Punched and Kicked

[Jim Warfield]

As told to me tonight by a haunt actor in his now 5th season.
He was dressed as a clown, pretending not to be a real person and not wishing to break character, he took a solid punch into his masked face, but began bleeding.
So he meanaced the puncher , who collapsed on the floor in a ball begging for forgiveness!
Mr. clown said something like:"I was told I couldn't punch back or touch you, so I won't."
Then he lifted his mask and alot of nose blood ran out, landing all over the cringing puncher/customer.
He also got kicked where it Really hurts by a girl.
Poor vision out of that mask and being too close to the customers were to blame.

[Tom]

Poor vision out of that mask and being too close to the customers were to blame.

You're absolutely correct Jim.

I tell all my actors, "If you get punched/slapped, you were too close".

This past Friday was a full moon and it seemed like it too. My actor hadn't been punched all spring/summer then gets punched once and slapped later in the same day. With the customer that threw the punch intentionally (not a reaction to fear), we stopped the ride and escorted him out of the ride. I explained to him the rules as stated to him when boarding the car at the entrance and told him we have no tolerance for acts like this. Then I told him he was very lucky my actor didn't punch back as a normal reaction to being punched. But my actor stayed cool and heeded the rules of an actor. The girl slapped out of reaction.

But both times could have been avoided. If an actor gets punched/slapped, then yes, that person got in the customers personal space, which is the risk we all take in delivering the fear. You could almost call it a game of Hockey at times

Bryce, my actor has been with me since 2006 and is very effective, which increases the odds of getting smacked eventually. But then again, you just can't stand 10 feet away and say "Boo".

Thank goodness there is only one full moon a month (LOL).

[Howie Slobber Erlich]

In case you don't know, my haunt is known for it's "in your face" style. I have always told my actors that if you are not getting punched or kicked, you must not be doing your job. LOL! Different strokes for different folks!

Howie "Slobber" Erlich
Owner
Deadly Intentions Haunted House
www.deadlyintentionshaunt.com

[Dr. Giggles]

I agree with Howie, the haunt i run is also very in your face status. However i dont tell my acotrs that if their not getting punched then they arent doing there job because they might take it literally and get a little TO in your face. I mean usually you can tell which person will react violently, thats why actors have to keep a cool head most of the time. But then again there is always like a little girl that can really pack a punch ((or a kick to the nuts)).


-Zackary J

[WeAreTheUnion]

I agree with Howie, the haunt i run is also very in your face status. However i dont tell my acotrs that if their not getting punched then they arent doing there job because they might take it literally and get a little TO in your face. I mean usually you can tell which person will react violently, thats why actors have to keep a cool head most of the time. But then again there is always like a little girl that can really pack a punch ((or a kick to the nuts)).


-Zackary J

Well, as one of Howard's actors I would have to say...there really is no "too" in your face at Deadly...
Obviously we don't touch but I usually find myself WELL within the 6 inch "personal space" bubble.
Last night alone I was kicked in the shins by two different customers and got slammed into a wall by yet another (not maliciously, just an instinctual reaction), and today I discovered at least a dozen minor bumps, bruises and scratches on my legs and arms from people scrambling to get away from me.
Every group leaves my room laughing or screaming, and I don't mind getting hit cause I know it means I'm scaring the hell out of people.

[harvest night]

we always did "no touch" haunts. one kid got knocked out cold popping out of the back end of a coffin, the girl slammed the lid on him! we told him not to do it, oh well we didn't like him anyway and he never came back. he just would not stay in character or in his scene, he was only there cuz his mommy begged us to let him do something. glad we thought to put him in a disposable spot! safety measures are always to be followed. exits cleared, full lights, and security a must. we were lucky, i have friends in a local biker gang that was our security! the worst accident was when someone got trampled in the graveyard. tripped and fell over her own feet and everyone else dogpiled her, breaking her ankle.

[Smiley]

We've had a few attacks on our actors. Word travels fast through them on any approaching drunkards via telephone (the kids game, not an actual phone), which is a good enough system. We get warned, we keep our distance. On rare occasions there will be a person that gets scared too much and has a somewhat violent knee jerk reaction. It's nothing we analyze too much, they didn't really mean harm and those punches and slaps aren't very powerful when they're not intentional.

But sometimes people don't need to be boozed up to act like complete feebs. I recall one night, an actor was in a cell with her head and hands drooped out of a gap between the bars (as if she were in ye ol' stocks). All of the sudden some dolt walks by, talks to his fellow chaps and questions weither or not our actor was a prop. He decides to find out for sure by kicking our poor actor in the head.

We can't really watch out for those kinds of people because there's not much of a red flag to spot. But when we do find them strolling about, hitting actors, we're more than ready to escort them out...and over to the police.

[Dr. Giggles]

Jesus, was she ok? Something like that happened to one of my actors, infact he was pretty high up to. How the drunk kicked him in the head i wouldnt know, but he cracked his head and he had to go get stiches and it was big drama.

[Smiley]

Jesus, was she ok?

No damage to report, not in any physical sense. It really (pardon the expression) kicked her spirits down a peg for the rest of the night. Can't blame her, I'd be upset too. But she was a real trooper about it and went back to acting soon after.

[FrightWorld]

So are you blaming the actor? It's definitely not his fault. Yes your not suppose to get close to people but they have no right to punch or do any physical abuse to the actors. Where i work, they don't take kind to this stuff and they prosecute the customer if the actor decides to press charges. But thats pretty bad. I feel bad for the actor more than i feel bad for the customer. Actor was just trying to do his job.