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Tag: chicago frights

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.

Chicago Frights and Haunt Faire: Two New Haunt Gatherings You Need to Attend

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:15:10 — 68.8MB)

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It’s only a few months to Scare Season and you still need a few more props, you need some ideas for that gore set in your Haunt, and your actors need some more training before you set them loose.

Good news! There are still some Haunt Conventions/Haunt Faires right around the corner.

 

Chicago Frights- Haunt & Halloween Convention

Chicago Frights, in Napersville, IL, is a Haunt and Halloween gathering of like minded people of every age and level of experience who love Haunted Houses, Halloween, Special Effects Makeup and scaring people. Chicago Frights is a fun-filled four days and nights of Haunt Tours, Haunter Education, a Dealer Room for all your supply needs, a Monster Costume Party, the Last Ride Car Show, Haunter networking and so much more! (July 16-19th)

We get Leonard Pickel, Founder at HAuNTcon and Chicago Frights, to fill us in on what his new haunt convention brings to the Chicago area and why you need to be there.

 

Haunt Faire- New York

Haunt Faire, in Hauppauge, NY, is also a new convention this year that will have plenty of activities for Haunters, Horror Lovers, Paranormal Junkies, and Halloweenies. Makeup Wars, Classes to take your Haunted Attraction to the next level, industry vendors, and lots more entertainment! Two days of horrific fun, learning, and socializing. (August 1st & 2nd)

We also interview LC Macabre (Elsie Ginsberg), Founder of Haunt Faire, on why her convention is a bit different than your every day haunt gathering (including a job fair). And what the Haunt Faire is bringing to the east coast!

Both of these haunt gatherings are brand new for 2015 and are focused on Haunters. If you are needing supplies for your Haunt, learn some new tricks for your haunt business, or just want to meet your friends before the season officially starts…these are great events to attend.

We also include some creepy audio tracks from Sam Haynes, give you an update on the new Haunted Attraction ‘The Dead Factory’ in Mexico, Missouri (Brian’s project), and we throw some bonus content in there for you to chew on.

So…put your earbuds in. Think of something scary and twisted. Now go build it! The season is right around the corner. 🙂

and Share the Scare!