Volunteer FAQ's
Volunteering looks like a lot of fun, but I'm not sure if I can really scare people. Is there any training offered?
Yes, there are a variety of ways in which we can provide you with training, as a volunteer. Prior to the dress rehearsal, there is a training session offered to employees and volunteers who have signed up in advance. The training session is optional to volunteers, but mandatory for employees. If you sign up to become a volunteer mid-season, we will pair you up with an employee who will train you on-the-job. If you come out to volunteer for more than one night, we'll have the opportunity to find just the right 'character' for you. Everyone can scare! We'll do our best to put you in a position that you enjoy. We want our volunteers to have fun!
Are costumes and make-up provided?
Yes. You must arrive one hour to 30 minutes early so that our costume and make-up artists/engineers can get you into costume and make-up. We highly recommend that volunteers arrive early because getting put into costume and make-up is a really fun time!
What is the difference between a volunteer and an employee?
Volunteers set their own hours (which must still be pre-arranged with the Cornstalk Staff), while employees must work all the hours for the particular festival for which they have been employed. For example, a volunteer Scare Actor may only work at the festival on Friday nights for a few hours during the haunted festival, but an employee must work all hours of the festival season in order to qualify to be considered for employment. This allows us to train employees on safety issues, as well as training them to be able to train volunteers (who might only work with us for as little as one night at times). Employees have the opportunity to really hone their acting skills or their admissions protocols during the course of the festival, while getting to know a lot of new people in the process. We also get to learn a lot about our employees because we watch them perform night after night.
