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LIVE From the Transworld Halloween & Attractions Show 2016

 

The Transworld Halloween & Attractions Show is the largest trade show for the Haunted Attraction Industry. I’ve been six times and each trip is a blast! It was great to meet up with friends and meet new ones. Scope out new stuff for my Haunt. And immerse myself in the dark sea of mechanical monstrosities. Here is my audio review of this year’s show and 13 live audio interviews from the vendors direct from the trade show floor.

 

Transworld HAA Show

If you’re a Haunter and you’ve never been to Transworld, you must attend at least once. The event is open to members of a Haunted Attraction business, Halloween fans that spend money on props and other items for their hobbies, and the re-sellers who purchase large volumes of products. There are also educational classes, floor demonstrations, and parties throughout the week. This year offered tours of The Darkness, Escape Rooms, and a trip to Six Flags.

The trade show is held at the America’s Center in St.Louis, Missouri. Usually in March. This year it was March 17th through March 20th. The official website of the Transworld Halloween & Attractions Show is HAASHOW.COM

 

scared of my shadow masks

 

Here are the 13 vendors I interviewed during my stroll through the Transworld Halloween & Attractions Show:

  • Scared of My Shadow: Custom leather masks
  • Paache: Quality made air brushes
  • 13th Ward FX: Silicone masks & props
  • Closed Casket Studios: Prop heads & hands
  • Cross Breed Productions: Scare actor props
  • Reynolds Advanced Material: Mold making materials
  • Necrotic Creations: Detailed Decor for your haunt
  • Gilderfluke: Prop controllers & animations
  • Haunter’s Hangout: Live monthly hangouts with Haunters
  • Hot Wire Foam Factory: Foam carving tools
  • Haunting FX: Animatronics & Escape Room Controllers
  • Haunt Shirts: Apparel for Haunters

 

Pro Aiir Body Paint

Click Here to Listen: LIVE from the Transworld Halloween & Attractions Show

Inside the Haunt Journal and a Transworld Show 2016 Update

We made it to EPISODE 100! Thanks for being a loyal listener! In this podcast episode, we discuss the Haunt Journal, the Transworld Halloween & Attractions Show 2016, and our anniversary of four years as podcasts hosts here at HaunTopic Radio.

The Haunt Journal:

haunted attractions podcast-haunt journal

We interview Philip Hernandez from the Haunted Attractions Network & Haunt Journal about how his free monthly digital Haunted Attraction magazine provides value to Haunters from beginners to experts. Including new phone apps, a new website, more podcasts, and the purchase of Haunt Nation Magazine. In Issue #5, Philip includes the article he wrote about my Haunted House the Dead Factory and what went wrong and what went right in my 2015 haunt season. A must read! Philip is lifting up the haunted attraction industry through all types of media..and it’s all FREE. Learn more at HauntJournal.com

 

Transworld’s Halloween & Attractions Show:

transworld halloween & attractions show

We also interview Jennifer Braverman from the Transworld Halloween & Attractions Show on whats new at the trade show in 2016. More vendors, a larger haunt trade show floor, escape room training, and a few more rooms opened up if you need one! Transworld is the industry’s largest trade show for Halloween & Haunted Attractions. Learn more at HAAShow.com

 

The Night Keep (Heretica):

We play some more tunes from The Night Keep and include Scene 3 of his dark story of Heretica. Daniel’s cryptic tunes will definitely get you in the mood to scare. Learn more at NightKeep.bandcamp.com

The Night Keep: Horror Music
The Night Keep: Heretica (a tale of horror)

Thank you for hanging out with us for 100 episodes and we look forward to the next 100!

Subscribe on iTunes here.

Get our email updates here.

Live from HAuNTcon 2016: On the Road with a Traveling Haunt Convention

hauntcon costume ballWe just got back from HAuNTcon 2016, the Haunted Attraction National Tradeshow & Convention, and grabbed some great audio interviews from the show. We also discuss the highlights that we felt were the best parts of the convention for us. Plus, some new updates from the people and events surrounding the trade show.

What is HAuNTcon?  HAuNTcon brings together people who love Haunted Houses, Halloween and scaring people. Four fun-filled days and nights of Haunted Attraction Tours, Haunter Education, Halloween Trade show, Haunted Garage Sale, FX Makeup and Prop Building Demonstrations, rounded out by Networking opportunities like the amazing annual Costume Ball.

Where was HAuNTcon 2016? HAuNTcon is the only haunted attraction convention that travels to a new state each year. The Haunted Attraction National Tradeshow and Conference was hosted at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center, 2101 Richard Arrington Junior Boulevard North, Birmingham, AL 35203 on Jan.28th-Feb.1st 2016. (Click here for all things HAuNTcon)

My Review: “HAuNTcon is a great way to step up your Haunted Attraction in a short amount of time.”

