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Author: Brian Foreman

The Best Places to Buy Halloween & Haunted House Supplies. (picked by Haunters)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:00 — 36.6MB)

Subscribe: Apple

Halloween SuppliesWhere do you buy your supplies for your Haunted House, Home Haunt, or Halloween Display?

In this episode of HaunTopic Radio we asked you where your favorite places were to purchase masks, make-up, props, animatronic parts, sound effects, decorations, and general haunted house supplies. And YOU delivered!

Keep in mind these questions were answered by a variety of different haunters. Pro Haunters, Home Haunters, and Beginner Halloween Enthusiasts. Answers vary from places like Scare Factory to Picking Up Materials Off the Curb! There are 1,000’s of places to acquire haunt supplies but these are the ones hand picked by you. Check out the list below and see if your favorite store is listed.

We also introduce a new segment called The Haunter’s Toolbox hosted by a fellow HaunTopic crew member- Matthew Hampel. In this ongoing segment Matthew will cover all scary things we find on the web. Cool haunt products, Haunter YouTube channels, Halloween information websites, and other valuable places online to get your haunt on!

 

Here is the list of the best places to find Halloween & Haunt supplies (picked by you):

  1. Top Pick- Fright Props
  2. Monster Guts
  3. eBay/Amazon
  4. Home Depot/Lowe’s/Find it on the curb (build your own)
  5. Spirit Halloween/Halloween Express
  6. Haunted Props
  7. Haunted House Creations
  8. Distortions
  9. Halloween Asylum
  10. Froggy’s Fog
  11. Gore Galore
  12. Midnight Syndicate/Audio Zombie (Audio)
  13. Creepy Collections
  14. Master Fog
  15. Scare Factory
  16. Darklight Lighting
  17. Creature Corps
  18. Spooky Dimensions
  19. Poison Props
  20. Nethercraft
  21. Shop of Horrors
  22. Haunted House Makers
  23. Fright Ideas
  24. Haunting FX
  25. Nightmare Factory
  26. Bloody Mary (make up)
  27. Creeped Out
  28. Frightmasters
  29. Party Galaxy/Buy Costumes
  30. Oriental Trading Company

 

Did your favorite place make the list? Let us know in the comments below!

The winner of the 1031 Horror Comic “Halls of Bedlam” is: Christie Watkins

Get Your Own Personalized Horror Comic at 1031 Comics!

1031 Comics

The 3 prizes for the month of July are:

1) A personalized comic cover of your Haunt or Character by John O’Brien (the artist above)

2) A personalized color illustration caricature of you as your favorite monster. (also by John O’Brien)

3) A hand-crafted scarecrow mask by John Dean of TerroRealm in Rutland, VT.

If you want a chance to win next time make sure you’re a member of The Haunter’s Toolbox Newsletter!

Click Here to become a member of The Haunter’s Toolbox for FREE

ScareFest: Canada’s Haunted Attraction Convention with Home Haunter Chris Ainsworth

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 51:08 — 58.5MB)

Subscribe: Apple

ScareFest: Canadian Haunteed Attraction ConventionWe get Chris Ainsworth from Scarefest: Canada’s Haunted Attraction Convention to spend an hour with us and we get the inside scoop on this one day convention for haunters. If you live in the U.S. this convention may be closer than you think. It is in Ontario which is just a short drive away from some of the northern states and it would make an awesome road trip. So if you missed out on some of the other conventions and live around the northern border then this would be a great way to get your haunt convention fix!

ScareFest is a one of a kind show that caters to owners and operators of professional Haunted Houses, actors, home haunters, artists, and Halloween enthusiasts in the Canadian Haunt Industry. -CHASCAREFEST.COM

Chris is also a Home Haunter who operates Thornhill Haunted House at his residence. How does Chris juggle running a Haunted House Convention, setting up his Home Haunt, and manage a full time job? Many of us Haunters have encountered this situation many times. We discover what keeps his haunt fire burning all year long.

