Haunted House Association 2010 Moves Forward

The Haunted House Association (HHA) is moving its organization forward for 2010. So far there are many things to come of the newly formed association for haunted and these are are couple of the items we can expect to see to help move Haunters forward with support, networking and more.

Release:

PR Campaign:
The HHA is embarking on a new PR campaign that is solely owned and funded by the HHA. As you know last year we participated with America Haunts in their campaign, but now that we are on our feet and rolling we are prepared to launch our own campaign. As always our focus will be to protect and promote the Haunted Attraction Industry, and promote our members’ haunts. You can be assured that the knowledge of our board and members will give this new campaign great chances for success.

New Web Site:
As you know last year we developed a web site on the Hauntworld owned URL www.HauntedHouseAssociation.org. This year we are now creating our new site on the HHA owned URL www.HHAssociation.com. It is important to note that this is being done with the full support and encouragement of Hauntworld, who additionally donated funds for the NEW website. The HHA board will be fully in control of the new site at all times, and it is planned to focus equally on all projects and entities that help the HHA and the industry as a whole to protect and promote Haunted Attractions. It is hoped that the new site will be online sometime before TransWorld, keep your fingers crossed! This new site will be a great resource for haunted house owners and operators to come together and help the industry.

Safety Campaign:
As you know we began a campaign last year, an outreach to teach new haunters safety. This will be a big focus in the upcoming year, as we feel that safety education should be promoted and distributed where it is needed most, to start up or home haunts that often have no interaction with local officials. Randy Bates, our new President, is well known as one of the industry’s experts on this topic, and plans to address this fully. Also key to this is the Crisis Plan that Randy developed to help Haunt Owners and the HHA deal with assorted problems that could occur on both a local or national scale.

MEMBER BENEFITS:
Of course member benefits play a major role when it is time to join an association. Here are some of the benefits a membership in the HHA will bring your event:

Publications: Members will receive subscriptions to 3 publications while they are members – Tourist Attractions and Parks, Hauntworld Magazine and Haunted Attraction Magazine.

Vendor Discounts: Members will receive extensive discounts from many of the finest vendors in the industry. Use of just a few of these discounts can pay for your membership in short order. This list is growing all the time, but we will post an updated list soon!

Haunt Directory: Member haunted houses will be listed in our new Haunt Directory on our new web site, www.HHAssociation.com. Assorted campaigns like the PR and Safety Outreach programs will drive traffic to the site and thus to your event’s listing.

Membership Directory: Once a year HHA will produce a comprehensive listing of our members, vendor discounts, by-laws, and other important information. This will be mailed out to our members.

Heraldry: Members will receive the right to use our logos and imagery to promote that they are members in good standing of the Haunted House Association.

Exclusive Meetings and Functions: Members will be able to attend exclusive meetings and events such as the upcoming Ultimate Brainstorm meeting at TransWorld this year for members only.

Participation in the Association: Members who are the owners or operators of a Haunted Attraction can vote for the board of the HHA. Members who are Owners or Operators of a Haunted Attraction with 5 years of operation can run for the board of HHA. Members are also encouraged to participate by joining committees and helping us protect and promote the industry.

Access to Networking: Members can participate on our NEW HHA Forum and on our Yahoo Group. Plus more to come! As you can see there are many benefits to joining the HHA and many important REASONS to help us protect and promote this industry. We look forward to sharing more of our plans with you soon and having you stop by our booth and join the HHA at the TransWorld show in a few short weeks!

For more information about the association be sure to visit the current site at: www.HauntedHouseAssociation.com

Few Spots Left for The Darkness Behind The Scenes Tour

With the Transworld Haunt Show coming up in a few weeks, as we noted previously (CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE IN FULL) The Darkness Behind the Scenes Tour is quickly filling up and tickets are still available.

To get yours follow the information below and to read our previous write up, follow the link above.

