“Ask Me – I’m a Local”

That’s what my button says.  We volunteers wear them during our shifts at the Salem Visitor Information Booth in October during Haunted Happenings in Salem, MA.  I “freelance” when not in the booth by wearing my pin all month long and helping any lost-looking tourists to find their way around town.

For 2019, we had SO MANY volunteers (a blessing, to be sure) that I was only able to book two initial shifts at the booth – and the earliest was October 13th!  Once everyone had a chance to choose their initial shifts, the schedule was opened-up again and I took three additional later in the month (including Halloween!!).

If you haven’t read about 2018’s booth experiences, you can find those here, and I share some further thoughts on the booth in this post.

Sunday, October 13th: 12-2pm (actually 12-2:15pm)

I was so excited to start my first shift.  Though I had been walking around town wearing my button and helping people up until this point, it’s not the same as standing at the booth and having people from around the world come to you.  It seems to be tradition now that I always begin my season in the Ambassador Witch costume (above and left).  I have had return visitors recognize me in that outfit, and the local vendors and street performers have been starting to recognize it as well.

During this shift, I met visitors from Canada, Washington, DC, Connecticut, New Jersey, Ireland, and Israel and helped 453 individuals in my 2h 15m shift (the woman replacing me was late, so I stayed to help until she showed-up).

Sunday, October 20th: 4-6pm

My first evening shift (I prefer the 10-12 or 12-2), I only had 186 people on my clicker at the end of it.  I think by that time of day – especially on a Sunday – people don’t need directions or help in finding things to do.  I don’t think I’ll take another late shift, unless it’s Halloween night (I am scheduled 2-4!).  Today’ I was the Herbology Professor (right), which was my ‘new; costume for 2018.

In addition to the booth shift, a friend that runs Creative Collective asked me if I could help them out loading street vendors for the weekend markets on 19, 20, 26 and 27th.  Of course I said I would – then he told me I had to be there at 7:15am…  It was COLD and early, but all of the vendors were very sweet and happy to have a friendly face helping them load-in.  It did make for long days, though.  I have a feeling he’s going to ask again during the next markets.

Saturday, October 26th: 12-2pm

A wonderfully sunny and beautiful day in Salem! 

 I am trying, every year, to have a new costume in rotation (see above).  For 2019 , I had created Mickey Mouse’s Brave Little Tailor.  What do you think?  It was a big hit and has to be one of the most photographed costumes I’ve worn.  

There were a few people calling me Peter Pan and Robin Hood, which bummed me out, until one guy came walking across the cross walk and yelled to me “Seven in one blow!”  I must have grinned from (mouse) ear to (mouse) ear!

Because it was a beautiful day, it was peak time, and it was the last Saturday before Halloween, it was CROWDED.  I helped 428 people during my shift.

Sunday, October 27th: 12-2pm

Sunday was a miserable as Saturday was beautiful.  It was pouring rain, cold, and windy.  Because of the weather, most of the street vendors had cancelled, so I didn’t have to stand in the cold rain at 7:15am, but I did keep my shift at the booth.  I struggled to find an outfit that was fun, but also weatherproof.  I settled on a polyester “Beetlejuice” suit I had in the closet from a Night Circus-themed masquerade ball we attended, complete with top hat and umbrella (necessary in that weather).  I only clicked 138 people on my counter, and I came home chilled and soaked to the bone, with awful blisters from the tux shoes (bad idea).

Thursday, October 31st (HALLOWEEN!): 2-4pm – Cancelled

The weather was so awful, that they cancelled anyone scheduled to be outside.  We decided to keep the booth open for the next weekend, so they moved my shift to:

Saturday, November 2nd: 12-2pm

While it was technically past Halloween, the crowds still came on Saturday, perhaps because of the weather that week.  It was clear, but chilly.  I wore the Ambassador Witch hat and socks, but with long johns  and a thick wool pea coat.

The calendars and brochures that we usually give out were now out-of-date, but I pointed people to the map and descriptions, telling them what was still running and open.  All-in-all, I helped 183 people during this shift, plus a dozen more on my way home.

Total people helped (at the booth): 1388 

That’s a far cry from the 1967 of 2018, but I blame the weather and my shift selections for that.

In 2020, Halloween will fall on a Saturday, and the Haunted Happenings kick-off parade will be on Thursday October 1st.   That means we will have one full month of Haunted Happenings!  And did I mention that both October 1st and 31st are full moons?  Yeah.  It’s going to be crazy.

I can’t wait!