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Part of the Haunt Idea Kit Network
http://www.HauntIdeaKit.com

September 2001
Issue: e001


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IN THIS ISSUE:
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A. HauntIdeaKit.com Improvements
B. An Alternative Way to Create a Haunt
C. Design Lab 2001
D. BOOstYourTraffic.com
E. Interactive Classifieds

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HAUNTIDEAKIT.COM IMPROVEMENTS
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AN ALTERNATIVE WAY TO CREATE A HAUNT
by Mark Cline.
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"Create a successful Haunted Attraction with no
start-up money! Impossible you say? I've done it!"

I have seen many "Haunted Houses" open and then
close forever after their first year, with lots of money
invested in props, but no imagination invested at all.
This may be professional suicide for me because I
make my living developing and selling large props
for Haunted Attractions, but I had to prove my theory
that a "back-to-basics" Haunt would make money.
My mission was to deliberately advertise no black lights,
no fog machines, and no rubber monsters, just you
and "it" alone in the woods. Thus was born the
"Scare Witch Experience."

So, how is it possible to start a successful Haunt with
no money? First and most importantly, use your
imagination, not someone else's. Be original in your
approach, and think fear. Aside from all the corpses
who rise from their coffins or monsters who jump
out at you (or one of the biggest fears I experienced
in a Haunted House - the fear that I just spent 40 bucks
for my family to walk through an elaborate prop
museum with bored "actors" who think yelling "BOO!"
is going to send me screaming into the night), you must
ask yourself, what is the basis of fear itself? The answer,
I believe, is the fear of being lost. Allow me to explain
how I have used this, before going into how I created
a whole attraction around it - with no money.

Do you remember the terror of turning around in the
supermarket as a child to find your mom or dad nowhere
in sight? That empty, sick feeling overwhelming you as
the icy grip of fear rushes into your body from all sides,
triggering an immediate wail or cry. Though the supermarket
is filled with other people, you are alone - lost - drowned
with fear. This is the premise on which I planned to base
my Haunt.

The Blair Witch Project movie was made for $60,000.00 and
grossed over $170 million. Why? It was original in its concept
and made you feel just as "lost" as the actors. First you must
understand how this fear can make people feel. Then the
challenge is how to recreate it. This is what I call fun fear.

It is something you anticipate because you have paid for it,
and because you have paid for it you want to be taken to
the extreme without going over the line. You want the
wits scared out of you, but still want to feel safe - like being
reminded as a child, "it's only a movie."

Borrowing from, but not imitating, The Blair Witch Project
was perfect for planning the "Scare Witch Experience." I
found a healthy set of woods just outside the town of
Lexington, Virginia, behind a bowling alley. It was a
place everyone knew, and was already zoned for business.
My wife, Sherry, and I made a deal with the landowner
and parking arrangements were established. All we had
to do was clear a trail and lay out the "show."

Since we were outdoors, building codes and sprinkler
systems did not apply, and even more money was
saved by not buying any props. Not only were thousands
of dollars saved, the worry of theft or vandalism during
the day vanished. It was now my challenge to create a
fantastic Haunt from nothing; a blank canvas on which
to paint a psychological horror. This is where it all hinged -
good guides and a good story line. I do not like to call
Haunted Attraction workers actors because most of
them are not. My Haunt required convincing guides
who carried the only source of light in the woods, a
flashlight with very "weak" batteries. It was up to the
guides and a few people scattered in the pitch-black
woods (making sounds and never being seen) to
create the fear. When the patrons are halfway through
the woods, at a point of no return, the guide acts as if
he himself is lost and informs the group that he wants
to scout out a path by himself, but he will be right back
to get them. He leaves them alone in the total darkness,
without the flashlight. Remember . . . alone in the
supermarket.

When he does not come right back as promised, the
group gets fidgety and tense. Folks, this is the moment
you live for as a Haunter. You have them at your total
mercy. After an uncomfortable amount of time, the
guide doubles back and creeps up on his group from
behind. As leaves rustle, the group is in a near panic,
certain that something horrible is about to happen.

Remember, they are "lost." They have no light - where
are they going to go other than the safety of the group?
Corralled like nervous sheep waiting for a wolf to pounce
on one of their numbers, each person tries to find his way
to the coveted middle-of-the-group. The guide stumbles
from the woods right on the heels of the group with the
flashlight to his face and yells, "Run, it's right behind me!"
The group follows the flashlight as the guide leads, at
double pace, to a temporary "safe" clearing.

The "Scare Witch Experience" lasted about 18 minutes
for each group and was unlike anything they had expected.
It was sort of like an adult version of "snipe hunting."
Very few props were needed, one small slate tombstone,
stick sculptures hanging in the trees, a scarecrow, and an
old out-house were all I needed. These were all homemade
from materials I already had stacked up behind the studio.

Props that could have been stolen or vandalized with little
trouble, but were not appealing enough for either. All our publicity
posters, brochures and ads were obtained
on 30-day terms. After only a two-week run the guides and
the bills were all paid with a 1/3 profit to show for it. And
that is how to do a successful Haunt with no money!

Mark Cline is the owner of Enchanted Castle Studios in
Natural Bridge, Virginia. He can be reached at 504-291-2353.
Reprinted from Haunted Attraction Magazine Issue #26.
http://HauntedAttraction.com/


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DESIGN LAB 2001
==========================================

Haunted Attraction Magazine is once again hosting the
Third Annual Design Lab 2001 Seminar coinciding with the|
last day of the International Association of Amusement
Parks and Attractions Convention (IAAPA), November 17
at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida.

The subject of the day-long discussion will be "SCARE THEORY:
How We Design for Fright!" Learn the "How and Why" behind
the personal terror techniques of some of the best Haunted
Attraction Designers in the country. There will be door prizes
and demonstrations of new products.

For more information:

http://www.hauntedattraction.com/seminar2001.html


==========================================
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AD DEADLINE for the next issue is September 20, 2001.
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