Last night we held a kickoff event for our Terror Behind the Walls management team. Unlike years past, however, this was not your traditional, boring, read-the-handbook-out-loud type of meeting. Inspired by the training programs at places like Disney World and Busch Gardens, we challenged ourselves to “re-imagine” the experience we wanted our management team to have on their first day of work. After all, first impressions are important not only for our guests, but also for our staff.
After an informal meet and greet at Al Capone’s Cell, our management team was escorted to the central rotunda where they were greeted by fog, music, and our administrative staff. Here, Sean Kelley, our Senior Vice President for Public Programming and PR, recapped the 20-year tradition of Halloween at Eastern State, and Jason Ohlsen, our Associate Director for Design Services, outlined a laundry list of what’s new for 2011. From a new ticketing company, new security firm, and new Ghost Bus stories to two new attractions, we’ve never made so many improvements to the event in a single season!
Amy Hollaman, our Employee Services Director, explained why it’s the people – our employees and guests – that really make Terror Behind the Walls special. She pointed out that our 20-person management team (Yes, we really have 20 managers! I think it’s fitting for our 20th year) has more than 123 years of combined haunted house experience. They are an extremely talented crew!
Our Theatrical Director, Nathan Edmondson, focused on the importance of quality. From the moment our guests arrive at our Ghost Bus parking lot until the moment they head home for the evening, we want them to have a seamless entertainment experience. It’s the reason we call our event a “show.”
Finally, with flashlights in hand, I took our team to the central guard tower where I explained the final, and one of the most important, responsibilities of being a manager at Terror Behind the Walls – to re-imagine. It was the theme for the night, and it’s the theme for everything we do here at Eastern State. We’re always looking for ways to do what we do even better.
It’s not too late to be part of the Terror Behind the Walls team. Later this month our management team will be holding auditions and interviews to fill the nearly 250 positions required each show night. For more information, visit www.EasternState.org/jobs
Brett Bertolino
Director of Operations