BUY TICKETS NOW FOR THE DARKNESS TOUR
You can buy your tickets ONLINE NOW follow the two links listed below and purchase your tickets! Tickets are limited by hour and by night. Only 300 lights on tickets are available which includes tours through the entire attraction, into our World class make up room, and much more. The Darkness has been totally renovated for the 2010 haunt season. Be one of the first to see the attraction!

Follow the links below to purchase your tickets:

Lights Off Tour (with actors): CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE

Lights On Tour (behind the scenes): CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE

Trick or Treat Studios Debuts and with One of Three Toxic Toons Masks

This past weekend was the annual Transworld Halloween Costume and Party Show in Rosemont, IL. And among the many vendors we usually see there, there were some new ones hitting the scene.

Trick or Treat Studios debuted at the show with a great response and something fun and fresh to the scene including an All- New Eric Pigors of Toxic Toons Mask that is Number One of a Series of Three.

Trick or Treat Studios has face masks designed Erich Lubatti, creator of the masks for the street performers at Knott’s Scary Farm’s Halloween Haunt. In fact these ARE the same masks worn by the street performers! Available exclusively through Trick or Treat Studios. Also in their collection are some beautifully detailed full head masks inspired by the classics and sculpted by Justin Mabry exclusively for Trick or Treat Studios.

In addition to these masks, Eric Pigor of Toxic Toons is designing some masks for the studio and right now you can get the First in the Series of Three.

GRUESOME is only 59.99 and Sculpted by Justin Mabry / Designed by Eric Pigors. Gruesome is the first mask in Trick or Treat Studios exclusive Eric Pigors Toxic Toons Collection. “What is a Toxic Toon you ask? Let me quote Eric, “It’s a cartoon character described as a nutty scabbed chicken poxed lilly livered stiched up bone poppin goofball! With some sort of diabolical disturbing dilemma in store.”

Gruesome is the embodiment of this description. This amazing likeness, sculpted by our own Justin Mabry, has all the characteristics that make Gruesome the character we all know and love. Put on your maggot filled overcoat, slip on your mask and prepare all your friends for Gruesome.

Trick or Treat Studios should be on the look out for some great low-cost products with details that can add to any haunt, party or Halloween Store. Stay Tuned to RFR for them to be guests soon.

For more information on Trick or Treat Studios Visit: www.TrickorTreatStudios.com

CFX Launches New Upgraded Site and Masks of the Month!

RELEASE TO RFR:
The new CFX website has gotten a much needed upgrade with some new bells and whistles, more easy to view product catalog, and a few new things that we’ve added based on all those emails we’ve gotten from our customers. We’ve updated our project gallery to reflect some more recent film and TV work we’ve done outside of the haunt realm to give you a little taste of the other side of CFX.

There’s also now a customer gallery with an assortment of some of the photos our customers have sent us using our products. A totally new addition, though, is our Mask of the Month feature that showcases a different customized silicone mask every month either by public request or because we got a weird twitch in one eye during production. Last, but certainly not least, we’ve posted teaser spots for some of our new masks that will be released in March at the 2010 Transworld Haunt Show in St. Louis. As much as everybody pushes and prods us, and as much as we’d like to reveal the full photos, the unspoken ethics of customer anticipation ties our hands and only allows these tantalizing little silhouettes and titles for your viewing pleasure and frustration.

Our new mask products cover a somewhat broader spectrum than our previous releases. This diverse bunch of freaks and miscreants is in response to a collection of customer requests from different markets, spawning some more fundamental fears of the human psychosis while still keeping the company of the classic monsters and ghouls we all love so much. There will, of course, be some new gloves to go with some of the new mask releases, as well as some other various goodies, toes and fingers to chuck out on the sales table. But, the rest of those will have to wait entirely until March, when we’ll see what the constraints of time will allow.

Until then, send us your best customer photos, wipe the drool off your chin and book a hotel room for your trip to St. Louis because if you’ve actually sat through this much of this little blurb, chances are you haven’t done your homework tonight yet.”

For more visit: www.CompositeEffects.com

The INSANE SHANE Transworld Kick Off Party

So the Transworld Haunt Show is fast approaching this March. Then you can roll around in all your bloody glory with the newest animatronics, props, haunt ideas and more. And along with a fantastic Trade Show comes some social interactions with actors, owners, vendors and everyone! One way to kick things off is with the INSANE SHANE Transworld Kick Off Party.

