The actors are well taken care of at Maris Farms Haunted Woods. The powers that be (bosses) circulate throughout the night, bringing us water and handing out throat lozenges. They remind all the actors to stay hydrated, take our vitamins and get enough rest. They provide pizza at the end of a shift, knowing that we will all be supremely hungry after an energy intensive night. They invest in us because they want us to enjoy our experience and make it through the demanding month of performances.
At first I declined throat lozenges, they aren't typically something I gravitate towards. I was concerned that I would either choke/swallow it or inadvertently launch it from my mouth like a projectile at some unsuspecting customer. (I also limited how much water I was drinking once in costume. I keep thinking that a terrific joke might start, "Did you hear the one about the clown in the porta-potty?" But I digress...)
I've since discovered that maniacal laughter takes a toll on my throat and cough drops are my friends. After dress rehearsal on Friday and full-on public performance Saturday I awoke Sunday morning with nearly no voice. I sounded like a de-barked dog or a sea lion with larangitus or a post-event protester. This made communication with my hubby challenging, as he is hearing impaired. Lets just say there were some tense moments throughout the day as I tried to be heard and he tried to hear me.
At one point I whispered, "When I'm doing three and four night performances I will have to be careful and rest my voice. I may not talk at all on the days between performances." My husband quickly replied, "Yeah. That sounds like a good idea." Gee, honey, thanks. Way to take one for the team.
Is this a sacrifice? Or an unexpected perk? I'd like to think it is, perhaps, a bit of both.
Showing posts with label haunted house. Show all posts
Showing posts with label haunted house. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
October 1 - Open to the Public
Maris Farms http://www.marisfarms.com/ opened the Haunted Woods to the public last night. As I left my home to go to work my husband called out, "I hope you make someone pee their pants tonight." That was a first.
Speaking of firsts, on the night of dress rehearsal I used a port-a-potty in a clown costume in the dark. Underwear up, check. Pants up, check. Clown costume on, check. What a process.
I continue to be amazed at how organized this operation runs, it's truly a well oiled machine. The owners have mastered the unique balance of firm boundaries/expectations and encouraging motivation.
Behind the scenes it is a hotbed of activity, with all the actors getting into costumes and applying makeup. Tiffany is the make-up artist; she's creative and enthusiastic. Many of the actors enjoy applying their own makeup. It's fascinating, I watched one guy gluing cottonballs to his head and by the time he was done his makeup rivaled that of Hollywood horror films. Another man was helped with his wig, adding barretts to keep the hair out of his mangled face. The styled wig provided an incongruous comparison to his gruesome makeup.
My favorite two lines overheard behind the scenes last night:
"Has anyone seen my two-headed baby?"
"The year I decided to go without eyes was a real challenge."
Energy was high as we took our places and prepared to meet the suspecting public. My partner and I were excited and ready to go as we laid in wait for people to pass through the clown house. Many times, as people entered, we heard the exchange, "You go first." "No, I'm not going first. YOU go first." Sometimes the chainsaw guy would literally chase people screaming into the clown house. That was especially awesome, because they'd enter with their hearts already racing and not fully on their guard and they were easily startled. One couple RAN all the way through the clown house at breakneck speed, zip!
Scaring people is often a matter of timing. They come in to the clown house, expecting clowns, but not knowing exactly where we will come from. Even the most jaded person will jump if you startle them at just the right time. I grateful that I'm a clown, it covers me when I bust a gut laughing at someone I manage to scare. Oh yeah, we scared people good. It was GREAT!
I enjoy the thrill of expectation. Lying in wait, knowing that people are approaching my hiding place, my heart beats faster as I prepare to leap out. I love making new things up, switching up my hiding place, playing with my partner to discover new ways of distracting and startling people. This is truly interactive improv theatre and I love it!
As far as scaring people, its that old "some of the people/all of the time" adage. Not everyone is going to be scared, startled or engaged in the experience. That's ok. I'm embracing the challenge of scaring/startling even the most jaded and giving everyone a great experience as they pass through the clown house. My favorites last night were the guy who threw himself back against the wall of the clown house and cried out when I jumped out and the couple who couldn't get traction and slipped to the floor in their effort to get away when my partner startled them.
My partner was hit twice and spit on once. These were inadvertant reactions to being startled. Here's what's funny: She was thrilled. We both thought it was great because it meant she was doing a terrific job at scaring people.
There were quite a few customers in costumes last night. I also enjoyed the group who went through wearing Snuggies held shut in the back by rubberbands. That was unexpected and fun!
My favorites are the people who are fully invested in immersing themselves in the experience. Typically you can hear them coming, because they are hearty screamers and loud laughers. You can tell that they have come with the intention of having a good time and it's working for them.
Today my voice is shot. My throat doesn't hurt, it's just raw. Wicked laughter and loud shouting will do that. The powers that be at Maris Farms provide all the actors with cough drops, throat lozenges and plenty of water. I can only imagine what this will do to my voice when we work three and four nights in a row. I think my partner and I need air horns. That would really have people jumping. Bwa-ha-ha-haaaaaa!
I'm adding a photo, taken by my partner with her cell phone. I'll have more pictures to share soon.
The public is safe...until Friday.
Bwa-ha-ha-haaaaa!
Kelly the Crazed Clown
Speaking of firsts, on the night of dress rehearsal I used a port-a-potty in a clown costume in the dark. Underwear up, check. Pants up, check. Clown costume on, check. What a process.
