Does anyone have any tips or resources that someone could use when it comes to training new actors or bettering the actors that are already around. And any advice helps, things that work for one group of people might not work for another, and vice versa.

Chain em to a pole and flog em!!!

we tried that, and its great for making new props but it didnt do anything for the actors..just made them even more lazy, they just sat there face down on the ground..they at least moved before

I think a great resource for actor training, if you can get your hands on some, are old issues of Haunted Attraction magazine, any of the old Haunt magazines have actor training articles all over them. Check it out maybe that will help? 

~AA~

If you need actors to have strong improv/dialogue skills, I always suggest playing improv games as a group in the off-season (think of the games from "Who's Line is it anyway?" that involve random props, quirks, line of dialogue, etc).  Even if the games lead to silly dialogue, it helps build up the skills of being able to think on one's feet and be able to intereact and play off of every customer.

During production, I always recommend having a seasoned actor work with the new actors for a few nights.  This way they can learn timing, different acting styles, and how to work the crowd.

I fully agree with what Bansheette said...as a matter of fact I was gonna post about playing improv games also.

They are great to for building friendships among the actors to, it is not meant to be serious, but just fun...and that is what acting in a haunt is all about...the fun.

Right, it encourages team-building as well and can also lead to better group acts.  If your crew is used to playing off each other, then they will act together better during season and have more fun.

I also recommend doing "field trips" to different interactive events, like Ren Faires, ineractive theater production (ex. Tony and Tina got Married), improv comedy (like Second City productions).  Its a great bonding experience and a way to see a variety of techniques to help you think on your feet and play off the crowd.

thats a lot really helpful information, thanks. its been getting me thinking about what could help and at least where to start.

thats a lot really helpful information, thanks. its been getting me thinking about what could help and at least where to start.

Whatever you do, don't order the HAUNTED HOUSE ACTOR TRAINING & OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT DVD by Boneyard Productions.  The company has done some other good work, but this one should be avoided.  It's promoted very well and looks great, but for all their slapstick and sillyness I can't think of a single useful tip from it that wasn't completely bleeding obvious.  That's thirty bucks I wish I had back.