The event is happening on March 24th in St. Louis, Missouri at the Renaissance Grand Hotel. Being held in the Landmark Ballroom from 7:30pm until Midnight, it will be full of All the best foods you can eat, a Live DJ Spinning some Dead Tunes, a Fully Stocked Bar, Costume Contest, and $1,000 in Cash Prizes. This in addition to thousands of dollars in door prizes from the Haunt Industry’s Top Vendors.

To get all of this, hang out, relax and get your Haunt On, its only $85.00 and that covers everything we just listed and more! So if you want to mingle with the best, then try the INSANE SHANE Transworld Kickoff Party!

For more information or to purchase tickets visit: www.GraystoneManor.net

The Darkness Behind the Scenes Tickets On-Sale

A good way for Haunters to learn how to herlp their event is to see what their peers in other markets are doing. See how they implement animatronics, actors, and more to their event and during the upcoming Haunt Show you will be able to experience both a Live Working attraction and a Lights On Behind the Scenes Tour of The Darkness Haunted Attraction.

The Darkness is a top rated, nationally recognized Haunted Attraction, that has been seen on the Travel Channel and in a variety of Publications.

For 2010 The Darkness is giving you a great tour for the Transworld Haunt Show and Tickets are on Sale Now!

The Darkness 2010 Live Actors Tour

Where:
The Darkness Haunted House
1525 South 8th Street
St. Louis, Missouri MO 63104
Located in downtown St. Louis next to Soulard Market off South Broadway. Just two miles from the convention center.

When:
March 26 & 27, 2010.

The Darkness 2010 Behind the Scenes Tour

Where:
The Darkness Haunted House
1525 South 8th Street
St. Louis, Missouri MO 63104
Located in downtown St. Louis next to Soulard Market off South Broadway. Just two miles from the convention center.

When:
March 25, 2010

To get your tickets be sure to stop by the Official Darkness Website at: www.TheDarkness.com

MORE ON THE DARKNESS HAUNTED HOUSE
Welcome to the 2010 Darkness Haunted House Tour at Transworld Haunt Show March 25-29, 2010. The Darkness presents three different attractions inside one 40,000 square foot building. First tour the all new Darkness haunted house then enter Terror Visions 3D and finally visit our new Monster Museum.

The 3 Darkness haunted attractions have been totally remodeled for the 2010 haunt season just for this tour at a cost of over $200,000.00.

Be the first to see all the new sets, special effects, custom props and much more at the 2010 Haunt Show in St. Louis, Missouri.

For more details visit www.TheDarkness.com

Columbia Haunt Tour 2010 Kicks Off March 26!

So what is a Haunter to do when they cannot see other haunts during the season? Well, how about seeing them in the off season?

One way to do that is with the Columbia Haunt Tour taking place during the Transworld Haunt Show. This event will once again take place Friday, March 26, 2010 during the annual tradeshow. This year the event covers two Haunted Attractions in Columbia, Missouri, <Necropolis and The Fear Fest Haunted House.

The Haunted Enthusiasts write….. “If you only go to one haunt this year make it Fearfest!” and “Necropolis”, is Missouri’s most intense nationally recognized haunt.

Guests can choose to drive directly to the attractions, or take advantage of motor coach service from Transworld. Haunts open their doors at 8:00 PM

Haunts, Transportation, Food and Fun Combo:
$70 Haunted attractions, Motor coach transportation to and from Convention center, Food (Subway sub,chips and soda) and complementary Hauntworld Magazine. Motor coaches leave the front of the convention Center at 7:00 PM SHARP! (Directly after the HHA Meeting). Motor coach seating is limited so don’t delay.

Haunts Only Combo:
$40.00 – for Just the haunts

Tickets:
Online tickets on sale by Click n’ Print. Save 10% off your bus combo ticket by purchasing before Feb. 12th.

