Working with social outcasts

[Elios]

Hey guys, quick question for a problem i'm dealing with. I've been working the haunted house again this year, and now i'm a manager of one of the houses. The problem i've been having is my actors are the shy / rebellious type. I've tried to be nice, i've tried being an asshole, but i just can reach these kids. They're all between 17-20, so i'm just trying to be friends with them so we can get along and work together.

Any suggestions how to get teenagers to shut the fuck up and do what i say?

[Corky-D]

I wouldn't try to become their friends, just fire them / get them fired if they're not doing what they're supposed to.

As long as they do their job it doesn't really matter.

[ratchet103]

threaten them with a 9mm.

[Proottalfain]

Don't be their friend, be their boss. Being people's friend never gives authority.

You can be a smooth boss, but still be a boss.

[CryogenChaos]

At 10/20/09 03:10 PM, Elios wrote: Any suggestions how to get teenagers to shut the fuck up and do what i say?

Remind them that you are in control, that you don't need their sorry asses, that they're easily replaced. If they're getting paid, make sure that you stress that you are in control of their money. Be stern when doing this, they can smell fear and doubt. If they still act up, fire them. You don't need them when there are plenty of other people out there looking for a job.

[Elios]

At 10/20/09 03:16 PM, CryogenChaos wrote:

If they still act up, fire them. You don't need them when there are plenty of other people out there looking for a job.

That's a great idea, but unfortunately all the other house managers thought of it first. We've gone through EVERYONE that has sent in an application. There have been more people fired than there are employed right now. All these little teenagers who think it'll be cool to work here last about 1 weekend, realize it's actual "work", and either bail / try to destroy the place. I was lucky enough to get a few veteran actors, but the rest are these little brats that whine when we tell them what to do.

So right now i'm just trying to work with what's left at the bottom of this barrel.

[CryogenChaos]

At 10/20/09 03:24 PM, Elios wrote: So right now i'm just trying to work with what's left at the bottom of this barrel.

Do the current employees know about this? If not, then it's all a matter of a convincing bluff. If they do, then you have a serious situation on your hands. Is it possible advertise elsewhere, get a few more applications going? If not, is it possible to mess with the show itself so it doesn't need as many actors?

[Gagsy]

Just keep trying, it's eventually pay off. Just remind them maybe that if they don't want to be there and show no passion towards it then they may as well leave.

Also sorry, but I couldn't help thinking of South Park when you said this;

:(

At 10/20/09 03:10 PM, Elios wrote: but i just can reach these kids.

HOW DO I REACH THESE KIDS???

[chainsawmurderer53]

Be nice to them, but make sure you act like a boss when there fuck about.

[Elios]

At 10/20/09 03:26 PM, CryogenChaos wrote: Do the current employees know about this?

Some of them do. They're playing it off as "Have, they're boned, we can do whatever."

Is it possible advertise elsewhere, get a few more applications going?

Usually we get a few apps a day from customers. But depending on what's on it, we'll either give them a shot, or just throw it out.

If not, is it possible to mess with the show itself so it doesn't need as many actors?

Luckily for my house, you can run this place with one REALLY good actor. It's basically a pitch black maze with a few rooms where people pop out. The main problem we've been having is the actors like to wander off and talk to their friends. As soon as i show up, they hide in the maze, get to their room and be like "Oh i was here the whole time!"

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to talk to the other managers today, see if we can get a meeting with everyone sooner or later. Also i'll post a thread with some pics to show you how awesome my jobby is.

At 10/20/09 03:31 PM, Gagsy wrote: HOW DO I REACH THESE KIDS???

KEEEEEEEEEEEDS!

[Racoonmario]

Can't you threaten them with something along the lines of 'Do your job properly or you won't get paid because, well, you didn't do anything.'? I can't think of anything else, considering you are out of actors.

At 10/20/09 03:31 PM, Gagsy wrote:

At 10/20/09 03:10 PM, Elios wrote: but i just can reach these kids.

HOW DO I REACH THESE KIDS???

They need to RESPECT YOUR AUTORITEH!

[JaY11]

Lock one of them int he house for the night, then threaten to do it again if they continue.

[UnkutAcid]

Try beating them. That ought to put some gas in their ass.

[UberCream]

At 10/20/09 03:31 PM, Gagsy wrote: HOW DO I REACH THESE KIDS???

Fuck! Beat me to it!

Anyway, OP, I suggest using violence.

[gamekillereater]

Taunt them and say they can't do jackshit.
They'll resent you and work hard to disprove your claims.

[GiantDouche]

Try to be their friend. Pass a blunt around and give out BJs. They'll be all over you.

[Rottenberry]

At 10/20/09 05:04 PM, GiantDouche wrote: Try to be their friend. Pass a blunt around and give out BJs. They'll be all over you.

Now we know how GiantDouche managed to survive Highschool.

[GiantDouche]

At 10/20/09 05:06 PM, Rottenberry wrote:

At 10/20/09 05:04 PM, GiantDouche wrote: Try to be their friend. Pass a blunt around and give out BJs. They'll be all over you.

Now we know how GiantDouche managed to survive Highschool.

I...I prefer not to talk about that...

[tuckerton296]

wate, they dont like scareing people?
i volenteer at my local one ane i do it for free. its for charity
anad i enjoy it more then going through it.

[j33sus]

Get new actors. Anyways, it's not hard to jump out of a dark corner.

[chickenpenus]

a bat, your choice of aluminum or wood

[drknes]

Write them up for not doing their job and let them know that if it continues it will come to termination.

[Snake-Arsenic]

They normally shut up when their jobs are on the line. Start with a couple of warnings and if needed fire one. You're the manager and if you don't start acting like one they'll walk all over you.

[YeOldeSierra]

Relax, and be friendly with them. If that doesn't work, offer them something, if they do what they're meant to. You don't have to give them anything, do you? If that doesn't work, try running them ragged. Make 'em feel like they're in slavery. If neither of those work, I'm not sure.

[Lunaful]

Confuse and rule. It may should mean but its all about how you manipulate events to your advantage. If they aren't doing as their asked sack one , make an example of one of them showing that if this behaviour continues that they will end up sacking more. Use the whole " One of you equals ten more waiting to replace you" line.

[RubberTrucky]

Personally, I'd hire better motivated staff

[IrBORED]

Stand your ground be serious and under no circumstances should you show signs of fear. We can smell it. It sometimes works on my friends.

[angryglacier]

Maybe try some positive reinforcement.

[Prinzy2]

Get the boss of the whole project to have a general meeting with all the actors and have him outline the responsibilities of the actors and what's expected of them. Then he should say if they aren't doing what they were hired for then they will be replaced. Or you could get your boss to talk to them one on one.

Just because you're working with the bottom of the barrel, doesn't mean they have to know it.

[Leo625]

If you're not happy with their acting get in their and do it yourself asshole. And to motivate them to really get into their character with alot of energy and fierceness just snort a few lines of coke with them beforehand, duh... You obviously haven't been a manager very long