Finding volunteer actors

[asanve]

I live in a small city (about 25,000 people) in California. I am wondering how one goes about finding volunteer actors to man a home haunt? We plan on expanding next year and the Girl and Boy Scouts and few parents that now help man it will just not be enough next year. How do people in the haunt industry advertise for volunteer actors? Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.

[BruiseMuse]

I've always had good luck with advertsing at local high schools, especially through their drama/theater departments. Also, posting flyers at local costume shops works well too. We've also recruited at local fairs/carnivals during the summer.

[monsterwax]

A simple classified usually helps. WANTED, Zombies to terrify delicious humans. Volunteers receive all-you-can-eat brains. (+ your phone number)

[Front Yard Fright]

As our haunt gets bigger and bigger every year, people actually have ended up contacting us wanting to help out so it works out really well! I would sugguest putting "Volunteers Wanted!!!" on all of your flyers and posters for your haunt. And as BruiseMuse said, put up posters at your local schools, colleges even would be a great place to recrute people.

Also, I would think that you could turn to other who are involved with Girls and Boys Scouts would love to help out, especially if it would help them with their organization. Good luck!

[RJ Productions]

First off make sure you have "Volunteer Actors Wanted" on everything! Web site, flyers, even signage at your attractions.

You might try a high school program.

Contact the local schools clubs and teams. Every school district is suffering cut backs. You offer a program where they must supply X number of actors for a weekend. In exchange you make a set cash donation to the club or group.

Make sure it is all spelled out a head of time. Number of actors, times ect. Include a clause that says they must have actors there all three days to be compensated.

You sell it by saying which is easier, getting kids to volunteer for a car wash or work in a haunted house??? You also tend to get extra kids from that particular school (hey let's go to the Haunted House, Bob's working it tonight!)

Make sure you require that an adult representative (sponsor) is there also. If there is a problem, like no enough kids showing up, the sponsor is there to witness it.

We ran a similar program for a couple years. We had individuals who participated as part of a group, then just stayed! Five years later, they are still with us!

Don't just focus on the drama club, we had boys & girls volleyball teams, wrestling teams, Key Clubs, even the Robotics club!

Play it right and it becomes a good marketing tool. You are providing an oppurtunity for local high school groups!

[Jim Warfield]

Don't take any members of the Meth Club, even though they already wear their "Billy-Bob" teeth.

[spookologist]

Well it sounds like you have a pretty good start with the folks from the boys and girls club. That will give you a good base.
We started with a core group of people and eventually had them bring their friends. We're always talking to people about it and in conversation see what type of interest they might have. We've gotten some pretty good people that way. Once you get a little more established people will come to you. We have used craiglist.org. Our local schools and universities have club an community service needs too.

Hope this helps.

Wayne
www.trailofterror.com

[Motograter]

We just put a volunteer actors sign in a front window starting in August-mid September. That seemed to work and even we have a link on our main webpage.

[BruiseMuse]

Myspace has also worked well for recruiting volunteers, by posting it on your haunt's page and sending bulletins.