breaks for actors

[X-Treme Torment]

Ok, so for the past two weekends we have had a great turn out, but one of the problems we are running into is giving smoke breaks to the actors that smoke. When were slow its not bad, we just did one around 8 but when we get a line in the front should we just stop for 10 min and let the actors go outside or what? Any ideas?

[SeanMassacre]

Rolling breaks. Where they get to take a break when the person ahead of them gets back.

[Tom]

Rolling breaks. Where they get to take a break when the person ahead of them gets back.

I did this same thing, a couple times a night on some nights.

It's not just smokers you should be thinking about. It's all of them. Restroom stuff, girl stuff. And if they are working hard enough, they should be treated to a break anyway. Whether they smoke or not!!!

If you don't take care of your actors, you won't get their full performance.

[Fairbanks Asylum]

I was running into a very similar problem with my haunt. I originally started giving everyone a half hour break, but I found it was way to long and the customers were waiting in the cold to long. It's a little chilly out up here in Fairbanks. So I broke it into two 15 minute breaks and that seems to be working out fairly well for us. Plus I always try to have something for them to eat or snack on and water available for them.

[SCfearfarm]

We have a couple of que line actors during the night. When it comes break time they will go in and start giving breaks 2 at a time. Also, spots where there are 2 or more people we will let one of them take a break and then come right back and the other take a break. We found that people had rather go through the house with a few less people than wait on everyone to get a break and get back in their spots. We can give 30 people a break in the house in less than an hour using this method.

[Howie Slobber Erlich]

On weekend nights they get two 15 minute breaks! On weekdays one. They all go at same the time. I find it easier to fib a bit to the customers and just tell them that we need to make a quick repair in the haunt. They usually buy that and as long as you get everyone back in 15 or 20 minutes the crowed can handle that. It is much easier on busy nights because it is not as noticeable. I have tried every other way to do it over the past 26 years and this seems to be the easiest way to do it. At least for me!

[mrfoos]

On weekend nights they get two 15 minute breaks! On weekdays one. They all go at same the time. I find it easier to fib a bit to the customers and just tell them that we need to make a quick repair in the haunt. They usually buy that and as long as you get everyone back in 15 or 20 minutes the crowed can handle that. It is much easier on busy nights because it is not as noticeable. I have tried every other way to do it over the past 26 years and this seems to be the easiest way to do it. At least for me!

Hey Howie, how many hours are you open for these nights with two 15 minute breaks? Just wondering how you break up the night like that. Thanks!

Patrick

[Dreamreaper]

We have 25-30 actors and sense we only run 4 hours and are a indoor outdoor haunt half our actors are out side doing there own thing and are able to run to bathroom or get drinks as the find time and there are only a few inside that because of what they do will call on radio for someone to give them a break..

[sean]

We do rolling breaks but also have our zone managers go through with gatorade, granola bars, ibuprofen and cough drops multiple times throughout the night.

[Tom]

We do rolling breaks but also have our zone managers go through with gatorade, granola bars, ibuprofen and cough drops multiple times throughout the night.

I did the same thing. And actually I myself (haunt owner) went thru with the drinks and such to greet each actor but also check to make sure their performance is not slacking off. I would observe them in action first and wait for a clearing to meet each one.

I also had a flashlight at each station for two reasons. (1) to give light in each area just in case of power outage, (2) for if there is a dire emergency/break or if patrons punching and tearing up stuff, the actor would point the flashlight it at the camera in their perspective rooms. I had cameras in all my rooms.