2009 Monday All Day Workshops, May 4, 2009

HAuNTcon has expanded its education program to include in-depth full day workshops on the Monday following the Convention. These paid seminars will require an additional fee over and above the price of the conference to pay for materials and proprietary information.

Pricing varies for each session and sessions are limited. Reserve your seat in one of these exciting workshops today!

Bad Boys Scenic Design-Behind the Curtain: ACT II By Bad Boys Scenic Design

CHAOS Haunted Attraction Safety Certification Course Presented by International Association of Haunted Attractions (IAHA)

Wolfe Brothers Haunted Make Up Workshop By Nick and Brian Wolfe of Evil Twin FX

Smooth-On Mold Making, Life Casts and Skin Effects By Jason Reece of Smooth-on

Haunted Attraction Design Workshop By Leonard Pickel of D.O.A. Haunt Design Frim

2009 HAuNTcon Haunt Ed Program ANNOUNCED!

Announcing the TENATIVE 2009 Haunt Ed seminars! Below are more speakers, more seminars, more demos, more workshops and more make-n-takes than you can shake a stick at. You couldn’t get more Haunted Education into this one weekend, if you used a shoe horn!!

Just take a look at this line up!

CLICK HERE for speaker Bios!

9:30am-11:00am Friday Business

Improving Actor Retention and Quality: A Case Study of Changes Made During the 2008 Season of Eastern State Penitentiary’s Terror Behind the Walls.

By Brett Bertolino, Jason Ohlsen & Nathan Edmondson of Eastern State Penitentiary’s Terror Behind the Walls

Now in its 18th season, Eastern State Penitentiary’s Terror Behind the Walls is one of the largest and most well known haunted attractions in the country. In 2008, AOL City Guide ranked this massive haunted house inside of a real prison the number one haunted house in America. Join the masterminds behind this well-known event as they provide an insider’s look into how they’ve dealt with the challenges of managing a cast of more than 150 performers. The trio will focus specifically on major operational changes implemented during the 2008 season and how these changes directly impacted the overall quality of the show by increasing actor retention and improving actor performance and consistency. 9:30am-11:00am Friday Demo

Scenic Treatment with Monster Mud

By Cat Bernier, Vicky Strei, Tresa Walker Zombie Army Productions

11:30am-12:30pm Friday Business

The ABC’s of Advertising

By Kelly Collins of Midwest Haunters Convention

I’ll explain the different types of advertising; what works and how much it costs. How much should you spend? Where should you spend it? Are advertising professionals worth their expense? I’ve been in marketing and advertising for 30+ years. I’ll share tips and tricks that can save you thousands of dollars. This class is a must for any haunted attraction. 11:30am-12:30pm Friday Creative

Networking 101

By Patrick Konopelski of Shocktoberfest

It is not always what you know, but who you know that can make your Haunted Event successful, and as such, networking is probably the most important part of any Haunt gathering. A chance meeting at HAuNTcon could eventually turn out to be your mentor, consultant, friend, perhaps even a partner! Eighteen year Haunt veteran and President of the International Association of Haunted Attractions (IAHA), Patrick Konopelski will be accelerating the contact process in this “out of the box” approach to a seminar,. Like Speed Dating for Haunt Networking, each attendee will meet and have the chance to share information with everyone else in the room. This may be the most important seminar you will ever attend and one seminar you can’t afford to miss! 11:30am-12:30pm Friday Demo

Creating Haunting Props with Styrofoam

John Ehrenreich

This session demonstrates how-to use various Hot Wire Foam Factory tools to shape and texture Styrofoam, turning the foam into props for your Haunt. Te demonstration includes simulating both stone and wood objects from the first steps to a completed project, including painting and various texture techniques. Application is appropriate for the Haunters looking to raise the level of detail in their attractions. 1:30pm-2:30pm Friday Make-N-Take

Make your own Eyeballs

By Scott Morrow

Adding realistic eyes to any prop makes it more lifelike and realistic. In this session you will learn a quick and easy way to make realistic eyes. Materials fee required. CLICK HERE to sign up for Make-N-Takes! 1:30pm-2:30pm Friday Business

Basic Search Engine Optimization for Haunt Websites

By Richard Kinney of Your-Web-Guys.com

This thorough “how to” covers the concept behind search engine algorithms, page rank, and link popularity. Learn the best way of getting your website listed in the top ten results for just about any keyword you want, without spending a dime. Search Google for any Dallas area haunted house keyword (i.e. Dallas haunted house, haunted houses in Dallas, haunted houses in Texas, etc…) and you will probably find ReindeerManor.com in the results. This presentation will tell you exactly how to do the same thing for your market. 1:30pm-2:30pm Friday Creative

All About Servos

By John Williams and Jon Barrowman of EFX-TEK

There is little doubt that using servos to animate your props can deliver a level of realism not otherwise attainable, or affordable. In the world of motion control the servo is the most important development ever achieved. But what exactly is a servo? What can it do? How do you select the correct servo for the job and how do you make it do what you want it to do? In this session you will learn the answers to these questions and more – all clearly explained in plain understandable English. 1:30pm-2:30pm Friday Demo

Create a FREE 3-D floorplan of your haunted house

By Jared Minary

Google Sketchup is a completely free computer program that allows you to create a scale 3-D diagram of your haunt. Use it to excite your actors, potential investors, and advertisers. Get fire marshal approval, building and safety approval, or save on architectural drawings. Learn the basics of how the program works in this introductory class. If you want to follow along during the presentation, download the program before class and bring your laptop. Search for Google Sketchup and download the free version! 3:00pm-4:00pm Friday Make-N-Take

Make Your Own Pressure Mat

By Brian Bayliss of HallowEffects

Materials and step by step instruction to assemble a pressure mat for triggering animations or lighing when somone steps on the mat. This Make-N-Take teaches attendees soldering techniques and when finished, the attendees can take home thei finished product. Materials fee required. CLICK HERE to sign up for Make-N-Takes! 3:00pm-4:00pm Friday Business

PR & Marketing 101: Using the Media to Promote Your Haunted Attraction

By Cori Rice & Terri White of White Rice Advertising

In today’s segmented markets, every advertising outlet says they’re the perfect fit for your attraction. Promoting your haunt in a watered down media market can be a tricky proposition. We’ll help give you the tools to approach media and media buys with the confidence to know what to look for and how to get something done. Once your marketing ideas are in place, we’ll give you the tools to also approach the media for some free publicity to get the turnstiles moving and the cash registers ringing. 3:00pm-4:00pm Friday Creative

On-Skin Silicone Build-Up Appliances

By Jason Reese of Smooth-on

Skin-safe Skin Tite silicone can be used to create quick, effective on-skin build up makeup effects appliances. Techniques for building up simple wounds, incorporating unique additives, and pigmenting silicones will be discussed and demonstrated in this informative session. 3:00pm-4:00pm Friday Demo

Haunt Design – Concept Through Closing

By John La Flamboy of Zombie Army Productions

In the Haunting business, designing beautiful sets with great props and clever scares is not enough, you must have a great “show.” In this informative session, John La Flamboy will take you through the art and labor of producing and designing the fright experience, otherwise known as the “show.” Topics covered include: development of concept and character, designing for and training the actor, as well as how to structure your production team. 5:00pm-6:00pm Friday Keynote

Halloween Horror Nights

By Michael Aiello of Universal Studios Florida

Show Director for Halloween Horror Nights and Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure at Universal Studios Florida Michael Aiello will take us through the creative process used by the development team to design and realize the largest Halloween event in the world! 9:30am-11:00am Saturday Make N Take

Tombstone Make N Take

By Scott Morrow

Attendees will learn techniqies for making tombstones out of foam in this hands on make and take, This Make-N-Take will take approximately 1 1/2 hours. Class is limited to 16 people. . Materials fee required. CLICK HERE to sign up for Make-N-Takes! 9:30am-11:00am Saturday Business

Your First Haunted Attraction Part 1: An indepth look at the dos and don’t s of opening your first Halloween event.

