Halloween Lead Host / Actor — Nightmare Bar — $26.50/hr + Tips

Role Snapshot

• Dates: October 6–31, 2026
• Schedule: Thursday–Sunday, primarily evenings with some weekend afternoon sessions
• Typical shift: approximately 3–5 hours
• Pay: $26.50 per hour + tips
• Engagement: Independent contractor
• Future work: strong performers will be offered priority for our December Christmas pop-up experiences

About Nightmare Bar

Nightmare Bar is an immersive Halloween pop-up experience combining themed cocktails, theatrical entertainment, interactive games, challenges, music and Halloween-inspired atmosphere. Each ticketed session hosts approximately 40–50 guests for a 90-minute experience.

This is more than a standard MC role. We need someone who can command a room, make people laugh, improvise, interact directly with guests and bring a dark, playful Halloween character to life.

The Role

As the Lead Nightmare Bar Host, you will run the entertainment experience throughout each session. You will:

• Welcome guests and introduce them to Nightmare Bar
• Host the 90-minute experience
• Run interactive games, challenges, trivia and competitions
• Use a microphone confidently and control the energy of the room
• Move between tables and interact directly with guests
• Improvise and create memorable individual guest moments
• Encourage participation in Nightmare Bar challenges and activities
• Host costume competitions and prize moments
• Activate theatrical elements including the Nightmare telephone experience
• Read and interact with guest confession cards
• Work with music and basic show cues
• Keep the experience running to schedule
• Help reset entertainment props between sessions
• Liaise with the venue and Nightmare Bar team during the shift

* When not on the microphone, the Host should not be standing around waiting for the next activity. You should be moving through the venue, talking to guests, improvising, creating jokes and keeping the Nightmare Bar world alive.

Who We're Looking For

Particularly interested in candidates with experience in:

• Live event hosting
• Acting
• Improv comedy
• Immersive theatre
• Trivia or gameshow hosting
• Character entertainment
• Theme parks
• Halloween attractions
• Murder mystery events
• MC / entertainment work
• Interactive hospitality experiences

*Professional acting experience isn't essential. Personality, confidence and the ability to entertain a room matter more. We're looking for the person who can walk into a bar with 50 people, grab a microphone and immediately make everyone want to pay attention.

Candidate Profile

• Charismatic and outgoing
• Naturally funny and quick-thinking
• Very comfortable speaking on a microphone
• Comfortable approaching and interacting with strangers
• Strong at improvisation
• Able to read a room and know when to increase or reduce guest interaction
• Reliable and punctual
• Comfortable working in a busy bar environment
• Available Thursday–Sunday throughout the October run, including some weekend afternoons
• Comfortable performing multiple sessions in one shift
• Able to work professionally around alcohol while remaining sober on shift

Performance Style

Nightmare Bar is dark, playful, theatrical, funny, immersive and slightly strange. It is not a traditional haunted house.

We are not looking for constant screaming, jump scares, gore or aggressive guest interaction. Think a charismatic, Halloween host with strong improvisational acting ability, rather than a haunted-house scare actor.

How to Apply

Applicants should send:

• Name and city
• Recent photo or headshot
• Relevant acting, hosting, improv or entertainment experience
• Confirmation of October 6–31 availability
• A short video introducing yourself and showing your personality

**Bonus : a 30–60 second video showing how you would welcome a room of guests into a strange Halloween bar. We're looking for performers who can make guests leave saying "the Host absolutely made the experience."