The only other trade show/convention that I’ve been to is Transworld in St.Louis which is the largest trade show in the Haunted Attraction Industry. So I knew HAuNTcon would be a more smaller but intimate show for passionate people who love Halloween & Haunted Houses. I met Haunted Attraction owners, designers, & actors who traveled hundreds of miles to improve their businesses. Home Haunters who were there to improve their tombstone making skills. And new ideas from new friends on how to make me a better Haunter.

Yes..the trade show may not be the biggest one in the industry but the education tracks and the haunted attraction tours can’t be missed. I learned tactics to get more revenue for my haunt this season, how to make a sock mask for my actors next year, and great ideas to help my scare actors in October. Plus escape room, back story, and prop making ideas.

The Live Actor Haunt Tour of Warehouse 31 in Pelham, Alabama was outstanding! We experienced Rigamortis and a 3D attraction called The Freak Show. Their actors were spot on and I carried a few ideas from their shows as well. I still think the smell from some of those rooms is clinging to my clothes…

hauntcon haunt education

All in all. If you’re looking for a family experience with other haunters, you want ideas to take your haunt to the next level, or want to experience a whole bunch of attractions at once- HAuNTcon is the place to be.

Maybe one day a HAuNTcon will be near you….

What’s in this podcast episode: (Click Here to Play Podcast)

  • The Use of Hand Puppets in Your Haunt- Doug Schaefer. (VFX Creates)
  • Inside Insanitarium Haunted Attraction- Chris Screws. (Insanitarium)
  • Selling T-Shirts for Extra Revenue- Scott Swenson. (Vault of Souls)
  • A Look at the Haunt Industry- Drew Badger. (The Big Scary Show)
  • Music and Scene 2 of Heretica by The Night Keep. (Daniel Edenfield)
  • LIVE interviews & our review of HAuNTcon 2016.

 

warehouse31

 

Like our stuff? Click here to get more of it…

HAuNTcon 2016: Haunted Attraction National Trade Show and Convention

hauntcon 2016HAuNTcon is the only haunted attraction trade show that sets up in a new state each year. An opportunity for all haunters and Halloween fans to go visit a HAuNTcon near you. This year the lucky city is Birmingham, Alabama from Jan.28th-Feb.1, 2016!

In this podcast of HaunTopic Radio, we get the creator of HAuNTcon on the mic (Leonard Pickel) to discuss what’s new for the trade show, the growing list of educational classes for haunters, and all the extra events that you can’t miss.

Like….Haunted attractions tours of some local haunts. A kick-ass costume party that can’t be missed for socializing and drinking some free beer from Froggy’s Fog. A haunted garage sale for some cheap take home props or sell your own used items. Make and take workshops for making that next mask or prop. Hands-on seminars for the creative types. Business classes for the haunt entrepreneurs. And much more for those who want to make their haunted houses better for their customers and the home haunters who want to take their houses to the next level in October.

Whatever type of Haunter you are- there is something for you to do. One thing I like about HAuNTcon is that you hauntcon-costume-ballcan choose a package that fits your budget. I’m doing the $99 one that includes access to the trade show and 3 days of education. I’ll probably go to the Saturday night haunt tour of Warehouse 13 and catch the costume party on Friday. Just pick and choose which package is good for you.

Check out more information and book your hotel here HAuNTcon Website.

Share this with someone who you think would love to go!

 

P.S. We play some tunes from The Night Keep: Heretica and tell a story along the way. If you looking for new ideas for a story line then you’ll want to listen to this! You can buy the digital download here.

The Night Keep: Horror Music
The Night Keep: Heretica (a tale of horror)

ScareLA: The West Coast’s Scariest Convention and the Masterminds Behind It

ScareLA 2015

“ScareLA is the first SoCal convention dedicated to celebrating Halloween. Situated in the entertainment capital of the world, it combines the city’s top talent and unique cultural setting with a twist. Celebrate the West Coast’s scariest faire and indulge in hundreds of exclusive attraction unveils, DIY workshops, classes, industry panels, live haunt experiences, screenings and so much more.” ~ScareLA.com


 

Hey Haunters. Keeping it short and sweet this time. If you live out on the West Coast or can make a trip out to Pasadena, California on August 8 & 9 then this is one of those conventions where you’ll find an assortment of horror entertainment and haunt industry happenings. Plus, you’ll be in the movie capitol of the world…you’ll never know which famous person you’ll bump in to.

In this episode of HaunTopic Radio (episode 96), we chat with Lora Ivanova, David Markland, Rick West, and Johanna Atilano from Scare LosAngeles and get the behind-the-scene information that you’ll need to know before you go to the west coast’s scariest convention!

You will learn about some of the workshops, live entertainment, nightlife, showroom floor and vendors, and what makes these guys passionate about making this a better experience every year. If you like things scary…this is your place. And make sure to use that code below to get a discount on your tickets!
 

Use Discount Code ‘HaunTopic’ to SAVE 15% off your tickets for 2015! Register Here.

 
Scare Los Angeles
 

The Masterminds of ScareLA: Rick West, Lora Ivanova, Johanna Atilano, and David Markland.

Scare LA Team