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Author: Brian Foreman

Talking Haunts and HAuNTcon with Scott Swenson and Todd Patton

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:38 — 33.5MB)

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HAuNTcon is a traveling Haunted House Convention that chooses a new city each year so that you have  a chance to attend and so that new Haunted Attractions can be explored. With it’s Haunt Tours, Educational Tracks, and Networking possibilities; HAuNTcon is a valuable resource for any level of Haunter.

 

(This post was originally created at http://hauntopic.com/hauntcon-2017/)

 

HAuNTcon: Haunted Attraction National Tradeshow Convention

 

In this podcast episode, we chat with HAuNTcon Speakers Scott Swenson (Scott Swenson Creative Dev.) and Todd Patton (Fear Connection) about their personal experiences at HAuNTcon conventions in the past and how HAuNTcon is a different show than many other haunt conventions.

 

Plus, we deep dive into creative ideas around Scare Acting, Haunt Marketing, and Local Haunt Competition.

 

HAuNTcon 2017: Haunted Attraction National Tradeshow & Convention (website)

 

  • Where: In Nashville, Tennessee on January 26th through January 30th, 2017. At the Sheraton Music City Hotel and Conference Center.

 

  • Haunt Tours: Haunted Hell, Nashville Nightmare, Slaughter House, The Haunted Hospital, Raven’s Cross Haunted Village, Skeleton’s Lair Scream Park, Devil’s Dungeon, Clarksville Zombie Hunters.

 

  • Educational Tracks: Actor Training, Haunt Business, Creative, Escape Rooms, and Live Demonstrations

 

  • Other Events: Costume Ball, Garage Sale, Trade Show, Networking

 

 

 

Haunted Attraction Tips Inside this Podcast:

  • Why local Haunted Attraction competition is a good thing for your business.

 

  • What benefits can be gained from attending Haunt Conventions and Shows.

 

  • Marketing ideas for your Haunted House or Halloween Event.

 

More about our guests:

  • Scott Swenson: Writer/Director/Producer at Scott Swenson Creative Development LLC

Scott Swenson-HAuNTcon

  • Todd Patton: Director/Designer/Manager at Ruby Falls Haunted Cavern & Fear Connection

Todd Patton-Crypt Keeper

 

If you can’t make it to HAuNTcon, search your area for local gatherings and meet-ups. There may be a local Haunter Group in your area. There may also be another Haunt Convention near by. Just get out of your Haunt, go take some educational classes to improve your Haunted Attraction, and meet other like-minded individuals like yourself. We’re sure you’ll find something great. We always have a great time at each convention we attend.

 

Music By Midnight Syndicate: Zombies!!!

Zombies-Board-Game-Soundtrack-Midnight-Syndicate

 

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HaunTopic Radio 2017: New things, happenings, and projects for HaunTopic

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:41 — 15.3MB)

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Expect great things for HaunTopic Radio in 2017! Behind-the-scare interviews with professionals in the Haunted Attraction Industry, helpful advice to grow your Haunt from other Haunters, and a brand new website focused on those who want to start & grow their haunted attraction business.

 

2017

Man!! What a crazy Haunt Season! How was your October??

I had planned to release more podcast episodes in September and October but the Dead Factory grabbed a hold of me and didn’t let go. What started as a few small additions to our Haunt grew into over another 1,000 square feet of spiders and cemetery. We built more wall panels, added an effective spider area, and turned our small cemetery scene into a small indoor corn maze. Now the Dead Factory is over 7,000 square feet!

What originally started out as an idea quickly grew into a huge addition to our 20 minute walk-through. But we will have more episodes on that coming soon. As well as stories and highlights from our co-host Darryl Plunkie’s adventures up there in Canada. Stay tuned for those podcast episodes coming soon.

 

What’s NEW for HaunTopic Radio in 2017?

 

Audio Episodes focused on starting and growing your Haunt:  Whether you’re a Pro Level Attraction searching for new ideas to take your Haunt to the next level or a Home Haunt that would love to be a bigger Haunted Attraction one day; you’ll find some nuggets of wisdom inside our podcasts.

 

A NEW website focused on Starting and Growing a Haunted Attraction:  I started HauntersToolbox.com last year and realized building this vision in my head was going to take a lot longer than I thought. This vision will be complete in 2017! This website will include a free membership for you if you want access to our Haunt Video Library and include a free Haunter Dashboard. This website will also have a paid membership feature that will grant you instant access to all of our Haunt Video Training Seminars, Live Training Seminars, and discounts on Haunt supplies and events. (Coming Soon)

Our current haunt training videos at $25 will not be for sale after the HauntersToolbox.com is live. They will be packaged into the new paid membership options. (Current customers will still have access.)

 

An update to our email newsletter:  Well…it’s a bit more than just a newsletter. Once you sign up for our free newsletter, you get some of our favorite articles and podcasts from HaunTopic that we have hand selected for you. You also get all of the new podcast episodes we release. We will also be adding newer articles, more helpful resources, and revamping most of our material. We are trying to add the most value to you- the Haunter that wants to instant results and guidance along the way. Email me at any time by replying to any of these emails. I will respond. You can subscribe for free here.

 

We are looking forward to helping you be the best Haunter that you can be. And we thank you for sticking with us through the years and being a loyal listener to over 100 podcast episodes of HaunTopic Radio! You rock!!

 

3 Christmas Tracks from Midnight Syndicate in this podcast!

midnight syndicate christmas a ghostly gathering

Soundproof your Haunt and Create Your Own Sound Effects with Sinful Audio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 52:25 — 48.0MB)

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Keeping the sound contained in the rooms of your Haunt is a challenge. But with one simple material and a few tweaks to your layout, you can almost soundproof your haunt by absorbing lots of the noise. We say ‘almost’ because it’s impossible to seal in all the sound but you can reduce noise overflow between areas. Listen to this podcast episode to learn more.

 

We all want our customers and attendees to experience an immersive environment when they walk through the mazes and rooms in our attractions and haunted houses but getting the atmospheres from blending together is a skill. We either use one soundtrack through the entire haunt and use smaller noises within each room or we try to create unique sounds for each area without blending the noises.

Ken Webster-Sinful Audio

Ken Webster, from Sinful Audio (a sound design studio for haunts), explains that with a few simple design principles you can improve the sound experience in each of your rooms. And not spend much money doing it.

Here are 5 things you can try to help soundproof your Haunt:

  • Position your speakers up high and pointed down toward the center of your area. This helps shoot the noise to the center away from your exits.
  • Design your haunted attraction with angled walls. 90 degree angle walls are the worst for sound bouncing off of them. If possible, design walls or just one wall at an angle to deflect sound.
  • Hang pictures and add furniture. The more soft objects to absorb the sound the better.
  • Create sound absorbing panels with a fireproof insulation like Roxul or other sound deadening materials.
  • Add solid ceilings where possible. Without blocking sprinkler systems and still staying code compliant.

 

Listen to this episode where Ken explains ways to help soundproof your haunt.

 

soundproof your hauntRoxul Panels built by Ken to help soundproof any room.

 

Creating Low Frequencies that you can feel.

You can also use audio in your attraction that is such a low frequency that it can be felt and give your customers an eerie experience that they won’t forget. This is called “Infrasound”: which is sometimes categorized as low-frequency sound or signals that are lower than 20Hz in frequency. This also means that it is below the standard threshold of human hearing which is 20Hz – 20kHz. Read Ken’s article on Infrasound here.

 

Sinful Audio for Haunts

 

Final Thoughts:

Experiment with different layouts with your rooms and areas. Set up your speakers, add furniture and sound panels, and test. Reposition walls if you need to. Set up your speakers a different way. Add more soundproofing panels. Maybe just turn down the volume while leaving the sound still effective.

We’re pretty sure your attendees will still have a great show.

 

Midsummer Scream & Haunt Faire: Haunt Conventions from Coast to Coast

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:30:20 — 82.7MB)

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From East to West and North to South, no matter where you live, there is a Halloween Event or Haunt Convention close to your neighborhood. Here we discuss two newer events that each have their own unique style and elements. MidSummer Scream in California and Haunt Faire in New York.

Education, Vendors, Parties, Networking, Shopping, Demos….they both seem lots of fun. But which one do you attend? Both?

 

midsummer scream california

MidSummer Scream

Long Beach, California. July 30th-31st. Two fun-filled days of frights, freaks, spooks, and scares! Your ticket includes admission to dozens of presentations from creative professionals, celebrities, and influencers from in and around the horror, entertainment, and Halloween industry. Your ticket also allows you access to a massive show floor and onsite mini-haunts. The festivities list continues to grow and will be updated on their website www.midsummerscream.org.

We interview Rick West and David Markland, just two of the masterminds behind MidSummer Scream, and they fill your ears with many reasons why this west coast event for Haunters should not be missed. New for 2016, Midsummer Scream combines the best talent from the local California area and opens its doors to great people world-wide in the scare entertainment industry. They even have a costume party hosted by the legendary band Oingo Boingo! To read a great article on MidSummer Scream check out this one from Dread Central.

 

haunt faire new york

Haunt Faire

Ronkonkoma, New York. August 6th-7th.  A Convention for all things HAUNTED. Enjoy your Halloween this Summer with Haunted Attractions, Films, Paranormal Experiences, Guest Speakers and Greetings, and a Haunted Attraction Job Fair for those who want to meet up with some of the Professional Haunts.  Their website is www.haunt-faire.com

Wander about the exhibitor room and find your macabre treasures, participate in a workshop/panel that sheds some light behind haunted attraction walls, sign up for the costume or makeup wars contest, or visit the main stage and see what entertainment awaits.

Elsie Ginsberg gets on the mic and explains how Haunt Faire is different and how mixing the Paranormal with Haunted Attractions can be a real good thing.

 

5 Things you need to know before you attend a Haunt Convention

Halloween-Haunt Show

  • Arrive early and get familiar with your surroundings. Parking, hotel, bars, trade show, classes. Planning is key.
  • Bring extra bags. You’ll collect many catalogs, products, ect. while walking the vendor floors. Some people use suitcases with wheels.
  • Stay hydrated. Bring bottles of water or a refillable one. This will also give you more energy to do more things!
  • Drink responsibly. Everyone wants to have fun, just be cool. Follow the rules in the hotels as well. Remember, that 8:30 am seminar you want to attend comes early.
  • Socialize. The Haunt Industry is BIG but it’s also SMALL. You’ll find we’re all easy to talk to and we want to share our knowledge with you. Come say HI.

 

Now go decide which Haunt Show you’re going to. If you can’t make these events, then which ones are you going to?

Click Here to Listen to this episode of HaunTopic Radio

Leonard Pickel: Chicago Frights, HAuNTcon, and Improving Your Haunted Attraction

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 46:09 — 42.2MB)

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Leonard Pickel, considered by many as the ‘Godfather of the Haunt Industry’, fills this one hour interview with behind-the-scenes information about his Haunted Attraction Conventions and a few ways to make your Haunted House successful just by tweaking a few things that many Haunters are doing wrong.

 

chicago frights haunt convention

Chicago Frights

Chicago Frights is a great opportunity for haunters to pick up last second training, ideas and products before the Halloween season kicks in. Chicago Frights includes networking opportunities such as a huge costume party Saturday night, top-notch educational seminars, hands-on workshops and training sessions focusing on the operational needs of haunters, like set dressing, lighting, makeup and actor training. Plus, a dealer and vendor room to buy or sell those fright products before October.

Chicago Frights takes place July 29th to July 31st at the Georgios Quality Inn and Suites Convention Center in Orland Park, Illinois.

 

HAuNTcon 2017

HAuNTcon 2017

HAuNTcon 2017 will be held at the Sheraton Music City Hotel and Conference Center in Nashville Tennessee January 28- 30. The 2 day pre-show haunt tour will kick off Wednesday the 25th (Haunts to be announced).

The three Spotlight tours for HAuNTcon 20127 include Haunted Hell Nashville on Thursday night January 26th,  Nashville Nightmare Saturday January 28th and Slaughterhouse January 29th.

Education and trade show Friday January 27 through Sunday January  29th, with the all day advanced education on Monday January 30th. As always, all seminars  are included in the price of the conference and there are over 50 hours of  creative, business, demo and workshop sessions to choose from over the 3 days of haunter education. (Workshops require a materials fee and there is an up charge for the Monday all day advanced sessions.

haunted attraction design

Haunted Attraction Design Tips from Leonard Pickel:

  • Design your rooms with your actors in mind. What is the scare?
  • Design from the Inside Out. What is the function of the room?
  • Shorten the patron’s sight line to keep them guessing.
  • When using a back story, stay with the time period and design around that story.
  • Attend Haunt Shows to network and share design ideas.

 

Click here to listen to this audio episode with Leonard.