By Leonard Pickel of D.O.A. Design and Consulting Firm

A Haunted Attraction is a business like any other, and what you don’t know can kill you! A comprehensive overview of the various concerns relating to a “first time” October seasonal production. However, even a well established Halloween event will pick up some tips and tricks on how better to maximize profits while minimizing costs and effort. In this detailed 2 part session, industry veteran Leonard Pickel details for you his vision for a profitable event from over 30 years of professional Haunting design and consulting. Leonard walks you through each step involved in operating your first Haunted Attraction; getting the Haunt open, keeping it open and maximizing the money making potential of a for profit or charity Halloween Event, laying out a plan for your success. Topics include, location requirements, safety and code compliance, attraction style, advertising, operations, and answers the most frequently asked questions; “How big should the attraction be, how much should I charge, and how much will it cost?” 9:30am-11:00am Saturday Demo

Styrofoam Masonry V

By Mike Krausert and Bert Zelten of Bad Boys Scenic Design

Expanding on last year’s hugely popular workshop, Bad Boys Scenic Design has agreed to expand on their Foam Masonry demonstration. A hit with attendees, this informative How-To demonstration gives Haunters of all levels, the techniques to turn an average room design into a highly detailed Disney-level attraction. Basic Styrofoam techniques, tips and tools of the trade as well as more advanced methods will be demonstrated and discussed, including deep sculpture, lettering, foam props and applications used on the interior and exterior of their Haunted Attraction, Terror on the Fox. This hour and a half long session will be packed so arrive early to get good seats. 11:30am-12:30pm Saturday Make-N-Take

Make Your Own LED Eyes

By Brian Bayliss of HallowEffects

Materials and step by step instruction to assemble glowing eyes, perfect for the final touch to a great Halloween Prop. This Make-N-Take teaches attendees soldering techniques and how to wire LEDs for use as prop eyes or even fireflies. When finished, the attendees can take home their creations. Materials fee required. CLICK HERE to sign up for Make-N-Takes! 11:30am-12:30pm Saturday Business

Advertising Autopsy: What Works, What Doesn’t & How To Keep Yours From Showing up DOA

By Dick Terhune of VoiceFromHell.com

As Haunt Season draws nigh, the last thing you’re thinking about should be the first. The thing that draws Customers to your door…your commercials. Dick Terhune, Interntionally-Acclaimed “Voice From Hell” & Master of the Dark Arts of Advertising & Marketing wields the razor-sharp scalpel of his proven techniques and the merciless bone-saw of his vast experience to dissect actual Haunt Commercials from across the country–perhaps even yours. Learn how to keep your most-valuable Customer-Building Assets from an untimely–and expensive–demise. 11:30am-12:30pm Saturday Creative

Auditions: Getting The Most Out Of Your Actors

By Dawn Emanuele

We all want the best show, which means the best actor for the job. Dawn Emanuele has trained over 1,000 actors both volunteer and paid. She will share with you valuable tips to using EVERYONE to their full potential starting with the auditions. This step by step takes you through promotions, games, applications, conducting the interview, building camaraderie and placing the actors. Even how to use the support of those who didn’t make it. These techniques can be used with volunteers or paid Haunts with 10 actors or 400! These tips are useful even if you can’t turn anyone away. 11:30am-12:30pm Saturday Demo

Make-up 101

By Katie Johnston of Nightmare in Painesville

Learn what you can’t live without in your make up kit, where you can get the stuff and how to use it! I’ll walk you through the tools and tricks necessary for a beginner to get a running start into the world of Haunted House Make-Up. Focus will be on supplies, how to create the undead with grease and liquid make up, types of blood, and if there’s time, a little latex action! Questions are encouraged and expected! 1:30pm-2:30pm Saturday Make-N-Take

