For those of us who have been Haunting for a while, it’s no secret that Safety is an issue for us Scare Actors. It’s a fun job, but it’s not the safest job. Actors can get punched, choked, slapped, etc… you get the picture. It’s not good, but it’s part of the job. What should be concerning is if your management team doesn’t care.
If an actor is hurt and management does nothing, that can be a problem. I’ve heard of some haunts where actors are told to toughen up or quit and that is not right. I understand that being in management at a haunt can be stressful and you’re basically herding cats, but the safety of the actors should still be in consideration.
If you are in a situation where you feel unsafe, you can quit. You are not lesser of a scare actor for saying you need to step back. Sometimes it’s the smart move and no one should blame you for it. But if someone does give you flack for it, please try and shrug it off and ignore it; it is not their place to do that.
If you feel like taking the rest of the season off, then please do so. Always put your own safety first. Your Haunt will manage. But please don’t give up the hobby off of one bad expirence, but I would understand if you do. There are good haunts, and there are bad haunts. Maybe try out another if you found yourself in a bad one the next year if you can.
Injuries are bound to occur in this industry, but if safety measures can be taken, they should be taken to prevent any unnecessary ones. Remember, stay safe out there, keep your distance, and take a step back if you feel like you have to, but try to have fun.
Safety, a Scare Acting Issue is marked with CC0 1.0
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