If you plan on going to this convention, make sure to listen to this episode. Chris is giving all HaunTopic Radio U.S. listeners a special rate for just showing up! And if you want your attraction or home haunt listed for FREE on the Canadian Haunter’s Association website (U.S. or Canada) then check out the links below.

 

Here are the topics we cover in this episode:

  • ScareFest: Canada’s Haunted Attraction Convention
  • The Canadian Haunter’s Association: All things haunted in Canada
  • Thornhill Haunted House: Home Haunt by Chris Ainsworth
  • ScareFest on Facebook
  • Join the Midwest Haunters Make-n-Take in Illinois

 

To win a Horror Comic from 1031 Comics “Halls of Bedlam” make sure you are a member of The Haunter’s Toolbox. This contest ends June 24th. We give away FREE Halloween and Haunt prizes each month!! 

Click here to become a member for FREE!

 

halls of bedlam

 

 

Halloween & Haunted House Music for Your Haunt (Bonus Interview with Ghoul Show)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:04:30 — 73.8MB)

Subscribe: Apple

 
Ghoul ShowIn Episode 47 of HaunTopic Radio we mix a compilation of Halloween, Haunt, & Horror music from 10 different horror musicians and bands to add atmosphere to your Haunt. We also get Kyle Lester from Ghoul Show to describe his genre of horror music and we’ll play two of his songs along the way. You gotta listen to this!

Then we dive into a mix of other artists who bring the darkness through your ears and into the stem of your brain. We throw in a few individual tracks, some medleys of complete CDs, and even a couple of movie theme songs that you might recognize. Support these dark musicians by buying their songs on iTunes, Amazon, Sound Cloud, or your favorite place to buy music. This helps by keeping them around a little bit longer.

Our online seminar Scare Acting 101 with Allen Hopps from Stiltbeast Studios is on June 19th. Join us in this LIVE Webinar with video, audio, chat box, and real feedback from Allen Hopps. He will give acting tips, share his experience as a Scare Acting coach, and teach his techniques on managing and organizing actors. This online seminar is $20 and you can register here:

 

Register for “Scare Acting 101” with Allen Hopps on June 19th. (Online Seminar)

 
 

halls of bedlamOne winner will be chosen this month to win a copy of the NEW horror comic from 1031 Comics- “The Halls of Bedlam” 1031 comics are a Horror based production service that will create a personalized comic book for your Haunt theme or based on a certain favorite Haunt character in your attraction. These comic books can be sold in your gift shops, handed out as part of your advertising, or just made to make your Haunt look good as a comic book!

You have the chance to win a FREE comic book just by being a member of HaunTopic Radio. If you become a member by registering before June 24th you will be automatically entered. If you see this after June 24th, don’t be sad-we give away prizes each month!

 Click Here To Join The Haunter’s Toolbox

By becoming a member of the Haunter’s Toolbox you will also receive new podcast episodes to your inbox and extra bonuses only to members. This is FREE and you can unsubscribe at any time. We don’t send spam- only valuable information from the Haunt & Halloween Industry.

 
 

Links from the show. Preview and download music from your favorite artist:

  • Haunt Nation Mag: A FREE online magazine for Halloween and Horror Fanatics. WIN $2oo in Make-Up!! Read It Here
  • Ghoul Show: Horror music with a distinctive sound. We interview the musician Kyle Lester.  Free Music
  • Midnight Syndicate: Ever heard of these guys?  Buy Music
  • Hover: Nice ambient noises for your graveyard, mansion, or creepy place of your choice. Buy Music
  • Prelude to a Nightmare: The beginning of everyone’s nightmare…dark circus, Kiddie Land….:-O  Buy Music
  • Virgil Franklin: Horror & Haunt musician who knows his music and has been around since the beginning.  Free Music
  • Shadow’s Symphony: Creepy ambient sound with a touch of shadow. Buy Music
  • Verse 13: With an album called Memories From The Grave..what do you think? Buy Music
  • Michael Hedstrom: Boy were we glad to come across Michael’s stuff! Where have we been? Buy Music
  • Spooky Sound Experience: Crazy nightmares from a Horror House.  Buy Music
  • Nox Arcana:  Goth, Dark, Haunted, Climatic, Scary…Joseph Vargo has been around for quite some time.  Buy Music

(A small percentage of each download purchased above will be donated to HaunTopic Radio. Thanks!)

