Immersive Pop Up Event Actor

Showtime Presents is hiring an Immersive Pop Up Event Actor for Nightmare Bar, a ticketed theatrical Halloween experience running throughout October 2026 in San Francisco, CA. This role sits at the intersection of live performance and event entertainment, with the actor serving as the lead host driving a 90-minute immersive show for groups of 40 to 50 guests per session. It suits performers with backgrounds in improv comedy, immersive theatre, character entertainment, or live event hosting who thrive without a script and a safety net.

About the Role

Nightmare Bar is a seasonal pop-up experience combining theatrical performance, interactive games, themed atmosphere, and live hosting across multiple sessions per shift. The Immersive Pop Up Event Actor runs the entire entertainment arc of each session, from guest welcome through costume competitions, trivia, challenges, and scripted theatrical moments like the Nightmare telephone experience. Between mic moments, the expectation is full character immersion, moving through the venue, engaging tables, and keeping the world of the show alive without prompting.

Key Responsibilities

• Host the full 90-minute Nightmare Bar experience across multiple sessions per shift, controlling pacing, energy, and audience engagement throughout.
• Run interactive games, trivia rounds, costume competitions, and guest challenges using a microphone with confidence and stage presence.
• Activate scripted theatrical elements including the Nightmare telephone sequence and guest confession card interactions.
• Improvise guest-specific moments and table interactions to create individual memorable experiences within the broader show format.
• Work to show cues and music transitions while keeping the experience on schedule across each session.
• Reset entertainment props between sessions and coordinate with the Nightmare Bar team and venue staff during the shift.

What You Bring

• Demonstrable experience in at least one of the following: live event hosting, improv comedy, immersive theatre, murder mystery performance, theme park character work, or gameshow hosting.
• Genuine comfort on a microphone in front of large groups, with the ability to read a room and adjust energy accordingly.
• Availability Thursday through Sunday for the full October 6 to 31, 2026 run, including some weekend afternoon sessions.
• Professional acting credentials are not required. Personality and improvisational ability carry more weight than formal credits.
• Ability to work sober in a busy bar environment across multi-session shifts.

Why This Role

Showtime Presents operates seasonal immersive entertainment experiences with a track record of building returning performer rosters. This engagement pays $26.50 per hour plus tips as an independent contractor, with strong performers offered priority booking for the December Christmas pop-up run. For performers building credits in live immersive entertainment, this is a legitimate production with a paying audience and a real performance brief.

Apply now for the Immersive Pop Up Event Actor position with Showtime Presents and bring Nightmare Bar to life this Halloween season.