|
In order to have a truly haunting haunt, you might want to consider having a main theme for the haunt, such as a "gore" haunt, a werewolf theme, a monster movie theme, or just create your own story line! Some components of one haunt might not fit in as well as for other ideas. For instance, you might not want a vampire in a werewolf haunt. So the first thing to decide, before you even begin to build your haunt, is whether or not to have any kind of a theme.
Next, you will need to find a place to hold your haunt. Some people build haunts in their own homes, while others hold one in their yard. You might even consider using a school gymnasium, a community center, or especially an old, run-down house. The first factor in any of these must be the safety of everyone involved, both actors and visitors. After that, just choose a place where you feel most comfortable.
Once you have decided on a place and possibly a theme, then you must go about the important stage of planning, building and supplying your new haunt. You need to give careful thought on where your "scares" will be placed. If you need more "walls" to house more "scares," you can use garbage bags and/or black plastic, and hang them from the ceiling. If your haunt is outdoors, or in a huge room with high ceilings, you may need to build a framework of rooms in which to place your haunting scares.
Try to make little "coves" and blindspots for your "scares," whether you use costumed actors, props, or both. This brings us to another factor in a haunt - supplying the haunt. You must find a way of scaring your guests. Some haunters use props, some live actors, and some use both. You could try getting friends to be the live actors, and you could buy or create your own props. Making props is not too hard, if you know what you are doing; and buying props is even easier.
Once you have carefully planned out your entire haunt, you must get everything set up, placing your props and/or actors into position. If you do use actors, make sure that they get breaks and plenty of water. You might even want to use back-up people, so you can allow breaks without having to shut down your entire haunt. And if you have mechanical parts, check on them often! Remember that mechanical parts can cause heat, and heat means a possible fire hazard, so check them often.
For the most part, you are almost finished, but there is more! You must now decide whether or not to charge an admission fee for entry to your haunt. However, this one is entirely up to you, depending on your goal for the haunt and any expenses you've incurred.
When you have a good part of the planning and building taken care of, decide if you want to only invite a few people of your own choosing, or if you would rather have your haunt open to the public. Either way, you will have some advance work to be done. If you have a group of friends in mind, you will need to write up some type of invitation and mail them out. If your haunt is open to the public, then make up flyers announcing your spectacular haunt, and post them all over town! Rest assured, there are lots of folks out there, just "dying" to get into your haunt.
For the haunt, itself, make sure you have a method for orderly entrances, movement through the haunt, and a suitable place for visitors to make a hasty exit! If possible, have the exit close to the entrance. Nothing excites the next group of visitors like the sights and sounds of running, screaming people fleeing your haunt!
After the haunt, take a much-deserved rest, and enjoy your handiwork. Then, pack up the pieces and you're ready to start making plans for next year's haunt.
|
| |
