Shaker Cans

[the ogre]

I'm working on some. Jw what you use? How do you make them?

Tim

[Dr Spooktakular]

I just use can of veggies. I recycle the cans when I'm done eating. Don't cut the lid all the way off. I have some filled with rocks, BB's, pennies, they all make slightly different noises. Once the noise maker goes in, I duct tape the top real well and spray paint the can as needed.

[Allen H]

Venom energy drink, they have great solid cans with a screw on lid, cant beat it!

[Jim Warfield]

No shaker cans here.
Me:"What are you doing alone in that dark corner?"
Helper:"I'm practising with the shaker can."
Me:"I don't hear any sound like a shaker can coming from you over there."
Helper:"Well, I have to build up my wrist muscles first."
Me:"Next you will tell me you are shaking a can for the hearing impaired?"

I do have a very screamy/noisey wall in common with the wall in my front/first room. Real screams from actual real customers expressing real fear.
I feel this Has to really get the first timers sitting there wondering.
"Wonder" can be a wonderfull thing.

[freak 'n' stein]

I swear by the shaker can. It saves my voice!! (a little)

Typical shaker is just an empty canned good with the lid still partially attached. I fill mine with nails/screws/bolts, etc. and duct tape the lid back. PLENTY of duct tape because I have a tendency to ruin the cans to no end. I not only shake them, I bang them on walls, drag them across our corrugated metal building...anything goes...but I have to have PLENTY of cans on hand. ha

I know places I have been like Netherworld have used empty gas cans filled with "shaker material"...haha. They're painted flat black.

[Darkangel]

So using these can actually work for scaring people? When you jump out do you shake them near the quests quickly for a loud noise? How many shaker can users do you guys use throughout your show?

Thanks,
DA

[Allen H]

I dont like having more than two per house, you right not every actor should have one. In my DVD (volume two) it shows how to make and use one.

[FablesStudios]

thats a good part of the DVD!!! Good Ideas!!

[Jim Warfield]

My Grandfather's Ultimate "Shaker Can"

1.) Catch a rattle snake ( a real rattle snake)
2.) Remove it's rattle.
3.) Place the rattle inside a very small glass bottle.
4.)seal the bottle.
5.) Sneak up behind your friends and shake the little bottle!
We used to have several of these peculair "toys" in my Dad's stuff.
Of course when my Grandfather was a kid it was around 1890-95 rattle snakes were much more common around here then, or maybe they are still here, we just can't hear them shake their tails?

[freak 'n' stein]

So using these can actually work for scaring people? When you jump out do you shake them near the quests quickly for a loud noise? How many shaker can users do you guys use throughout your show?

Thanks,
DA

For the first time in my haunting career, last season I got carried away with my shaker. I agree, not everyone should have one because then guests become desensitized to them...sorta like when EVERY character in a haunt yells "boo", "you're gonna die", etc.

I was the only one who had one, but that is because no one at our haunt thought to use them. I jumped over our que line fence last year and would bang the can on the fence and yell. It was EXTREMELY successful up until the last weekend when a customer was standing directly on the other side of the fence and I jumped over and smashed him in the head with the can. LUCKILY he had on a hoodie and I didn't hit him too hard, but none the less, I got a little too comfortable in my role and accidents happened!!

...long story short, SHAKERS ARE GREAT IN MODERATION!

[Allen H]

LOL Freak, that sounds more like operator error than the shaker cans fault!

[damon carson]

In my way of thinking your not much of an actor if you have to rely on a shaker can. But there have been times I wish I had one for some of my worst actors. I guess its best to plan ahead isnt it. Or just fire them the first night. I have done that before. Or just prayed they didnt come back. Usually they would be like this is too hard and quit.
Damon

[freak 'n' stein]

In my way of thinking your not much of an actor if you have to rely on a shaker can. But there have been times I wish I had one for some of my worst actors. I guess its best to plan ahead isnt it. Or just fire them the first night. I have done that before. Or just prayed they didnt come back. Usually they would be like this is too hard and quit.
Damon

Whoa whoa whoa! Who said anything about RELYING on a shaker can?! Actors can always supplement their talents with tools. A can is just another tool in the little game we like to call scare-acting. That's like saying you're not much of a slider if you rely on knee pads and spark gloves...I'm sure that was a crappy example, but it's 1:30...I'm tired...

point is, different characters do different things to make your show amazing as a whole! Lol. Some are better at the improv talking roles, some are just MEANT to wear a latex mask and stand in a corner. I digress. GOOD NIGHT

[damon carson]

Freak n Stein Im glad you hold your shaker can up high man! Now go stand in that corner and try and scare somebody. LOL!
Damon

[OblivionHauntedHouse]

Shaker cans are great! You can scare with anything if you put your mind to it! I have snuck up behind people in line and scared them with a fake little rubber monster finger puppet before. Its all how you approach and deliver. But hes right. Dont put more than 2 in the house.

A nice new empty gas can filled with nuts and bolts works great, too! AND IT HAS A HANDLE!