Next episode we interview Chris Ainsworth from the Scarefest Convention in Canada!

 
 

Highlights from the Transworld Halloween and Haunt Show 2013 (part 2)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:49 — 58.2MB)

Subscribe: Apple

Shattered FX- Silicone MasksIn this episode of HaunTopic Radio we stuff in more Halloween & Haunted House goodness from the 2013 Transworld Halloween & Attractions Show in St.Louis, Mo. We interview some Home Haunters, Prop Makers, Mask Designers, and a couple of Haunt Podcast Stars. Check out the names and active links below which takes you directly to their websites!

“Whether you are opening a haunted attraction for the first time, or are a seasoned veteran, the Transworld Halloween and Attractions show is a must see event. This is the only trade show that features vendors, from across the nation and overseas, that cover every aspect of our business, from ticketing to makeup and sound FX to giant animatronics. If you are a pro haunter, or want to become one, you cannot afford to miss this event.”

-Randy Bates, owner The Bates Motel haunt.

In this episode you can also find out more about our next online seminar with Allen Hopps from Stiltbeast Studios who will be teaching Scare Acting 101 in an hour and a half webinar on Managing, Training, and Keeping Your Actors Motivated. You can sign up for this online seminar here:

 

REGISTER FOR THE SCARE ACTING 101 WEBINAR WITH ALLEN HOPPS

 

The winner of our May giveaway (a HAuNTcon T-Shirt) is:

Yvette Langille

 

We talk to these folks on this episode:

 

The Midwest Haunter’s Convention & The Scare-a-Torium with Kelly Collins

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:05 — 45.9MB)

Subscribe: Apple

Midwest Haunters ConventionThe Midwest Haunters Convention is the last Haunt Industry Convention of the year in the United States. If you haven’t attended a Haunted Attraction Convention, Haunt Trade Show, or Haunted House Conference this year then this is your last chance! The Midwest Haunters Convention is located in Columbus,Ohio through the dates of June 7th through June 9th. Plus, a Pre-show Haunt Tour covering over 20 Haunted Attractions through June 5 & 6! There are still tickets and room available…but you better hurry…

We get Kelly Collins on HaunTopic Radio to give you the details behind the Midwest Haunters Convention, all of the shows and events, and some news about the Scare-a-Torium Haunted Attraction. (Kelly’s Haunt) All of the prices are in this episode and make sure to check out the links below to find out more about all of the crazy cool stuff going on at the Midwest Haunter’s Convention.

The Midwest Haunters Convention (MHC) is the largest Halloween show of its kind in the US serving Haunted Attraction Industry professionals and enthusiasts. The MHC features a tradeshow, education, chartered bus tours and entertainment; and it returns to Columbus, Ohio June 7-9, 2013 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center and Hyatt Regency Hotel for its 10th year.

The MHC Trade Show features a 60,000 square foot show room floor with over 100 vendors. Educational seminars and workshops as well as networking activities are offered. The 2012 MHC features a Monster Masquerade Costume Party featuring the Body Art Fashion Show and contests including the Bloody Mary Monster Makeup Wars Competition, Ms Midwest Scary Pageant & the Scariest Character Contest. The Midwest Haunters Convention is sponsored by Donat Insurance Services.

 

We hope you take advantage of all the conventions, trade shows, conferences, make-and-takes, costume parties, seminars, webinars, and social events tailored for Haunters. These gatherings may just give you that creative spark you have been searching for or you might meet someone who can help you in in your journey as a Haunter…

 

REMEMBER- To Win a HAuNTcon T-Shirt (large), You Must Be a Member of HaunTopic Radio. It’s FREE. Reply to One of Our Emails We Have Sent Out With ‘CONTEST’ in the Subject Line By May 24th. That’s It. One Winner Will Be Picked This Month. If You Are Not a Member Become a HaunTopic Member By Clicking Here.

 

Topics we talk about in this episode: