Recreation Guy

During one of our Halloween Haunt meetings we kept going back and forth as to whether or not we should have a “tame version” and “scary version” of our haunted house. Some thought we should have just the one version and not split our focus on who we were creating the haunted house for. Others thought it would serve the community better if we had two separate versions.

The verdict: we decided to go with the two versions (as if you couldn’t have guessed that by reading the title of this post).

The tame version will be a trick or treat type of haunt. Much of the overhead lights will be on and there will be no scaring, yelling, or jumping out of any kind. The actors will be in costume and will hand out candy and other fun stuff. Along with the bounce house, face painting and kids Halloween music it should be a good time for the little ones. It will be light outside as well since the tame version will be happening between 5 and 6pm.

M-M-M-Mommy, I don't like this place...Oooh, candy!

The scary version will start at 6:30pm after the actors have had a break from handing out candy (tough job, I know). That’s when the lights will go out and the scaring will start. Of course what do you do if your 8-10 years old. You don’t want to go through with your little sister or brother during the kiddie, tame version, but the scary version may be a little much. That’s where the safe phrase comes in.

I don’t know what haunted attraction first came up with the safe phrase of “Monster be good” but a lot of the attractions are now using it. It works like this – if a kid (or adult) is going through the haunted attraction and things get a little too intense, the kid (or adult) says “Monster be good” and the actor must stop being scary and walk away or be gentle.

If your organization is putting together a haunted house consider implementing a safe phrase. There’s a reason the big haunted attractions are using it.

The scary version will go for 2 hours and during that time we will still have the bounce house, music and snacks. We will also have a strolling magician. Good times.