"Everyone...I Think It's Time To End The Séance"

I turned to the audience and said, "Everyone, I think it's time to end the Séance." And I escorted the guests from the room for the last time.

At least, for the last time this season. Tonight, another show ended, a show I've been fortunate enough to do for the second year in a row. Me doing the same show year after year hasn't happened since college, and interestingly enough, it was working for the same company.

Tonight, we said goodbye.

Tonight, we hung up the costumes.

Tonight, we hugged and wished everyone the best until we see each other again.

Tonight, an exhausted team gathered for a final picture.

We replaced our props, closed the door, turned off the lights, and closed the door. All that remains are our memories, hearing the laughs, the gasps, and all the screams that came from that small room. After every show I watched as each patron leave to continue their Frightmares experience. Some were shaking, some laughing, some crying, but almost all were smiling, thankful for a good scare and that the experience was over.

Our team left tired, sore, emotionally drained, but happy. That's the way to end a show. Thank you, Frightmares, for allowing me to be part of an amazing and talented group of people, Stephen, Sheradin, Curtis, Taylor, Joey, and everyone else involved in the show. Happy Halloween, everyone!

The Things You Do...When You Lose Your Voice

Last week, at my part-time gig, I had to work outside. It got cold last week, and because of that, a series of events occurred that resulted in my losing my voice. Well, I didn't lose it completely, but I had no way to project my voice.

For me, it's something that happens all the time.

I remember back in college, I would lose my voice at least a couple of times every year, usually around Christmas. This was a problem because I sang in a choir and Christmas was a very busy time for us, a time when I needed to sing.

Losing my voice is a problem for me. I need my voice to do my part-time gig. I need to speak to the public who are about to enter our show. I need to give the audience instructions and usher them out when the show is finished. I thought of ways I could use technology to help.

Like I said earlier, I can speak, but quietly. I have nothing to push the sound. So, I thought I could get a Bluetooth speaker and project my voice that way. I gaff taped a shower Bluetooth speaker I had to the back of a mask I use for the show. I downloaded an app that allows me to use my phone as the microphone.

It all looked good on paper. Turns out in reality the iPhone mic created a ton of feedback. It was cool, though because the feedback made it sound like eerie spooky sounds were coming from my mask. I remembered that I had ordered a microphone years ago to help with my podcast. I plugged in the mic and pulled up the app. That helped, but it wasn't great. Finally my son loaned me his Bluetooth speaker, a superior product. 

That did it. I had something I could use to speak to the crowds. Turns out, I didn't need to do it. Yes, it hurt, but I pushed through the shows by having the audio turned down and by being quiet. I wasn't as effective a speaker as I had been the previous weeks, but we got through it. 

The good news is, this condition usually only lasts a few days. I won't be returning to the part-time gig for five days. By then, I won't need Bluetooth speakers, additional microphones, or gaff tape. I will have the mask, though. Basically, because it's cool.

Prepare To Scare...

Last Friday the Acquisitions Editor at my publisher asked what everyone was planning to do for the weekend. The answers varied, attending a comic con, chaperoning at a high school dance, other writing-related activities.

Me?

I said I'd be scaring the crap out of people.

And that's just what I did.

And that's what I'm going to be doing this weekend, too.

Also last Friday, I took out my camera and snapped a couple of pictures as we prepared for our shows. My son made sure the chainsaws were ready for the show he house manages. I saw a few of the people assigned to one of the several haunted houses at the amusement parks and they graciously posed for me. And a friend, Colton, snapped a picture of me before the show I'm in started. Colton and members of his family attended that particular Séance session. It was a good one.

Friday's are different from going to the part-time job on Saturdays or Sundays. When me and the kids get to the part on Saturdays and Sundays, we're arriving after the park's been open for several hours. But on Fridays, we arrive before the park opens, before the public has a chance to roam and enjoy.

It's cool seeing everyone walking to their stations in full character. Usually employees in costume must be covered up if they're not at their station. 

I've not had the opportunity to go through any of the other haunted houses on the park. I should, but haven't had the time. People will ask me, as we wait for the next Séance to begin, how our show compares with the other attractions, or they'll ask about how scary are the other haunted houses. I can't tell them. But there are hundreds of employees, kids who love dressing up as ghost, goblins, witches, spooks and spectres, all ready to entertain and scare. 

And tomorrow night, we'll do it all over again.

Time Flew In Church Last Week...

So, the past couple of weeks have been a blur. We closed at show at the beginning of the month. The next week I attended all three days of the FanX comic convention--basically I stood around for 12 + hours a day for three days. Not to be outdone, the following week I started my p/t gig at Lagoon's Frightmares, in addition to driving my daughter around as she and her fellow cast members learned an entirely new show in five days. And to top things off, I did a book signing on Saturday in between working Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at Lagoon.

It's been quite a month.

Which brings me to attending Sunday services over the weekend.

I only attended the first hour (because I had to go to work...), but I must say, that first hour flew by. There was nothing special about the meeting. It was your basic LDS Sacrament meeting with ward business, the administering of the Sacrament, songs, prayers, and speakers.

So, why did the meeting go by so quickly?

Basically, because I slept through half of it.

After the Sacrament was administered, we had a youth speaker, a charming boy, and he started hot--funny stuff, good jokes.

The next thing I heard was music playing. It was the rest hymn. That meant I missed most of the youth's speaker's talk and then the entirely of the second speaker. After the rest hymn, a neighbor sitting by us asked if I was okay, if I needed anything.

"More sleep," was my response.

I'm hoping that next week I won't be as tired. We'll be three weeks separated from the show ending, two weeks separated from FanX, and a week separated from starting another show and doing a book signing. Of course, who knows what the future will bring?

Helping The Daughter With Her Career...

My daughter asked us for help preparing a video resume for a gig that's coming up next month. She's choosing a career of performing and nowadays, sending video auditions seems to be all the rage. She needed to include a regular resume, a monologue, a dramatic scene, and video of her dancing.

After a few hours, we got them all.

I've done one video audition in my life. It wasn't good, but good enough for me to get a part in the show. This is the second time my daughter has prepared a video audition. Earlier this year she did another one--not for a job, but to get into a college program. She got into the program, so she's one-for-one, with another one pending.

My daughter's first acting gig happened when she was only six-years old. She even got a solo and even though I know my bias is showing, she nailed it. She and I have been doing shows ever since. We're currently in the same show right now, Centerpoint Legacy Theatre's Pirates of Penzance. It's a great show and I'm fortunate to be included in the cast.

The video audition and resume are due tomorrow. Tonight she'll send it off. Will it be good enough? Time will tell. She knows the people involved in the show and, more importantly, they know her. She's chosen a tough career as far as rejection goes. It's more common I believe than getting the part. It just makes the times when you nail an audition and are found to be just the one they were looking for that much sweeter.

Tonight we helped her get everything together. We didn't do much--she pretty much did it all. I can only hope whatever the outcome, she'll be a better person when it's all said and done.