Question to any scaractor

[Beef]

Getting back on topic...Um...Sort of...

How do we decide who we scare? Well, it's like being ANY kind of hunter...You prey on those who display weakness or vulnerability. If someone is looking right at you with a "Yeeeah...I ain't HAVIN' it" look on their face, you don't bother. You want to look for the people who are maybe chatting with a friend and don't see you...that gives you the opportunity to sneak up on their blind side and nab 'em. Or the girl who is staring directly at you, eyes like saucers, spine ramrod-straight, doing the quick step while clutching her boyfriend's arm so tight she's squeezing all of the fluids out of it. They're all over the place.

Fact of the matter is, you can break down the guests into three groups: Those who are there to be entertained, those who are there to be pains in the ass, and those who are there to be trouble. You do this long enough, and you can spot all three of them coming a mile away.

[NECROSANTA1DAY]

To scare or not to scare that is the question. Beef said it best the more experienced the perfromer the more selective and effective the scares are. Also the personality of the performer is a major key. Some perfromers have a soft spot for children so they avoid the kids. I when I was a performer was very effective in that i did not discriminate the "tough boys" fall just as quickly as the cheerleaders if hit in the right way. I had 9 black outs in one season as a living bush. I have taken my licks many times i have been punched but I wouldnt trade the quality scares that I got for anything.

[RBull4life]

Thanks for the replies everyone. All I know is that the characters were more playfull than scareful (if thats a word) with my 4 year old, and 2 year old. A few of them seemed kind of hesitant to go after the wife ,which they didn't. I don't know if it was because of the kids or not.
Thanks again everybody. You can now resume your bickering

[TK895]

I may be new to the show but I have seen and heard a lot. I have been coming to this park since the month it opened and have been to Fright fest 12 out of the last 15 years. I consider the Trolls as something to achieve. A high bar to aim for. I respect them.

B you should try the same. You will never get the respect unless you earn it. On Monday I was impressed with your take on Santa. I thought you were great in that role. But your behavior on this forum is very childlike. Please take your immature comments to private emails.

Now, how do we go about getting one of the Wootsie machines in the Pirate/Troll break area?

[NECROSANTA1DAY]

Politely i am not trying to cause any drama that is not duely deserved. In the 9 years that i have worked this event i have achieved many things, by working for them. I have been on the streets, in the house, lead of a stage show and lead of the largest outside area in the park. I just do not like to see people that bastardize the enigma of that role. (witch is the pinicle of a Fright Fest performer) I have earned my respect. You can ask many of the cast members. I am friends with the Troll cast ( save the obvious exception). This forum also should not be used as a place to stroke the ego. I appologize for getting worked up on here but sometimes its the only way to get a persons attention. Any further discussion of this topic will be handled directly and descreetly all i have said on here i will gladly say in person. THe time has come for the Trolls as a complete group to regain the terror that they used to strike into the patrons. Hopefully with a replacement of the weak, the team could be made that much stronger. I have respect for this event and give my all to the cast and/or role i work with. Honestly I am sorry for being child like or offending anyone who read this. Maybe the things I have said will be taken to heart and the quality of performance will show it. If thats the case that bar of excelence will be raised once again for next year.

[Ruk]

So, if Beef talks about selective scares, your down with that, but when I mention it earlier, your all in my face about it?

Now Santa, when on these boards have I stroked my ego like you just did with your little 9 year history?

You were part of the big meeting Monday about not getting hit. That is what behind the fence is about. When the two trolls you teamed with are on break, and the other two are busy with pushing each other around in the shopping cart, behind the fence is the right place to be. I wave to the small children, and shake their hands, and pose for pictures. On the street, I still get my scares in, boys, girls, men, women, they can all be scared. Our behind the fence area is set up to still be "in the show" and that is how we use it. Neither of my leads has said to do different, and until they do, it isn't any of your business.

Don't think I didn't earn this spot. In my 11 years (and this isn't ego, its refuting you) I've worked the house, the office, juggled and breathed fire in the clown show, been a lead, and been both the production manager and then the line producer (that means in charge of your whole area AND the rest of the park big shot).

On the whole, I agree that we need a strong team. The sooner we lose guys like you who don't support the team, the better the show will be.

You could have been friends with all the trolls, but you hold me to some ideal that doesn't exist. What you want me to be (this enigma of the role you mention) isn't what the character is supposed to be, and what you want isn't what the client wants. That is why you can't have the role, and that is why someday I'll still be around after you sign your exit interview.

Ruk

[NECROSANTA1DAY]

as i said in prior post this will be handled off of this forum others are sick of the argument and i really could care less about your response. Take my words seriously and realize that i did not stroke my ego. I spoke fact.
As far as you being there to see my exit interview................ Keep dreaming. You are managing to exile yourself further from the cast. So anything else to help you dig your hole deeper be my guest.

[ihauntu2]

NECROSANTA1DAY

If Ruk is such a weak actor, why do they bring him back?

Why not approach Ruk in person, and offer some tips? In my haunts the monsters have banded together like family ( we even formed our own union) and look out after one another. We help the weaker monsters learn new tricks and tactics that suit their skillset. A truly good monster and experienced actor can teach anyone to be an effective actor. I personally tought a 4'6" 80lb teen how to make full grown men shriek like little wusses. As a group we handle it in private amongst members. We sure as hell do not go to a public place and trash another actor. It makes them look bad, and it sets a bad name for your event by saying " Hey look we hire bad monsters".

I don't know how you JPM folks handle things, but if you pulled this kind of crap on one of my groups, your prompt reward would be a duct tape straight jacket holding you to some inanimate (or animate depending on mood) object.

I don't even know you, and I'm offended by your posts.

Ruk, Beef, Tafaba and the other JPM folks have been great on this board. Why come here to attack one of them?

Anyway - Back on topic

When it comes to deciding who to scare, I look for a twitch. Its very effective when dealing with those that have the false bravado going on. Sometimes its very small, but you learn to look for it. Once you see that quick jerk of the eye or the upper neck - you know you have your target. Work on them, and try to build that small twitch into a full sprint away from you.

As for small children... I aim for the parents. Terrorize them and you end up scaring the Kiddies by default. You end up dealing the same amount of trauma to them after they see their safety net of Mom or Dad screaming and crying. Its a win win. You don't target a small kid, yet their parents still have to deal with the nightmares later on. Makes them think twice about being dumb enough to bring a child that is not ready to a haunt.

[Binks Drake]

Yeah...Gotta agree with that.
Plus if I had to choose between Bad santa and the trolls...I'd take the trolls.

[StealthNet]

Politics aside, I find most of the actors, both Six Flags' and JPM's, to be awesome. It's even more cool when you consider that many of these people have been doing it many years, have regular jobs outside the park, but every October come back for these few weekends to put on a good show for everyone (some for more than a decade!). I've seen the trolls for many years now and always see something amusing with them every year (hearing the antics about them making people do pushups is hilarious). You can just tell by the posts of the Fright Fest staff that they care about what they do and have a blast doing it -- even though there may be some internal bickering .

Between the trolls, the guy with the brain on the stick, Mayor Slayer, Dracula in LAFF, it's great when you walk into the park and see the same people doing the characters as you have in years past. Maybe the pirates will become a staple of Fright Fest in the years to come...

Heck, I think I might apply next year.

[Jamesb58]

Ok, I've sat back too long and I feel that something needs to be
said. I'm sick and tired of seeing you guys who are Characters
for FrightFest, fighting and arguing. It doesn't matter who you
are, Troll, Vampire, Santa, you guys just need to grow up and
stop arguing.

This site isn't the place for you guys to argue over this crap.
This stuff is supposed to be fun and enjoyable, but with you
guys doing this crap, it makes it less fun and enjoyable.

I love FrightFest and I enjoy many characters, mainly the
Necro Characters and Trolls. The only Necro character I
don't like is the Santa stuff.

From my standpoint, the Trolls are doing great. EVERYONE,
is contributing and is doing a great job. And this is coming from
a Patron who comes to the park to have an enjoyable time.

You know, if you guys want to continue arguing about this crap,
do it some where else. What goes on in JPM, doesn't have to become
public and you don't have to make your stupid issues, a public
thing!

You guys need to remember, it's not about what you like or don't
like, it's what the patron who comes to the park likes. Everyone
needs to stop being selfish and needs to think about the patrons!

[Beef]

Plus if I had to choose between Bad santa and the trolls...I'd take the trolls.

Well, Santa's pretty cool, but...Yeah. We appreciate that.