HHA Discount: 10% discount after Feb. 12th to HHA members ONLY for the bus combo. (There are no discounts for the Haunt ONLY combo).

So if you want to buy your tickets, see some great haunts in the off season and enjoy Halloween in March visit: www.ColumbiaHauntTour.com

3rd Annual IAHA Awards Banquet featuring the “Oscares”

Make plans to attend the 3rd Annual International Association of Haunted Attractions (IAHA) Awards Banquet. Also known as the Oscares Awards, this event is where IAHA rolls out the black carpet and recognizes attraction owners, vendors, and others who have excelled in our industry. The evening which is sponsored in part by TransWorld Exhibits, includes dinner, open bar for cocktail hour and an awards ceremony, with plenty of socializing with others in the Haunted House business.

WHERE:
Holiday Inn Select Downtown St. Louis – Grand Ballroom

WHEN:
Saturday March 27th

TIME:
Starting at 6:00

COST:
$20.00 Members; $50.00 for Non-members

For more information, contact Kelly McKelvey at 609-799-4900 or info@IAHAWeb.com.

Transworld Haunt and Attractions Show FREE Registration

The 15th Annual Transworld Haunt and Attractions Show is kicking off March 25th in St. Louis. This annual event has become a must-see for the newest products, props, education and more in the Haunt Industry and now you can get FREE General Admissions to the Haunt Show!

Right now is you register by March 5, 2010, you will receive free show admissions and the Opening Night Celebration at the Dubliner! After March 5, admissions will be $20 per person attending the show. Now that is a way to save on money you can spend on extra Fog Juice!

In addition the Haunt Show has created SPEED SEMINARS for those of you who cannot attend or like faster paced education. The Speed Seminars are on March 24 from 12:00 p.m. through 5:30 p.m. Pricing on these are as little as $50 to attend all 10 Pre-Show Seminars!

Seminar 1: Showmanship
Seminar 2: Props for Actors
Seminar 3: Quick Tips to Successful Marketing
Seminar 4: Stilts and Suits
Seminar 5: Creating a Crisis Plan
Seminar 6: Use Of Celebrities
Seminar 7: Timed Ticketing
Seminar 8: Terrifying Textures
Seminar 9: The Interactive Game Haunted House
Seminar 10: Pyrotechnics!

Now these classes will get you pumped, educated and help you create new insightful ways to run your haunt or event.

For more information about Registration, the Transworld Haunt Show and more visit: www.HauntShow.com

“The Annual Halloween & Attractions Show continues its tradition of creating a unique business environment designed to allow buyers to meet face-to-face with exhibitors. Our exhibitors bring all the newest products and classic designs, providing buyers with a one-stop shopping experience. With thousands of products in hundreds of categories, buyers will find everything they need to stock their businesses and make their time at the show a success. Products at the Annual Halloween & Attractions Show include:

Props, Animatronics, Games and Crowd Pleasers, Concession Supplies, Tickets and Crowd Control, Masks and Costumes, Lighting and Special Effects, Make-Up and Prosthetics, Fabric Paint and Décor, Gift and Novelty items, Haunted House Design and Installation, Sound/Visual Electronics and Effects, Mobile Haunted Houses, Educational and Instructional Videos, Spooky Music and SFX, Wristbands, Visitor Automated Tracking Systems, Haunt-Oriented Graphic and Web Design, and much more!

Networking events, award ceremonies, local haunted house tours, industry relevant seminars and an expanded Dark Zone make this the best Halloween & Attractions Show yet!”

“Monsters Got Back” from Gore Galore

In getting ready for the upcoming Haunt Season and Conventions, Kevin Alvey or Gore Galore was our guest this week on Rotting Flesh Radio and discussed new products, vending at the Transworld Haunt Show and more.

We also discussed the infamous videos he has created for their monsters. And with that, the All-New MONSTERS GOT BACK has been released from the Mr. Gore himself. So enjoy.

And for more on Gore Galore and to save an Additional 10% for Rotting Flesh Radio Listeners, stop on by: www.Gore-Galore.com