What should come and go for Halloweekends?

ya the only thing though is its not like a coaster, they really dont have to remove anything they could always just add things.

CP/PKIdude said:
I would be curious how many people from last year would do it for free, I'm willing to say a good number would.
...

I remember when I was in HS and did a few weekends for free at a local haunt that my buddy had some connections with the management to get me in. They worked in a low cost part for me in quite well that took many groups of visitors by surprise and freaked them out good... fun times.

Still would love to be a screamster, but sadly my day job would prevent me from getting to Sandusky in time for most Friday nights :(

More back on topic --
1) Some stuff that needs to be added to Terror Island:
Mostly better signs to get people to find their way on the island:
(I knew it was by the boat house, but when that boat house queue is empty closer to closing it was confusing in the dark where the heck you needed to go to get on the island and I walked past the dark entrance path with my group about 2 times before the Screamster at the boathouse came out of his hiding spot to guide/chase us toward the path to entrance side of the bridge
You need:
(A) something to draw people to the boat house from the midway -- the "X"'s sound like a great idea, but you need to light them up enough for people to see them at night.
(B) more visible signs to the entrance path once in the boathouse queue when it's less crowded -- light it up -- the point where you needed to go out of the boat house to get to the entrance bridge was so dark I did not even realize it was a path at first.

2) A little less fog at the foot of the bridge on the island -- the wall of fog rolling onto the bridge from the island caused traffic jams on the bridge with the chickens too scared to step onto the island and it being so thick people didn't know what direction to go to next once they stepped off the bridge, because people have never been on the island before.

Oh and by the way, whoever that pirate was that snook up right behind me with the loud demented "and where are we going?" line -- I don't know where you were hiding to be able to sneak up like that -- you got me good. (You're lucky I didn't backhand you. :) Keep up the good work.)

You could always work just saturdays. I know some screamsters did that last year.

skiboi007 said:

\
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More back on topic --
1) Some stuff that needs to be added to Terror Island:
Mostly better signs to get people to find their way on the island:
(I knew it was by the boat house, but when that boat house queue is empty closer to closing it was confusing in the dark where the heck you needed to go to get on the island and I walked past the dark entrance path with my group about 2 times before the Screamster at the boathouse came out of his hiding spot to guide/chase us toward the path to entrance side of the bridge
You need:
(A) something to draw people to the boat house from the midway -- the "X"'s sound like a great idea, but you need to light them up enough for people to see them at night.
(B) more visible signs to the entrance path once in the boathouse queue when it's less crowded -- light it up -- the point where you needed to go out of the boat house to get to the entrance bridge was so dark I did not even realize it was a path at first.

2) A little less fog at the foot of the bridge on the island -- the wall of fog rolling onto the bridge from the island caused traffic jams on the bridge with the chickens too scared to step onto the island and it being so thick people didn't know what direction to go to next once they stepped off the bridge, because people have never been on the island before.

Oh and by the way, whoever that pirate was that snook up right behind me with the loud demented "and where are we going?" line -- I don't know where you were hiding to be able to sneak up like that -- you got me good. (You're lucky I didn't backhand you. :) Keep up the good work.)

The whole boathouse thing, yeah it was a little rough, but you have to think, working there not only was I trying to keep things flowing, but I also had to do my primary job of scaring..and then answering questions, and keeping the line flowing and crowd control. And when you have mainly all college kids out there helping you that refuse to talk and just stand there. It's a little rough. And I only saw a handful of people not be able to find their way from the boathouse, to the start of the zone, so that really isn't much of a problem. And having all that fog, is what is good, it's better to have that fog coming off the island so people that have not been there have no clue what to expect is coming at them, trust me going on a night when there is zero fog to where we have it, big difference. And for people not finding the zone, I'm pretty sure a majority of the guests found it, seeing as how on Saturdays the boathouse was full, then there was a line out to Dragster's billboard..or even some nights the line extending forward all the way to the Skull at the start of the zone. Those problems just aren't that big of a deal...a little more themed items on the island would be good and there are a few more that I will not mention on here but, I guarantee you this year it will be better and you'll see some good things.

I think we need to limit the amount of people that come onto the island. We dont need another situation where the bridge almost sinks! Maybe send 10-15 people at a time and then send the next group after they get off of the bridge.

CP/PKIdude -- Thanks for the info... I'll keep that in mind :)
The thing is usually there is a Sat in there somewhere where I just can't be there due to other commitments. (Like this year I got a weekend where I have to go to my cousin's weeding out of state in early Oct.)

Hey Zeek...

When I was on the island it was was around the last hour or 2 before closing on the Sat a week or 2 before Halloween. It was no wait in the boat house with the bridge practically deserted on the entrance side and you had the fog machines working really well that night (almost too well). I think I was getting pissed with the chickens in the front of me who were blocking the path off the bridge on to the island. I was not feeling that great because I had just gotten out of Cornstalkers and some lady in our group we got sent in with got so freaked out by one of the scare crow suit people that she flipped out, turned back, and in the process ened up doing a low blow smack right square to my nuts -- not fun (the scare crow guy saw it and I think it even made him cringe). The lady's jerk-off boyfriend thought it was hileraious though -- the dude was lucky I didn't show him a nice karate kick to his nuts :)

Well the fog machines we don't control, that's the tech group that does that, and we don't control who goes in front of you. And just remember for everytime you get hit by a scared guest....we get hit at least 10 times more then that. I can say I get hit close to 20 times a night whether it be by accident or on purpose, and some of the hits are square to the face.