I continue to be amazed at how organized this operation runs, it's truly a well oiled machine. The owners have mastered the unique balance of firm boundaries/expectations and encouraging motivation.
Behind the scenes it is a hotbed of activity, with all the actors getting into costumes and applying makeup. Tiffany is the make-up artist; she's creative and enthusiastic. Many of the actors enjoy applying their own makeup. It's fascinating, I watched one guy gluing cottonballs to his head and by the time he was done his makeup rivaled that of Hollywood horror films. Another man was helped with his wig, adding barretts to keep the hair out of his mangled face. The styled wig provided an incongruous comparison to his gruesome makeup.
My favorite two lines overheard behind the scenes last night:
"Has anyone seen my two-headed baby?"
"The year I decided to go without eyes was a real challenge."
Energy was high as we took our places and prepared to meet the suspecting public. My partner and I were excited and ready to go as we laid in wait for people to pass through the clown house. Many times, as people entered, we heard the exchange, "You go first." "No, I'm not going first. YOU go first." Sometimes the chainsaw guy would literally chase people screaming into the clown house. That was especially awesome, because they'd enter with their hearts already racing and not fully on their guard and they were easily startled. One couple RAN all the way through the clown house at breakneck speed, zip!
Scaring people is often a matter of timing. They come in to the clown house, expecting clowns, but not knowing exactly where we will come from. Even the most jaded person will jump if you startle them at just the right time. I grateful that I'm a clown, it covers me when I bust a gut laughing at someone I manage to scare. Oh yeah, we scared people good. It was GREAT!
I enjoy the thrill of expectation. Lying in wait, knowing that people are approaching my hiding place, my heart beats faster as I prepare to leap out. I love making new things up, switching up my hiding place, playing with my partner to discover new ways of distracting and startling people. This is truly interactive improv theatre and I love it!
As far as scaring people, its that old "some of the people/all of the time" adage. Not everyone is going to be scared, startled or engaged in the experience. That's ok. I'm embracing the challenge of scaring/startling even the most jaded and giving everyone a great experience as they pass through the clown house. My favorites last night were the guy who threw himself back against the wall of the clown house and cried out when I jumped out and the couple who couldn't get traction and slipped to the floor in their effort to get away when my partner startled them.
My partner was hit twice and spit on once. These were inadvertant reactions to being startled. Here's what's funny: She was thrilled. We both thought it was great because it meant she was doing a terrific job at scaring people.
There were quite a few customers in costumes last night. I also enjoyed the group who went through wearing Snuggies held shut in the back by rubberbands. That was unexpected and fun!
My favorites are the people who are fully invested in immersing themselves in the experience. Typically you can hear them coming, because they are hearty screamers and loud laughers. You can tell that they have come with the intention of having a good time and it's working for them.
Today my voice is shot. My throat doesn't hurt, it's just raw. Wicked laughter and loud shouting will do that. The powers that be at Maris Farms provide all the actors with cough drops, throat lozenges and plenty of water. I can only imagine what this will do to my voice when we work three and four nights in a row. I think my partner and I need air horns. That would really have people jumping. Bwa-ha-ha-haaaaaa!
I'm adding a photo, taken by my partner with her cell phone. I'll have more pictures to share soon.
The public is safe...until Friday.
Bwa-ha-ha-haaaaa!
Kelly the Crazed Clown
Friday, September 30, 2011
Day One: Dress Rehearsal day
Would you say I look open and friendly? Tonight all that is going to change. Starting tonight and running every weekend through October I am working at Maris Farms Haunted Woods. http://www.marisfarmshauntedwoods.com/Here's the thing: I love to hide and then jump out and scare people. My friends and family were getting a little jumpy and paranoid whenever I was around, so I promised to stop. I've been on hiatus for years now, and the urge is still there.
Imagine my delight when I came across a job listing for being an actor at the Haunted Woods. Though I'm not a huge fan of Halloween I absolutely cannot pass up the chance to scare people who WANT me to jump out and startle them. PLUS I get paid to do it. Score!
Maris Farms Haunted Woods has been operating for 11 years and they continue to be innovators of chills and thrills in the pacific northwest area.
Maris Farms is an amazingly well-run family farm in Buckley, WA. They have events all year 'round. During the day it is a place of interactive fun: pumpkin patch, petting zoo, corn maze, interactive goats and more. It's a family-friendly place with loads to do with the younger kiddos.
The Haunted Woods is geared for kids twelve and up and it is an intense thrill experience from beginning to end. If you like your adrenaline to run and your heart to beat fast, you'll love this scary experience. It takes 45 minutes to reach the end from the time you enter the experience. 45 minutes of heart pounding sights, sounds and thrills.
To say something about the popularity and remarkable reputation of Maris Farms: On the busiest night of the 2010 season, Maris farms had 3300 people visit the Haunted Woods. Security guards are posted throughout the tour - to protect the actors from overly-reactive customers.
Tonight is dress rehearsal. I'll get my makeup on for the first time and see what my costume will be. Family & friends will be sent through the haunted woods as practice victims, er, customers.
It is my intention to tell the stories of my experience for your amusement & entertainment. I'm sure I'll have stories to tell.
I suspect that reality will be quite different from my imagination - it often is. Six hours of boo-time will be intense. From what I'm told by return actors, the clown music may make me a little crazy...that's okay...crazed is what I'm going for.
Until next post...be afraid, be very afraid. Bwa-ha-ha-haaaa!
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