To me this all gets very interesting. Let me begin by saying thanks to Rob for getting on here and validating what I had been posting. He could easily have let me swing in the wind. As for Rob, He really is under no obligation to “out” his vendors as I’m certain he wants to keep them as vendors going forward. What we have here is me reporting on something that happened and giving my opinion about it…something I have always done. Some, refused to believe me. Now the convention owner gets on to back me up and again, some won’t believe him. I’m certain that if the actual vendors got on here there would be some of you that would say “well they don’t like Leonard so they are not telling the truth”…and so it goes. It’s you guys that will never let this be settled.
The problem is not me, Rob, or the vendors…the problem is you guys who can’t look at things objectively. This is how it plays out. Many of you guys here have “taken sides” through the years. Now you have an emotional investment in the outcome of any Leonard discussion as your egos won’t allow you to say you might have backed the wrong horse. A great example of that is Kenny from Dream Reapers (who I have nothing against btw). The boys over there have been Leonard lovers from the beginning. So much so that they embraced his triangular grid system in their haunt one year while in the buildout stage. Well, one of them (I’ll mention his name only after I speak to him) told me personally that it didn’t work…didn’t make sense…something to that effect. Instead of coming on here and saying that…instead of taking a step back and thinking wow…maybe this guy isn’t everything he is claiming to be…they chose to keep it quiet and at some time and expense to them, redesigned and rebuilt the show. Still, however…Kenny is on here taking me to task. He would never actually look at Leonards actions, or record that perhaps warranted my initial post as that would again require him to take stock of his position which of course emotionally ties him to that outcome. AND THAT’S OK…not everyone has what it takes to go there. Life is a journey and a personal one at that and if someone (anyone) isn’t ready to grow emotionally…that’s ok…it’s very hard work and it keeps shrinks in business… and certainly Kenny has been through more than he deserved over the past few years. It just may not be his time…it’s really ok…but’s let’s call it for what it is.
Greystone…Rob is under no obligation to “out” his vendors…and as I pointed out, even doing that wouldn’t put this to rest. You just need to do your homework, look at the past, and remember that YOU ARE WHAT YOUR RECORD SAYS YOU ARE. If after doing that you honestly believe that LP didn’t do what Rob said…ok…conversation over.
Do you have the ability to take a step back and reconsider? I don’t know that as I don’t know you but I will suggest that you need more than an “opinion”.
Allen H…Like it or not…like me or not…I’m allowed my style and more importantly…I’m allowed my passion. The day I stop being passionate about haunting is the day I should go home. None of you guys ever for one minute stop and “think” “hey…why does Rich seem to dislike this guy so much”. Has it ever occurred to any of you that perhaps I have been around a lifetime longer than many of you and perhaps I know our history…his history…better than the average haunter? Did it ever occur to you that maybe I know things you don’t…things that I consider bad, hurtful, and just plain damaging to the industry I love as deeply as I do?
Do you guys really think that I just woke up one morning and said I don’t like this guy…I’m gonna screw him forever and for no reason? What’s wrong with you people? Think this through for once. Maybe it’s time you guys talked to some other haunters and see what they think. There are plenty of haunters to choose from. How about Diane Evon the original owner of Naughtical Nightmare…find out what her experience was (I’m not telling…you have to actually do some work here). How about the guys from Screamworks of a few years ago (I don’t think they will talk to you as they went so broke I don’t think can afford a fone card). Not big enough? OK…How about Lynton Harris of Madison Scare Garden, John Denley of Terror on the Wharf, or the Godfather of us all Phil Morris. Forget about me…talk to some others and see what they say and then see if you still feel the same way about your golden boy.
Robert and Greg…You DO have a point…about just being business. I have to wonder. Would I feel the same if Jenny from Transworld went to Hauntcon and tried to pick off Leonards vendors? In all honesty I doubt it and so I am left asking myself why not? How do I explain my own hypocracy?
I suppose it’s because I have always viewed Transworld as something that is good for this business where as I see LP as a negative force in it. Still, it’s something I need to come to terms with.
Lastly…I suppose this is all for nothing. There is always Hauntcon but I believe this year will be the make it or break it show for HC. The way I hear it, HC has become an overly expensive Haunt Tour with a small inconsequential show floor. I hear tell of some folks that are looking to get into THE HAUNT TOUR BUSINESS. Instead of overpaying at HC, you just might be able to go to the HC city dejur, tour all the shows HC would bring you to…have any number of social activities…all for far less than HC would charge. I suspect that will be the death knell….but then again Leonard has shown himself to be a fighter who has resilience. Time will tell.
And so my little ghoulies it’s time to close the door on this. I’m going to The Chiller Theatre horror and sci-fi con here in Jersey which means that I’m gonna actually have some fun without you guys…but don’t think I don’t love ya.
All the best Rich
The problem is not me, Rob, or the vendors…the problem is you guys who can’t look at things objectively. This is how it plays out. Many of you guys here have “taken sides” through the years. Now you have an emotional investment in the outcome of any Leonard discussion as your egos won’t allow you to say you might have backed the wrong horse. A great example of that is Kenny from Dream Reapers (who I have nothing against btw). The boys over there have been Leonard lovers from the beginning. So much so that they embraced his triangular grid system in their haunt one year while in the buildout stage. Well, one of them (I’ll mention his name only after I speak to him) told me personally that it didn’t work…didn’t make sense…something to that effect. Instead of coming on here and saying that…instead of taking a step back and thinking wow…maybe this guy isn’t everything he is claiming to be…they chose to keep it quiet and at some time and expense to them, redesigned and rebuilt the show. Still, however…Kenny is on here taking me to task. He would never actually look at Leonards actions, or record that perhaps warranted my initial post as that would again require him to take stock of his position which of course emotionally ties him to that outcome. AND THAT’S OK…not everyone has what it takes to go there. Life is a journey and a personal one at that and if someone (anyone) isn’t ready to grow emotionally…that’s ok…it’s very hard work and it keeps shrinks in business… and certainly Kenny has been through more than he deserved over the past few years. It just may not be his time…it’s really ok…but’s let’s call it for what it is.
Greystone…Rob is under no obligation to “out” his vendors…and as I pointed out, even doing that wouldn’t put this to rest. You just need to do your homework, look at the past, and remember that YOU ARE WHAT YOUR RECORD SAYS YOU ARE. If after doing that you honestly believe that LP didn’t do what Rob said…ok…conversation over.
Do you have the ability to take a step back and reconsider? I don’t know that as I don’t know you but I will suggest that you need more than an “opinion”.
Allen H…Like it or not…like me or not…I’m allowed my style and more importantly…I’m allowed my passion. The day I stop being passionate about haunting is the day I should go home. None of you guys ever for one minute stop and “think” “hey…why does Rich seem to dislike this guy so much”. Has it ever occurred to any of you that perhaps I have been around a lifetime longer than many of you and perhaps I know our history…his history…better than the average haunter? Did it ever occur to you that maybe I know things you don’t…things that I consider bad, hurtful, and just plain damaging to the industry I love as deeply as I do?
Do you guys really think that I just woke up one morning and said I don’t like this guy…I’m gonna screw him forever and for no reason? What’s wrong with you people? Think this through for once. Maybe it’s time you guys talked to some other haunters and see what they think. There are plenty of haunters to choose from. How about Diane Evon the original owner of Naughtical Nightmare…find out what her experience was (I’m not telling…you have to actually do some work here). How about the guys from Screamworks of a few years ago (I don’t think they will talk to you as they went so broke I don’t think can afford a fone card). Not big enough? OK…How about Lynton Harris of Madison Scare Garden, John Denley of Terror on the Wharf, or the Godfather of us all Phil Morris. Forget about me…talk to some others and see what they say and then see if you still feel the same way about your golden boy.
Robert and Greg…You DO have a point…about just being business. I have to wonder. Would I feel the same if Jenny from Transworld went to Hauntcon and tried to pick off Leonards vendors? In all honesty I doubt it and so I am left asking myself why not? How do I explain my own hypocracy?
I suppose it’s because I have always viewed Transworld as something that is good for this business where as I see LP as a negative force in it. Still, it’s something I need to come to terms with.
Lastly…I suppose this is all for nothing. There is always Hauntcon but I believe this year will be the make it or break it show for HC. The way I hear it, HC has become an overly expensive Haunt Tour with a small inconsequential show floor. I hear tell of some folks that are looking to get into THE HAUNT TOUR BUSINESS. Instead of overpaying at HC, you just might be able to go to the HC city dejur, tour all the shows HC would bring you to…have any number of social activities…all for far less than HC would charge. I suspect that will be the death knell….but then again Leonard has shown himself to be a fighter who has resilience. Time will tell.
And so my little ghoulies it’s time to close the door on this. I’m going to The Chiller Theatre horror and sci-fi con here in Jersey which means that I’m gonna actually have some fun without you guys…but don’t think I don’t love ya.
All the best Rich
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