From scary movies and creepy ghost stories to costume parties, Halloween is an entire season rather than a one-day affair. But for some, getting the heart pumping at a haunted house is the proper way to celebrate.

Brett Houghtaling and Jonathan Stevens have each been working at Headless Horseman Haunted Attractions for more than a decade. Getting ready to scare visitors is second nature to them.

“A few minutes of warm-up – mostly just yelling and screaming in the house to make my voice a little hoarse – and then it's just action,” says Houghtaling.

Putting on their costumes and popping in some creepy contacts only takes a few minutes for these veteran spookers. The real magic comes when they sit in the chair of makeup artist Meagan Donovan. She and four other makeup artists use airbrush makeup and some prosthetics to create ghoulish corpses, scary clowns and more.

Each character pops out of secret compartments and around corners.

“It’s fun,” Stevens says. “It's like it doesn't feel like a job; brings out my inner child. You know, I get to run after people and chase ’em and scream at ’em.”

Houghtaling and Stevens say the reactions they get from people are the most memorable. They say every interaction is different, from people hitting each other to couples throwing each other in front of them.