haunted Attractions with Beverly & Nick Pappas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:46:11
It stinks that we don't get to travel during October to visit haunted attractions because most of us are busy with our haunt businesses and projects. Nick and Beverly Pappas have traveled thousands of miles yearly as Hau…
How does your Haunt compare? The 2024 Haunt Industry Report [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:40
HauntPay created the annual Haunt Industry Survey because they needed reliable, recent data about the haunt industry. This is the fourth annual report and haunters revealed some surprising insights for the coming season!…
Manage & Organize Your Scare Crew with Sithon.io [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:30
A complete walkthrough of the Sithon management platform for haunted attraction staff/actors, why communication with your team is important, and things you can do this season to keep your staff coming back every year! Th…
Special FX Makeup Tips from the Dead Factory Haunted House [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:48
It's 30 minutes before the haunt doors open. You need a quick way to make some realistic wounds, cuts, and bruises that will stay on all night. We have those answers inside this podcast! You can also watch the full video…