If you own a haunt, I am sure you got into the business because you like halloween and enjoy having a venue where people come to get "scared". But, other than ticket sales and the fun feeling that the acting "family" has throughout the season, how do you know that the quality of your actors is truly the best it can be? Or, better yet, how can you turn your "good" acting crew into a "great" acting crew. Training is the key! You need someone who with years of experience to boost your actor's desire, skill, and continued dicipline towards the art of acting/makeup'character development. I ask this question because I bet that a lot of haunt owners don't really think about this or truly understand what this means both to the quality of their show or what an investment it is to their actors. You may have heard this before, but the true success of a company comes from the employees you hired, and not necessarily the product you sell. But, here is the "secret"-as a haunt owner your "real" product IS your actors! You need to treat your actors like a product! I mean this in the most respectful way. I am Geoff Beck-a midwest looking average kind of looking guy who looks like he may live next door to you, and maybe pick up your paper for you. But, as a product, I am a fierce, funny, finatical actor/makeup artist that will scare, terrify, and entertain huge amounts of customers. So, I am THE PRODUCT! Both as an actor you might have in your haunt, or as an acting/makeup professional that acts as a consultant for haunts. This is not a self-boosting promotional ad! Yes, I have a gig this year as the acting/makeup coordinator for Morgan Manor in WI, and have done acting/makeup seminars at over a dozen haunts accross the country. My point is to ask you-the haunt owner, "who trains your acotrs?" What IS the quality of your show? How much time, money, experience do you invest in your actors? Do you or some else train them on different acting styles? Do you do pre-season acting seminars? If yes, do you start like in august, or do you just wait until a week or two before the season starts, and then expect at least half of your actors-being completely new-to just pick up acting and makeup in a week or two and be "great", or even "good" enough to truly scare and entertain your customers (ie, your bread and butter), so you have an "awesome" show. Yes, there may be some "cynicism" in my tone here. I won't deny that, but you can't have realistic high expectations for your "product" (i.e., actors) unless you really make their development/talent a number one priority. After all, you won't have customers coming back year after year, unless you give them the best "product". TRAINING IS THE KEY! So, again, I ask you "who trains your actors?" Just some food for thought. Thanks for listening. Have a great season!
Geoff Beck
Acting/Makeup Coordinator
Morgan Manor, WI
Geoff Beck
Acting/Makeup Coordinator
Morgan Manor, WI
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