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In Episode 19 of HaunTopic Radio we get the Haunt Godfather Leonard Pickel back on the mic where we discuss many of the obstacles that Haunters face in today’s world of constant challenge. How to Save Money While Building Your Haunt, Why Stories are Important to the Success of Your Attraction, & How to Beat the Conga Line Effect By Changing Your Design are just a few of the topics we cover in this episode.
You also get some get background on how he got his start as a Haunter and some of the lessons he learned along the way. Just save yourself a few years of learning and push play on that little audio player above. Information you can’t afford to miss….
I was going to try to summarize Leonard’s experience in a paragraph but there is no way to squeeze all of his accomplishments in just a few sentences. I decided to make a list instead. Here is just a few things he has done in the Haunt Industry:
- Produced his first commercial haunted house in 1976 as a fundraiser for the dormitory he was living in.
- In 1982 he volunteered his horror production expertise to the local March of Dimes Haunted House and became chairman of the charity Halloween Event a year later.
- In 1986 Leonard formed the basis for what later became known as the “Pickel Theory of Haunted Houses,” a high startle, low gore, high throughput, & low theatrics approach to dark amusements.
- He applied his October seasonal experience toward a summer seasonal haunted house in 1993, with Mayhem Manor® in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina which lasted 7 years.
- In 1994, Co-founder & Editor in Chief of Haunted Attraction Magazine, the premier publication for the dark amusement industry.
- In 1997, Leonard took on the task of forming the Haunted Industry’s first trade association, the International Association of Haunted Attractions (IAHA).
- In 2000, Philip Morris of Morris Costumes in Charlotte, North Carolina, contracted Leonard to facilitate the creation of a muli-element October seasonal Haunted Attraction.
- In 2004, he launched the first national convention for the Haunted Attraction Industry. The Haunted Attraction National Tradeshow and Convention (HAuNTcon)
- In 2009, Leonard was awarded a Life Time Achievement award by the International Association of Haunted Attractions, (IAHA).
- He has designed over 80 original and creative Haunted Attraction designs for major venues including Madison Square Garden, Universal Studios Florida, Six Flags, Kentucky Kingdom, SCREAMS Terror Park and the Kandy Halloween Party at the Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, CA.
Check out Leonard’s Training Programs on
Haunted House Design
&
Getting Started in the Haunted Attraction Business
If you want to find out more about Leonard Pickel or contact him for more Haunt Consulting check out these links:
- Hauntrepreneurs.com– Leonard’s Home Platform
- Leonard on facebook
- Leonard on Twitter
Do you love Midnight Syndicate music and have always wanted to know more about the creators behind the tracks? We interview Edward Douglas & Gavin Goszka from Midnight Syndicate and get them to open up a bit about their journey as Dark Composers.
In Episode 16 of HaunTopic Radio we get The Bloodshed Brothers on the line & get their advice on How to Be Successful Your First Year in the Haunt Business, Using Social Media to Get Noticed in the Haunt Industry, and Where to Find Cheap Props for Your Haunt. Jeromy & Zach Ball are well known for their YouTube Videos (818 Videos at the time of this post); which highlight their adventures as Haunters, give you a sneak peek at their normal lives, & led them to be noticed by a local Haunted Attraction as two passionate Haunters. Passionate enough to be selected to design & manage The Field of Screams Haunted Stadium in 2011 & this year too!
In Episode 15 of HaunTopic Radio we chat with Kyle Snow, Owner & “Head” Skull Maker at The Skull Shoppe. He explains how he molds & makes 100’s of skulls, the inspiration behind the creative process, & what it really takes to operate a successful vendor business. If you thought every skull was made the same, you might want to take another look. These skulls are about as real as it gets. Molded from Real Human Skulls these craniums will put that creepy touch to your haunt, your next prop, or just sitting on your desk. Listen to our interview with Kyle here: