Beginner seeking advice from veteran haunters

[tchaunt]

:/ For you, it was basketball. For me, marching band. I would give anything to wear shorts, but no, we have to use the stupid uniforms...that are only washed once a year. XP I hate them so badly. What's better is the fact that everyone is like "Oh my G**! You look like you just took a shower!" or "Holy crap! You smell like sweat!" It gets so annoying. Even new marchers were doing it. Even at the end of the season, they were saying things like that.

Your haunt sounds so original. Every time I hear about another secret behind the place or an effect used or a type of room, it just amazes me. I really like the concept behind your haunt. You let the real ghosts haunt, and you publicize it and make it fun!

Thanks for the advice.

[Jim Warfield]

Extremely cheap, obvious masks can be wildly scary!
How? Why?
Because it looks so stupid, what normal person would ever wear one?
Which means inversely, the person wearing this mask must really be crazy!
RUN!

I sweat like a hog in heat too, during high school basketball when I stood in the same spot for a rebound from a foul shot the second time I would be standing in my own Jim-Made pond! (No urine needed!)
So I quit trying to use any make up at all many years ago. Yes! I inflict my own face upon these victims!
Makeup really doesn't suit the type of a performance that I am trying to effect either. A reality based storyline of actual hauntings here. I use my creative talents to tell the stories well not to make up any stories because I don't dwell in fictional realms.
Would you beleive a car salesman's deal if he was wearing makeup (not clown makeup)?
Wouldn't some part of your mind be thinking "This guy is a nutcase or some inter-dimensional alien."
I do my own style of a chainsaw ballet in the first room, played for the utmost comedy.
I really try not to copy anything that others do and I have found a clientel who frequent my place who like that sort of thing, and many of them hate the chainsaws chasing them .
How do I know this? They tell me without my asking!
But whatever works for you..."Works!"
Do a style of show that you are comfortable doing.
I would not be comfortable doing a murder house crime scene and I probably would not be as financially comfortable having half as many customers either.

[tchaunt]

Thanks for yet another good reply.
What stances usually work for you?
I'm thinking about having my main character as being either a puppet or a puppet master. I've actually got an idea for the room my character could be in. It seems to me like it would be pretty awesome. I have practiced movement for that character. Because of marching band, I can almost twist my body 180 degrees (Face in one direction, feet in the other). I've practiced that character so much already.

I know that you don't need to know people's names, but my friends (and a lot of people in my town) really hate strangers. I think that stalker quality could really freak them out.

I can get my voice to go incredibly deep. I can get somewhat high. I can sing over 3 1/2 octaves without bending the pitch. I'm sure I could work it into my act somehow.

Most likely, I'll just have someone teach since I don't have ny formal training in acting.

Like I've said before, I'd be more than happy to have you act for me.

[Dr. Giggles]

Well personally im not advising the chainsaw scare, but that is tradition. To be chased out with the roaring of saws. Customers seem to love it, good climax. I mean what i would do is hide behind the "exit" sign paint on the gate...then BAM they take of. And i bolt after them. Usually they trip and i get in their face. This is just from my few nights as a chainsaw. Usually i be a clown/rover. But yeah you can use multiple lights depending on the scene. Our graveyard scene hard black lights, purple lights, pink lights, fog machines every thing. It really set the mood. And you dont need to know someoens name to make them cry. Only about a quarter of the people i make cry i know there names. Its all in yoru demeanor. My and my acting brother. Both in no shoes stand 6'2 and 6'3 so add boots we are pretty tall. About 6'5. Then add clown costumes, and he has a saw (Which half the time he doesnt even have to start) we just stand there meancingly we and a quarter of the people just refuse to enter. Its all in your body and voice, and facial. Learn a stance that intimidates, one that makes people wary of approaching you. Also varying your voice making it really high pitched then low, creeps people out. Lurch, crawl, creep. Never walk. Never Run. Create a character and apply nuances to it. Make it your character. Clubs the Clown and Gurggles the Clown ( me and my acting brother ) But yeah nuance help a lot. And usually its the haunt owners choice. They can teach if they feel secure. Or they can hire, if i had the money i would gladly fly out and act/ help train. But if your still around in a few years id be glad to. Those are my tactics. Personally, but it really does vary greatly per groups.

[tchaunt]

Thanks for replying. I appreciate it.

Do you like using only one type of lighting per room (like activated by a pressure pad) or do you like having something like a pale blue spotlight on a grave, then the light goes off and a strobe comes on?

Since I'm new, I was jsut asking about actors' favorite tactics jsut so I can learn about a lot of different types.
XD I would love to make people cry in my haunt. If I ever see anyone come through and I know their name, it's going to be he** for them.

I figured the costumes and make-up were pretty important. I was watching a clip about some haunt on a JB Corn DVD. The maks were ones form Dollar Tree the were just slapped on and you could easily see the seam between the mask and the actor's skin. I kept thinking, that looks like crap. It wouldn't scare anyone.

I wasn't sure how good of an idea it would be if the business didn't work out and there were bills left over.

I'll probably only use a chain saw room if I have to. I'll use something with a high impact for sure to leave the guests storming out of the exit.

I hear about training actors all the time, and I was wondering, does that generally mean the haunt owner teaching the actors, or having someone come in and teach?

I think for my first year, I'm going to use a prop I designed based off of "Voodoo Revenge" (some prop I've seen on one of the hundreds of prop sites I've looked at). Basically, the actor's body is "replaced" with a very gory skeletal torso. The actor can still use his/her hands, arms, and head to get in a scare. Most likely, I'll just use it as a diversion for a bigger scare.

[Dr. Giggles]

On your lighting question, depends on the scene. What works best, for good visibility so the patrons dont trip but you dont lose that creepy/wierd aspect. Blacklights, lights that are dimmed/flickering tend to work good. And scare tactics wise? Well your probably going to get a varying answers on that one. Just because of the different scare actors. There are ones who go by scripts written by haunt owners, who will probably tell you that theater scares, and drawn out scenes work best. Then you might get the jump out and scare actor who says that works best. But then there are the improve actors who said depending on the group either or could work. From my personal stand point i love improv, and wise cracking the patrons and freaking them out. Roughly every group i get one to cry. But once again this varies on the group. As for things to buy, a lot of first time haunt owners over look the makeup and costume /makeup artist aspects of it. I mean as good as your actors are if they have garbage costume / makeup it ruins your overall effect. So i would advise to keep that in mind while making your budget. I buy all my FX lenses from Vampfangs, i like them alot. Um ben nye works good for makeup. From my personal stand point as i do my own makeup. But buy sealants, and powders. They seal all makeups pretty well. Honestly starting a business with friends is a good idea but if you have someone with more experience id start it with them. They will be more beneficial. But you can still include your friends, just my advice. Heed it at your will. Last room in all haunts are traditionally chainsaws. The quick almost guranteed scare. I suggest echoes, or sthil's. Light, easy start chain, and pretty durable. Get a big guy for this, these get very heavy by the end of the night. Good impressions on customers is a good show, get good actors. Train them if you can/have to. Show them what you think would be best, then ask for their input. Keep involved with them, make sure they show up and are doing well. If they arent scaring well, dont fire them, move them around see where they excell. For example a guy who is garbage as a clown might be an amazing zombie. Illusions can be used. But be careful if you start out amazing and high budget and all this i mean theres only one way to go, its hard to improve and a good show. So i suggest staying away from those for your first year, keep somethings in reserve. But yeah i answered some of your questions sorry for typo's.

[tchaunt]

I know. It's so funny how they work. I like teacher's aids because they really don't care what you do, as long as you're not doing something bad. Teachers..........yeah.

Edit: Come on guys. I know you all see this thread with all of the questions that you know the answer to. Please just answer some of them. You don't have to answer them all (if you could, it would be appreciated).

[Floor8Horror]

ahh, teachers

Oh, teachers. They never truly appreciate the creative brain. The tell us to be creative but if are creative while they are talking it is suddenly a crime. Haha, I do the same thing in school.

[tchaunt]

I'll browse this page for an hour or so and then I try to get some ideas. I can come up with some great ideas after doing this brain "stimulus". Here is the site:

http://www.halloweenmonsterlist.info/

XD I posted that somewhere else mentioning that I get inspiration for rooms from that website. Or at least I used to. Now, ideas just pop into my head by themselves. I nearly get in trouble at school all the time because I'll be writing down the idea instead of doing the work. Oh well. I've never actually got in trouble, the teachers just give me that 'Go to he** you little ba*****' look and then the fake smile.

[Floor8Horror]

Some Advice

Just throwing this advice out there even though it has nothing to do with your last question but here is a great site. I have used some of the ideas found here but I usually use it to get some ideas running in my brain. I'll browse this page for an hour or so and then I try to get some ideas. I can come up with some great ideas after doing this brain "stimulus". Here is the site:

http://www.halloweenmonsterlist.info/

[tchaunt]

Hey guys. It's been a while since I've posted in this thread. Here's quite a few questions I have:
-What are some good ways of lighting your scenes? Ex:Mini-barrel LED spotlights, stage lights, etc.
-What are some of your favorite scare tactics?
-Should the use of illusions be used in first year haunts?
-Please tell me anything I need to buy (besides wood for wall panels), should consider buying, and need to plan on buying in the future.
-What do you do with the floors in your haunt?
Do you just leave them as is, or do you try to have them match the theme of the room? If you theme the floors, how do you do it?
-Have you ever bought any FX Lens from Vampfangs? If you have, please tell me how the process was and about the quality of the lens.
-Also, if anyone has anything they don't need anymore that can be used in a haunt, please either PM me or e-mail me (tchaunt@yahoo.com) and I can give you more info.
-What are some things I could do the first year to leave a good impression on the customers, but still save money?
-Is it a good idea to start a business with one of your closest friends? My friend is really into haunts and loves everything about them. But I'm not sure it would be that smart of an idea to run a business with a friend. Anyone have any tips?
-Also, where do you get most of your make-up? Dollar tree, or, on the other side of the price spectrum, hollywood studios?
-What brands of make-up last through heavy sweating? I am wanting to scare act at least some nights in my haunt, but I sweat like a pig...and a horse, and a cow...all in one. I'm wondering what I should do. Any advice will be appreciated.
-What do you do for your finale? Like, what do you do for the very last room in your haunt?

As you can see, I'm still packed full of questions.

[tchaunt]

Thanks for the reply robos. Okay guys, I have yet another question to add to the list.
What do you do for your finale?

[robos99]

My process for brainstorming for new ideas usually starts with the backstory. I don't always start with a backstory, sometimes I come up with a scene first and create a backstory around that. But at some point, I create the theme to tie everything all together. Then I start thinking up things that could go along with that theme. For example, if your theme is a haunted hospital or an insane asylum or something, think of what things you might typically find in one, and think of what might be scary about those things. Of course, you can always stray from that, you don't need to follow the backstory exactly. Once I get some ideas I'll choose the best ones and try to flesh those out a little more, and as your ideas take shape it can become clear what works and what doesn't.

I'll also turn to movies, trade magazines, and pictures of other attractions for inspiration. Sometimes real life events can provide some inspiration.

[tchaunt]

@Jim:
Well, I've actually started dumpster-diving. I haven't got too much. So far, I have like 20 some tobacco sticks that I can use to make an ugly fence out of, I have a few pieces of scrap 2x4's, possibly some 1x4's, and an average sized piece of plywood.
The funny thing is, I got most of the stuff a few days ago. I live in Kentucky, so we're coated in snow and ice. I just got the sleds out, loaded the stuff onto them, and dragged it away. XD I'm sure I looked stupid, but who cares. I'm that much closer to a haunt.
The problem is, I'd have to have all of the money in cash to buy a property. I don't even know if that would work though.
I guess that is true about the square foot thing. I'm just wanting the basic idea of how much to not spend. Basically, I don't want to go over the price per sq. ft. that a big-wig haunter pays in a small charity haunt.
Do you have any ideas I could use to make my wallet stretch more my first year? AKA, Do you have any ideas that would be cheap, but still get good "reviews"?
Most likely, for my first year, I will try to use a lot of story telling on the slow nights and mild story telling on the busy nights. It's not like I'll have to have a high through-put my first year.
Honestly though, I'll do whatever I have to to get started on my haunt. I don't care if I have to break my leg to get started, I'll do it if I have to...well, maybe not. But you get the point.

I'm sorry about taking so long to reply to your post Jim.

@Everyone:
What are some things I could do the first year to leave a good impression on the customers, but still save money?
What are some good ways to get ideas for rooms? Do you just...think them up or do you stare at that odd shaped shadow on the sidewalk as you drive by to get an idea?
Is it a good idea to start a business with one of your closest friends? My friend is really into haunts and loves everything about them. But I'm not sure it would be that smart of an idea to run a business with a friend. Anyone have any tips?
Also, where do you get most of your make-up? Dollar tree, or, on the other side of the price spectrum, hollywood studios?
What brands of make-up last through heavy sweating? I am wanting to scare act at least some nights in my haunt, but I sweat like a pig...and a horse, and a cow...all in one. I'm wondering what I should do. Any advice will be appreciated.

[Jim Warfield]

Become a Dumpster-diver

Most long term haunters furnish their haunt this very inexpensive way.
Of course you will need someone with a truck to haul all the stuff you find and buy, you will need storage and maybe a different place where you can work on things.
Ideally if you could find the right property large enough to be able to keep everything close by on that same place would save alot ot time, money and needless expense.
I think the square foot thing is over rated. If half of those feet are unusable for some reason the landlord really won't care if you can make use of it or not.
Thinking in square footage means you are playing the owner's "Game"and the multiplier tends to distract and potentially hide the more important aspects of the whole deal.
It takes a tremendous amount of money, time and plain old work to fill a space adequately to suficiently show a haunt that will be judged by the majority of your customers to be a value and not over priced.
Unhappy customers don't come back, they don't say nice, supportive things about their experience in your place,which would then be providing free , valuable advertising that is beyond any actual price you may try to place on it.
A smaller show that is well done and entertaining is much better than wide open, empty spaces where nothing happens.
If you feel the need to provide a show time of a certain amount of minutes, this can be adjusted too with employees doing or not doing certain things, like acting , telling a story versus just screaming or growling and chasing.
So many choices and decisions, maybe too many?
Money and time and your own personal energy level will make some of those choices for you, they always do.