“Everybody haunts differently,” says legendary haunter Shar Mayer.

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The look, the technique, the psychology behind the scare, and the location are all factors to consider, she says.

Shar, who has been a professional haunt actor and producer for four decades, is familiar with all of the above.

She’s seen the haunt industry develop and grow to its current high-tech status.  Meanwhile, she’s been having a lot of fun scaring the daylights out of horror fans!  Shar has worked in venues including Sinister Pointe, Knott’s Scary Farm and Delusion.

Besides being an actor, Shar is a producer and haunt consultant.  She co-produced “Legend of the Iron Witch,” the first original haunt to appear at Los Angeles’ original summertime Halloween convention, ScareLA.  And for the past few years, she’s been working in the development and casting of Fullerton extreme haunt “The 17th Door”.  She performs, mentors and teaches aspiring haunters, and has taught workshops to community groups (including Girl Scouts) on horror makeup.

In addition, Shar appears as one of three featured horror professionals in Jon Schnitzer’s documentary, “Haunters: The Art of the Scare“, which is currently available on Netflix!

On this addition of Over Coffee®, you’ll hear:

• How haunting became Shar’s passion;

• Why she sees scaring someone as a “relationship” of sorts;

• A “how-to” mini-lesson on horror makeup–and some easy scary looks to create this Halloween;

• The techniques behind successful haunting;

• Shar’s advice to scare actors as they prepare to work in a haunt (including the number-one thing to do, to succeed!);

• The psychology and boundaries of professionalism in haunting;

• How to stay safe, as a haunter;

• The ways Shar has seen the haunt industry change, over her four decades as a haunter;

• How The 17th Door is creating elements and special effects to scare visitors;

• What Shar’s currently doing, and how to contact her with questions.