Zeek said:
Well the fog machines we don't control, that's the tech group that does that, and we don't control who goes in front of you. And just remember for everytime you get hit by a scared guest....we get hit at least 10 times more then that. I can say I get hit close to 20 times a night whether it be by accident or on purpose, and some of the hits are square to the face.

I always wondered if you guys got hit... lol

I don't understand why older people are so dumb??? A few years back I was with a girl about 18 that got cornered by 3 screamsters, and she was screaming for her life. My friend and I thought this was hillarious, so we just stood and laughed for a minute. Then, she punched one of the screamsters and started sobbing (and they all backed off quickly once the crying began, confused), and we were like "Whoaaa this girl is not right..." Then, she came back, punched my friend, and hated us the rest of the night, wanting to go home. It was bizarre.

I saw other older Mom's acting insanely as well; it dawned on me that some people must not be able to separate reality from fantasy, and they're actually scared for their lives...

Zeek is absolutely right! We do get hit about 10x more than guests do from unruly guests. Some random kid (I would say he was about 7 or 8) was coming through my spot on the island and he decided to knee me in the goods after I scared the living daylights out of him. The thing that really ticked me off was that his parents stood there laughing after he did this.

It's even worse when the parent is the one throwing punches. I couldn't believe the supposed mature adults trying to act tough in front of their kids.

This is one of the best jobs I've ever had the privilege to have, and if it weren't for the long commute, I would be one of the many doing it for free. Although if it weren't for the fact that it is a paid position I'd be willing to bet that there would be many more Screamsters fighting back after being hit.

I would start wearing cups then. If I were you guys I wouldnt take much from the guests.

I hope that the Ghost rides from Geauga Lake get to haunt the Holloweekends! I thought it was cool to see the Rocket ship last year! Plus I really loved the huge State Puff Marshmallow man!

Your mom is to fat to ride TTD. said:
I would start wearing cups then. If I were you guys I wouldnt take much from the guests.

Us male Screamsters should probably take that into consideration! Too many hits down there and we might not be able to function right, if you know what I mean. :/

I was quite surprised to see the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man blow-up there. Must've taken CP awhile to get the copyright stuff taken care of. Can you imagine what else CP could get for Halloweekends!? I must admit tho, Im disappointed that its only for 7 weekends this year. I wish it would go on for a good 10 weekends. Anybody up for a protest? ;)

Just keep it all season!

Thankfully our cops are really good, and most of the guests who intentionally attack Screamsters are dealt with appropriately.

I enjoy all the suggestions I see on here, they are pretty helpful. The comments about Terror Island are particularly helpful for me in preparing to return for my 2nd year as Captain. :)

skiboi007 said:

Still would love to be a screamster, but sadly my day job would prevent me from getting to Sandusky in time for most Friday nights :(

That's certainly not a problem. As someone else mentioned, we have lots of people who sign on for Saturdays only. And even if you can make it by 8:00 or so on Fridays we can usually work with that. Generally as long as you can do 50% of the nights they're able to accommodate your schedule. I would definitely encourage you to consider joining. It really is the best job ever, and about the best group of people you could ever work with.

skiboi007 and others thinking about being a Screamster,

I strongly encourage you to at least try being a Screamster. Just like Wiggum and CP/PKIdude said, there are many Screamsters that are there half the time. Its better to be there every weekend, but some people cant do that. They are in the same situation that you are in. Its an experience that you will want to keep doing year after year, and once Halloweekends is done for the season, you're gonna want more every weekend. But that just builds the excitement and thrill for the next season! :) I've always wanted to be a Screamster since I was a little kid, and then I finally turned 18 and was out and about scaring people. Not many people can go around bragging about being a Screamster and scaring the s*** out of people as their job. It is by far the best job on the planet!!! I wish it went on 24/7 and not only a few weekends per year though. But go online to CP's website and apply. You wont regret it!

RockStart21 and Ralph Wiggum,

Thank you for the info. I'll keep my eyes and ears open for when the 2009 Screamsters positions info posts. I'll keep it in mind. I'll have to see how my schedule for Sept.& October shapes up. (I already know of one weekend in Oct I absolutely can not do at all this year).

Halloween is my favorite time of the year :)
My short experience I had with a local haunt many seasons ago was a total blast! I hear you and agree 100%, RockStar21, it's got to be "...by far the best job on the planet!!!"

By the way -- I would be one of those people who would do it for free if I could, but in this kind of economy and with drive I have, I need to be able to make enough to at least cover my expenses to do it.

Don't go on a warm weekend, I did that last year, the park was packed on Friday, even more on Saturday, and Sunday.

You're welcome skiboi007.

As far as the weekends go, it can still be pretty packed on colder weekends as well. I remember one of the later weekends in October, there was ice cold rain falling and there was non-stop traffic coming onto the island.

I think CP needs to add another haunted house somewhere! I have so many ideas but they probably wont work.

The closer you get to Halloween the more crowded it will be, however no that they have added concert events to the two Sept. weekends, Im guessing its going to be packed every weekend. Just dont go on Sat, on Fri and Sun you can still have fun but on Sat its really hard.