CAITLYN KASS

It’s a cool job, and when you tell people you are a scare actor they are most likely surprised and impressed because it’s not something the public hears too often, but still, it’s a job to them. Viewing from the inside, however, it’s far more than just a job or a hobby than people expect. 

My name is Caitlyn Kass, I am an eighteen-year-old writer and I have also been a scare actor since I was fifteen. I am simply introducing myself because I know scare acting is such a broad genre and so many haunts and people do it differently that it’s hard to fit the views of everyone in a single article written by one person. However, I hope some of this resonates with you as a scare actor and if you are not a scare actor reading this, maybe you can now get a little glimpse of what it means to be one through this article. 

How did you become a scare actor? For me it was supposed to be temporary, just something to do and a good way to pass the time and distract myself from the fact that I did not make the cheer team that year. “Only for one year,” I kept telling everyone around me. This was not permanent and never would be. Besides, other than Chucky the doll I wasn’t a big fan of scary stuff. I have never acted before and I was as shy as all get out which made opening night a bust for me. I was more scared to talk to people than the patrons were just walking through. The next weekend I decided, would be different. I would be proud of the night I had made so I changed it up. I forced myself to jump at people, to yell, and scream. In that, I gained a newfound confidence and I became the happiest I had been in a long time and what was supposed to be a temporary adventure would become something I was more than involved with and as for not liking anything scary other than Chucky, well, that changed too. 

I’m sure some of you may have felt the same when stepping into the spotlight for the first time. Maybe you felt like you couldn’t do it, like you were the most frightened one in the whole haunt, that kid who bolted through the whole thing screaming had nothing on you. But sooner or later you stepped into it. You shoved yourself out of your comfort zone and finally got your first great scare. The pride you feel in yourself when you make a grown man scream and nearly trip over himself is probably something you carried with you throughout the entire year and many more to come. It was probably the first time you realized you could do something great, you could be bigger than you ever were before, no more cowering under the radar, you were finally going to be seen and heard. 

And after a while you get the feeling that you finally belonged somewhere. The moment I realized I did was mid season, after the haunt had closed and all of its actors filed into midway for the end of the night meeting and then to go home. I overlooked the gravel area I now called home at all the actors gathered in small circles. The crowd had died down but the fun did not. Music still blared from the stage speakers and laughter was heard all around. There I was, sitting at a table with people who were strangers just three weeks before, laughing, cutting up, and talking about our night, the good and the bad moments. I stopped talking for a moment, observing the scene around me, I finally came to the conclusion that I was right where I needed to be and to return to the original plan would be to strip my own happiness away along with the person I was becoming. I was not willing to let this progress go and step into a place where I was brand new again. The haunt was now my home and it always would be.

Slowly, over the years, you begin to grow into a different person. You’re more confident and social, you begin to talk to your fellow actors, some of which become more than just coworkers but best friends that you talk to every single day. You may have found a mentor, someone strong and fierce who shows you all the ropes in the haunt life and guides you to stand up for yourself not only during the haunt season but outside of it too. These new relationships cause you to grow into a better person and you learn things you never would have outside of this job and sooner or later you can’t stay away. You show up to every off season meeting, every offer to come help out before opening night, and when that night finally rolls around you show up hours ahead of time just to mingle with your fellow actors before heading into the woods. What started out as a hobby, just a way to pass time and earn extra money, became a part of your life that you can’t separate yourself from even when it’s not the halloween season. You tell everyone where you work and how excited you are for the season to finally show its face. 

It’s coming up soon. It's almost time to slip into our costumes, get our makeup on, and scare some people. We will feel the anxiousness and excitement flood in our chest as you hear the screams coming from the scenes prior to yours. You might mess up opening night and curse yourself for it but the next day will be way better because your anxiety has now washed away and in its place stood a new kind of excitement. You'll be exhausted at the end of the night but insanely happy now flooded with new stories you will tell for years. You'll meet new people, some of which will stick by you for the rest of your life.

And if this is your first year acting, don't sweat it. You are going to do amazing things and you won't always feel so awkward in your own skin and costume. You might not find your scream this year, but don't worry, you will. With time, patience and practice you will find your voice and the people you click with. Just don't give up. 

I hope maybe this got you giddy for the year to come and also inspired you to share your own story and add some points I might have missed. Every haunt is different along with the people who act in it. Your story is probably far different than mine and I’d love to hear it and if you are on the fence about joining a haunt maybe this gave you the extra push to start your haunting journey. 

Wherever you may be in life, whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned actor I hope your light never burns out. Have fun and keep haunting.