Corpsifying a Bucky Skull

By Kevin Alvey of Gore Galore

Turn a plastic skull into your own horrific corpsified head and take it home with you when you’re done in this exciting Make-N-Take! Several techniques and the use of different materials will be discussed and demonstrated. Attendees will get hands on experience as they put what they learned into practice and corpsifying a bucky skull. Seating is limited and fills up on a first come first serve basis. Materials fee is required. CLICK HERE to sign up for Make-N-Takes! Application is for amateur or professional Haunters looking for time saving detailing tips! 1:30pm-2:30pm Saturday Business

Build a Haunt on a Shoestring Budget

By Brett Molitor of JamBam/Huntington Jaycees

The event you want to start could be an indoor or outdoor haunt. The budget can be kept low. Find out how to tap sources of supplies to build your event, how to do marketing with a small budget, and where to find people willing to help as volunteer actors, artists, and helpers. Learn how to build a team dedicated to your haunt. Publicity costs very little while advertising can break the bank. Find out how to get your haunt publicity and the secret to press releases. Do you have a plan, and how far does it project in to the future? 1:30pm-2:30pm Saturday Creative

Roving Characters: Selling the Atmosphere

By Drew Dalire of AEO Studios

House characters SELL your house, they can make or break your event. Having Roving characters OUTSIDE your event sells the atmosphere you want to create BEFORE your guests enter the house. Join Drew and some interesting guests to learn how to use roving actors effectively, as a form of queue line and atmospheric entertainment, to keep guests raving about their experience and keep them coming back for more. 1:30pm-2:30pm Saturday Demo

How to build a 3-axis Bucky Skull

By Jeff Davis of Davis Graveyard

Using standard hobby servos, simple hardware and a few tools you will learn techniques to transform an ordinary Bucky skull into your own professional looking animated skull that can turn, tilt, nod and talk. This completed prop can connect to many popular controllers to program the movements in conjunction with a voice track. 3:00pm-4:00pm Saturday Make-N-Take

Make Your Own Zombie/Corpse Costume

By Robert Beech

In this make and take you will learn tips and techniques for distressing clothing to give it that freshly dug-up look! Perfect for Zombie Walks or clothing for your favorite corpse prop in your Haunt. When you are done have a great looking costume just in time to get made up for the Haunted Attraction Magazine Costume Ball that night! Materials fee required. CLICK HERE to sign up for Make-N-Takes! 3:00pm-4:00pm Saturday Business

Harness the Power of Twitter to Market Your Haunt

By Allison Jornlin of milwaukeeghosts.com

Twitter is the hottest thing in social networking today for one powerful reason. It enables you to stay in the thoughts of interested people on a daily, even hourly basis. This workshop will teach you how to connect with customers, mentors, and the media to market your haunt in an immediate way never before possible. 3:00pm-4:00pm Saturday Creative

Creating gaping wounds and pustulant sores with liquid latex.

By Tim Perrin

A step by step presentation on how I create gaping wounds and pustulant sores with liquid latex and other low cost materials and tools. 3:00pm-4:00pm Saturday Demo

Haunted Hayrides

By Chris Giese of Hobb’s Grove

5:00pm-6:00pm Saturday Keynote

Knott’s Scary Farm

By Gary Salisbury

Long before Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, Busch Garden’s Halloscreams, and Six Flag’s Fright Fest, before any amusement parks celebrated Halloween there was Knott’s Berry Farm’s Halloween Haunt. Knott’s Berry Farm was the first amusement park to produce a Halloween event, which changed the Halloween Industry forever. A small group of talented individuals got together in 1973 and came up with the concept of Halloween Haunt, the first Haunted Special Event in the world. Gary Salisbury was a member of this original group that charted the course for Knott’s Berry Farm’s Halloween Haunt and and shares his memories of how the Event was created and how it grew into the most famous Halloween special event in the world. 10:00am-11:00am Sunday Make-N-Take

Laser Tunnel Make N Take

By Karen Murphy

Materials and step by step instruction to assemble a Laser Tunnel effect. With this Make N Take and a fog machine you can wow guests with this illusion.This Make-N-Take teaches attendees soldering techniques and how to build the rotating mirror needed for the effect. When finished, the attendees can take home their creation. Materials fee required. CLICK HERE to sign up for Make-N-Takes! 10:00am-11:00am Sunday Business

Your First Haunted Attraction Part 2: An indepth look at the dos and don’t s of opening your first Halloween event.

