- What Does a Scare Actor Do?
- What Does a Scare Actor Earn?
- Is It Fun to Be a Scare Actor?
- What Is the Role of a Scare Actor?
- Do You Need a Degree to Be a Scare Actor?
- How Old Do You Have to Be to Be a Scare Actor?
- Where Can You Find Casting Calls for Horror Actors?
- How Do You Audition to Be a Scare Actor?
- Do Scare Actors Get Breaks?
- Audition Tips for Scare Actors.
This is not just a side gig for many actors but also a great way to blow off some steam, span your creative muscles, and be in proximity to anonymity.
If you have never been a scare actor but are a Halloween fan and enjoy the thrill of scaring others and spooking, this might be the perfect job for you.
Here are some tips to get you started.
What Does a Scare Actor Do?
As the name implies, a scare actor scares people or guests as they enter the Haunts and Scare zones throughout the park, mostly during Halloween.
A scare actor not only scares visitors at haunted houses, theme parks, and other spooky events but is also tasked with the responsibility of bringing nightmares to life.
It's a unique and exciting aspect of acting that allows you to flex your acting muscles in a whole new way.
The ideal candidates have an enthusiasm for acting and creativity and are willing to transform into frightening creatures through full makeovers and costumes, including the use of masks.
What Does a Scare Actor Earn?
The average scare actor in the United States earns about $16.62 an hour, $2,914 a month, and about $34,974 annually.
Is It Fun to Be a Scare Actor?
Working as a scare actor can be an entertaining and rewarding experience.
It is thrilling and has a completely different ring to the theater because it's interactive; you get to engage with the public.
Not only do you get to bring joy and thrills to visitors, but you also get to work and be inspired by like-minded individuals who are passionate about what they do.
What Is the Role of a Scare Actor?
The role of a scare actor is typically to scare people and bring their nightmares to life.
However, it is a very delicate area here because you are trying to draw a line between scaring people and any form of harassment, such as assault, intimidation, or trauma. The goal, nonetheless, is to come close to the line but not cross it.
Avoid touching an audience participant to avoid inherently causing them to fall and hurt themselves or scaring the audience member into having a heart attack or other medical emergency.
Also, If your character talks, desist from any form of name-calling or foul language; instead, you can ask them fun, scary, or rhetorical questions to provoke answers from them.
Ensure to always remain in character.
Do You Need a Degree to Be a Scare Actor?
Just like other aspects of acting, you do not need a degree to pursue a career in them.
The acting industry does not require you to have any credentials or formal acting training.
If you do a good job during the audition and they think you are right for a part, they will book you irrespective of what is on your resume.
However, it doesn't hurt to have acting experience, especially in dance and theater, as their movement and expressionist skills will come in handy.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Be a Scare Actor?
You must be at least 16 years old to be a scary actor.
Where Can You Find Casting Calls for Horror Actors?
Unfortunately, this is not a space where you call up your agent and get breakdowns and auditions, however, you can google all the haunted houses and amusement parks that do fright fests and go to the website directly.
Postings about auditions and roles would appear in their Jobs section on the website.
You could also be hired under an AGVA (American Guild of Variety Artists) contract if you have specialized roles like acrobats.
Please note the best time to keep an eye out for casting calls for these kinds of roles is a month or two before Halloween, as some houses are already open in mid-September, and you will need to go through a training, fitting, and rehearsal period.
How Do You Audition to Be a Scare Actor?
They usually put notices out on their website, social media pages, and main acting websites.
Note that the casting call only lasts for a few days.
They typically are not required to prepare anything but usually ask for headshots and résumés.
People are advised not to audition if they can't meet the required scheduled shifts.
Do Scare Actors Get Breaks?
Scare actors have about a 3-5 minute break before going again so that they can give 100%.
Also, they do have designated breaks where actors will rotate in and out, especially for actors in a mask or costume.
Audition Tips for Scare Actors
1. Be Punctual and Prepared.
You must start the season off right with a good first impression, and what better way to do that than to show up on time prepared?
Research what the role is, the event, and what's expected.
You can also research the haunted house or amusement park so you know what level of energy they expect from their team; you can find videos referencing this on their website or social media pages.
2. Check your October Schedule.
Check out the finalized calendar on their website and come to auditions with a good idea of your schedule and availability for October, as they might not switch main roles throughout the month.
3. Bring a Headshot.
Having a visual aid with your application helps them put a face to the application, and it is very helpful during their selection process.
So, if you are looking to improve your chances of being cast, you should take your headshot along with you for the audition.
4. Be Loud and Confident.
You must be outgoing, confident, enthusiastic, and loud throughout this entire process.
Please keep in mind that haunted houses and amusement parks are naturally loud and have disorienting maze experiences, so actors will need to project as they deliver their lines and vocal noises.
If you are a naturally quiet or shy person, you will need to practice raising the volume of your voice and tap into some internal intensity to bring your performance to life.
5. Practice Acting Physically.
Just as your voice needs to be in character, so do your body and movements. So, if you are a zombie, consider how the undead would move, or if you are a ghostly child in a maze, how would they react when they see a customer?
Practicing in front of a mirror helps you understand how to convey a range of emotions with only facial expressions. Every movement and action made should have a purpose and tell the customer a story.
Being a scare actor also requires a certain level of physicality. You will need to be able to move quickly and confidently, sometimes in costume and makeup that can be restrictive or uncomfortable. You'll also need to be able to withstand the long hours and physically demanding nature of the job.
6. Be Ready to Improvise.
Another important skill for a scare actor is improvisation.
While you might have a basic script or set of scares to audition from, you need to be able to think on your feet and adapt to different situations. As visitors will often try to interact with you or throw you off your game, you need to be able to improvise and keep the scares coming.
You can find casting calls as a scare actor on Allcasting — an all-around platform to find open casting calls for movies, series, and so on!