You know, if you guys want to continue arguing about this crap,
do it some where else. What goes on in JPM, doesn't have to become
public and you don't have to make your stupid issues, a public
thing!

I very much enjoy working for JPM. I would not have returned for as long as I have if I didn't. They are a professional company with very high standards, and they put on a great show. And, I agree that there are very likely more appropriate areas in which to air grievances. I would no more drag show issues into public than I would remove my mask in front of a guest. It's quite possible that such things may even be considered a contract violation, should the company choose to interpret it that way...So. I WILL do what I can to educate people about proper conduct, and answer questions it's appropriate for me to answer, but much of what's been said here probably didn't need to be.

Without drawing up lots or taking sides, I'll leave it at that.

[w00dland]

Sorry I told myself I wasn't going to reply again but:

Don't think I didn't earn this spot. In my 11 years (and this isn't ego, its refuting you) I've worked the house, the office, juggled and breathed fire in the clown show, been a lead, and been both the production manager and then the line producer (that means in charge of your whole area AND the rest of the park big shot).

owned...

[punkbunny24242]

Back on topic again....

I've noticed this equation: eye contact = being chased

The one piece of advice that I gave my 9 year old nephew for his 1st trip to Fright Fest this year on the 23rd (which I am honored that I will be there with him) is do NOT make eye contact unless you want them to mess with you. They can always sense my fear One day I was walking towards the trolls trying not to look at them and the second I did they locked and loaded but I kept walking forward and began to feel like I was going to pass out because they were surrounding me.

[Ezekiel2517]

Gentlemen, I expect to see both of you this evening with a wonderful reason why you are disregarding an important part of FF policy.

I know that at least 2 of you are veterans who should know better.

STFU

FFPM

[kahmooza]

[Shockwavegirl]

OMG, I leave this topic for a few days, and it turns into "Days of our Lives". I can watch soap operas for that kind of drama.

The trolls have always been my favorite scaractors. When Halloween comes along, I liked to be scared....NOT grossed out. Most of the Necro characters have nasty lookin make-up, with eye-balls falling out of their heads, Santa and his hoes are disturbing to say the least....and lets not forget the "lick the brain" guy. Although, I give major props for the make-up talent.....that rocks. The only charaters from Necropolis I enjoy are the skeleton/zombies, and Mayor Slayer.

The trolls have always had that uncanny ability to seek me out....knowing that they can get a good shriek outta me. To me that's what Halloween is about...a good scare.

My other favorites were the zombies on the train line. When I used to work Blood River, whenever I had to go out to Island (the position where they get you with the water cannons)and the train was coming, we played Zombie games. When the train came by, I stood and waved like I always did, but the zombies came up behind me and pretended to eat my brain, then I pretended to die. When the train went around the corner, I got up, and walked to island. It was the ONLY high point of that long lonely boring position.

[ragingFright06]

I've always been a fan of the trolls as well... being an extremely sarcastic individual having a convo with one of the trolls is always amusing and in good fun (I'm not rude to them) but I do enjoy the witty banter. However, I must say I was sorely dissapointed last year. My birthday is on Halloween and I love roller-coasters more then anything so as we were on the Trollway... my boyfriend got down on one knee and proposed to me! After the shreiking, jumping, and YES! I was expecting the trolls to join in on the fun and give a sly remark, give us a good scare or chase, and or be "funny" and walk over and watch the proposal! No matter it was still the most perfect and fitting propsal for me!

I still think that all of you guys are great though!

P.S. Since when is Santa supposed to be scary? I've never seen him around the park but ummm... wrong holiday?

[Binks Drake]

oh no, don't start a santa thing again.

[Jackluver18]

I know it's Rated R, I know it's scary. But I get scared really easily and I've never been through anything like that before. I got freaked out a little with the blood in the bunk beds, the santa thing was weird and some of the other stuff freaked me out, people jumping out of bushes, no thanks.

[Jackluver18]

(whoops sorry wrong thread)

[ragingFright06]

I wasn't trying to start the Santa thing again... BELEIVE ME... I was just honestly perplexed about how Santa fit into Halloween. I promise you I wasn't trying to be a smart alleck!

[twixmix0303]

If 12 year old hoes are your thing, than this is the topic for you. If 12 year old hoes aren't your thing, than this is the topic for you. I'll leave it at that.