By Leonard Pickel of D.O.A. Design and Consulting Firm

A Haunted Attraction is a business like any other, and what you don’t know can kill you! A comprehensive overview of the various concerns relating to a “first time” October seasonal production. However, even a well established Halloween event will pick up some tips and tricks on how better to maximize profits while minimizing costs and effort. In this detailed 2 part session, industry veteran Leonard Pickel details for you his vision for a profitable event from over 30 years of professional Haunting design and consulting. Leonard walks you through each step involved in operating your first Haunted Attraction; getting the Haunt open, keeping it open and maximizing the money making potential of a for profit or charity Halloween Event, laying out a plan for your success. Topics include, location requirements, safety and code compliance, attraction style, advertising, operations, and answers the most frequently asked questions; “How big should the attraction be, how much should I charge, and how much will it cost?” 10:00am-11:00am Sunday Creative

The Left Turns, Right Turns and Dead Ends of the Haunted Corn Maze Industry

By Kellie Carter of Haunted Carter Farms

“How do you do that?” A question Kellie will answer during her discussion navigating you from the seed to the grave of the Corn Maze (Amazing Haunted Maize Maze) at Haunted Carter Farms. Covering topics on; seed, soil, cutting paths, weed control, field safety, patron control, maze logic, maze theory, maze artwork, facades, props, electrical power, pneumatics, story line theme, bridges, towers, sound, Q-lines and the Ghouls Gone Wild Crew. 10:00am-11:00am Sunday Demo

The Secrets of Fog: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Fog But Didn’t Know Who To Ask!

By Chris Markgraf of Froggy’s Fog

In this session you will learn how a fog machine works, how to clean and maintain the equipment and store fog fluid between seasons. Pros and Cons of different Fog Chillers and various ways of creating ground hugging fog will also be discussed in depth with a how to for building an affordable chiller. Tips and tricks on how to keep ground fog low. A discussion of Fog fluid safety for breathing, asthmatics, and exposure, will be followed by a question and answer session. 11:30am-12:30pm Sunday Make-N-Take

Make Your Own Creature Hands

By Brian Bayliss of HallowEffects

Making realistic corpse hands for a prop is one of the most challenging problems facing the do it yourself Haunter. Learn some tips and techniques of building creature hands in this informative make and take that includes materials and step by step instruction to assemble creature hands, perfect for the final touch to your favorite corpse prop, and when finished, the attendees can take home their creations. Materials fee required. CLICK HERE to sign up for Make-N-Takes! 11:30am-12:30pm Sunday Business

Using Celebrities to Drive Traffic to You Haunt

To Be Announced

Celebrities can increase attention and attendance of your event, increasing your bottom line directly. Even smaller attractions can benefit from the proper use of celebrities. How best to utilize the celebrity to get the most value for the cost, and which one’s to book can make or break your celebrity program. This session covers tips and tricks to maximize a celebrity appearance through radio interviews and television appearances to drive attendance to your event. 11:30am-12:30pm Sunday Creative

Lowering the Body Count

By Amanda Lorge

An actor’s most valuable tool is their body. Taking care of and protecting that body is one of the most important things an actor can do as an investment for the haunt. There are always hidden dangers that need to be at the front of the person’s mind when acting in a haunt. Lowering Your Body Count explains the best way to keep your acting staff healthy as well as some self defense tactics to keep your actors safe during the haunt season and for years to come. 11:30am-12:30pm Sunday Demo

Make-up 102

By Katie Johnston

Let’s take things one step further! This seminar will focus on details to make your creations stand out and how to use latex for buildups, cuts, gouges and holes (oh my!). 1:30pm-2:30pm Sunday Make-N-Take

