WAGS Work: RheaAnne Ramirez
The WAGS Work Series aims to show our readers that we are more than the stereotypes you might be familiar with--we're creative, hard-working, driven, and willing to do whatever it takes to make this lifestyle work. We also hope to inspire women in all walks of life to get creative and think outside the box when it comes to working and creating the lives of their dreams. Please reach out to the women featured in this series if you have questions or want to learn more about what they do.
TELL US WHO YOU ARE, HOW YOU GOT INTO THE BASEBALL WORLD, AND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND.
My name is RheaAnne Ramirez, My husband is Erasmo Ramirez and he is with the Detroit Tigers this year.
We met and started dating in 2015, married in 2018, and have 2 babies with 1 more due in October 2021.
TELL US ALL ABOUT YOUR JOB, WHAT DO YOU DO, AND HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN WERKIN’ IT.
I work seasonally at a theme park in Tampa Florida called Busch Gardens as a scare actor during their Halloween event, Howl-O-Scream. I’ve been working there for 10 years.
HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU FIND THIS JOB?
I actually am from the Tampa Florida area and grew up going to this event every year and loved it! So as soon as I was old enough I booked an audition and got in!
HOW DO YOU BALANCE WORK AND LIVING THE BASEBALL LIFE?
Balancing Baseball life and this job is fairly simple due to it being partly during the off season!
Auditions are always held in July and rehearsals in august, so I typically fly back and forth for those. And then myself and the kids move back home (close to my job) in September before it starts.
I’m really fortunate with my family also living in the Tampa Bay Area and they help out with the kids while I’m at work until season ends and my husband can come back home and watch them.
HOW DID FINDING THIS JOB IMPACT YOUR LIFE PERSONALLY, AND FOR THE TWO OF YOU?
I think this job impacts my life personally because it gives me something of my own to look forward to every off season. I think it also helps my husband understand how hard it is to be the stay at home mom while I’m off working. It makes him truly appreciate the work I do with the kids during baseball season.
WHAT’S A TYPICAL WORKDAY LIKE FOR YOU IN THE SEASON? IN THE OFF-SEASON?
Since this job is mainly during off season I’m lucky I don’t have to juggle baseball and work.
But this is what a normal day work look like!
Right after I clock in I have to go to wardrobe to get put into my costume, and checked over by the costume shop to make sure everything is in place and still looking good. Then it’s over to our makeup department for our spooky makeup. We get our FX makeup done by the incredible @M6FX which is a team of airbrush and special FX makeup artists.
That typically takes anywhere from 1 to 2 hours.
Then it’s off to our venue! Once we reach our locations it’s time to scare my specific role is called a Photo Op, so less about scaring and more about pictures with the guest!
We do that from around 7pm until 1 am
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER WAGS WHO ARE SEARCHING FOR FUN JOBS?
Find a job that makes you look forward to it every day! Something that you are passionate about and is truly just yours.
WHAT’S THE HARDEST PART OF YOUR JOB? WHAT’S THE BEST?
The hardest part is doing it and balancing mom life honestly.
It’s a long day, I get in at 4 pm and don’t leave until around 2 am. Then still be a functioning parent at 8 am.
I am very lucky my husband takes over majority of the house work and baby duty once season is over.
I am a zombie at work but then truly feel like one the next morning.
The best part, as much as it’s messed up…. Is the scares. It’s a feeling you can’t describe. Actually scaring someone to the point of them falling over, or blood curdling screaming…. It’s hilarious and such a high you don’t understand until you do it.
I love coming home every night and telling my husband about my favorite scare of the night, or the funniest ones.
WHAT’S ONE THING YOU WISH EVERYONE KNEW ABOUT BEING A WAG/BASEBALL LIFE?
I wish everyone knew that just because we are following our sponsee around doesn’t mean we aren’t our own people and have our own wants/needs/dreams. That we all fight to find our own individuality and keep it alive during the crazy time we call baseball season.
WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU ONLINE / HOW CAN WE KEEP UP WITH YOU?
On Instagram! My handle is @RHEAANNE.RAMIREZ