Corpsifying a Bucky Skull

By Kevin Alvey of Gore Galore

Turn a plastic skull into your own horrific corpsified head and take it home with you when you’re done in this exciting Make-N-Take! Several techniques and the use of different materials will be discussed and demonstrated. Attendees will get hands on experience as they put what they learned into practice and corpsifying a bucky skull. Seating is limited and fills up on a first come first serve basis. Materials fee is required. CLICK HERE to sign up for Make-N-Takes! Application is for amateur or professional Haunters looking for time saving detailing tips! 1:30pm-2:30pm Sunday Business

Gorilla Haunt Marketing

By John La Flamboy of Zombie Army Productions

Learn the tips and tricks of low cost, grass roots marketing techniques that will have a high impact on your ticket sales in this fast paced seminar. From advertising design to distribution, this session will show you how to get the word out, without spending big dollars. Whether you are a start up haunt or a seasoned veteran haunter, if you are not using these techniques, you are not taking full advantage of your market potential! 1:30pm-2:30pm Sunday Creative

Essential Audacity: Sound For Your Haunt

By John Barrowman and Jon Williams of EFX-TEK

According to Audio/Visual experts, the audio portion of any theatrical presentation accounts for 75% of the user experience? What this means is that adding great audio to your prop or attraction could increase its effectiveness by 400%. Audacity is a free program that will allow you to create completely custom sounds for your event, and in this entertaining session, you will learn how to use a wonderful soundscaping tool. Haunters now have the ability to control the sound of fear… now come learn how to control that power! 1:30pm-2:30pm Sunday Demo

Haunted Airbrushing

By Brian Wolfe and Nick Wolfe of Evil Twin FX LLC

This will be a demonstration of Graftobian’s airbrush and prosthetic products. The airbrush system and techniques will be shared by Nick and Brian Wolfe. These are the same as used at Universal Studios Orlando. The twins will also demonstrate the proper application techniques for foam latex appliances. See why they are the fastest guns in the west! 3:00pm-4:00pm Sunday Make-N-Take

Distressed Wall Sconce

By Nic Wessely of Bad Boys Scenic Design

Learn distressing techniques while building an LED powered wall sconce and when your done, you get to take it home! Materials fee is required. Application is for novice or do it yourself Haunters looking for time saving detailing tips! CLICK HERE to sign up for Make-N-Takes! 3:00pm-4:00pm Sunday Business

Financing Your Fist Haunt

By Scott Morrow

In this session we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various business types, as well as which is best for a Halloween event. The final discussion will be on several options on how to fund the business. The pros and cons of using investors, grants, and small business loans will be evaluated. 3:00pm-4:00pm Sunday Creative

Casting Effects For Prop Making

By Jason Reece of Smooth-on

Pigmenting, powder coating, and incorporating fillers can create a world of finish options for a resin, foam, or rubber casting. These fillers and techniques will be iscussed and demonstrated to produce faux finishes on completed props and architectural castings. 3:00pm-4:00pm Sunday Demo

Virtual 3D And Video Projection Effects

By Jon Hyers of Visual Effects

Learn the latest breakthroughs in video projection special fx that mimic 3D. Imagine being able to project an apparently 3dimensional ghost of a cat onto in front of your patrons. Or projecting rats running across a bed next to someone’s feet, or a ghost who opens a door and walks out. Hyers calls video projection effects, “the Chromakey of the live event world. This seminar will focus on a number of different “staging situations” where video projectors can be used to create special effects by simply projecting carefully designed video images, directly onto surfaces such as floors, walls, tables, ceilings, doorways, etc and onto transparent rear screens. Attendees will get to see behind the scenes footage of a number of these special effects in use at various situations, and develop a clear understanding of the benefits of video projection effects.

MAKE-N-TAKE Material Fees- ONLINE!

Pricing for the Make-N-Take sessions is now ON LINE! Sign up for these sessions today by clicking the link below! Seating is limited and these will sell out!

MATERIAL FEE REQUIRED