Volume 2, No. 4. February 22, 2002
Special Haunt Show Issue
Frightening prospects
It is a place where
people proudly proclaim themselves "evil," "crazy," "mad" and "bloody" as they
engage in business. The annual Transworld National Halloween Costume and Party
Show at the Rosemont Convention Center in suburban Chicago, Illinois, March
8-12 will once again play host to the haunt industry with seminars, exhibits
and macabre parties.
Activities for the International Association of Haunted Attractions begin on
March 6, two days before the trade show, with the Wednesday evening Crazy Bob's
Annual Talk Back Session and Social at the Chicago O'Hare Hyatt Regency. Robert
"Crazy Bob" Turner, owner of the Haunted Hydro Dark Attraction Park in Fremont,
Ohio, began hosting these free-wheeling, idea-sharing sessions in 1998, spending
$2,000 of his own money to rent a room and host 20 of his colleagues at the
first meeting. Now TransWorld foots the bill and last year 300 people attended.
For honest discussion on current issues and problems facing hauntrepreneurs,
this session is invaluable, and it serves as a great place for newcomers in
the industry to meet and mingle with this collegial group. The eating and drinking
begins at 7 p.m. (19,00) and is free for anybody who has signed up for Transworld's
Haunted Attractions Owner/Operator Seminars. All IAHA members not attending
the seminars will be admitted after 9 p.m. (21,00) in time to join Crazy Bob's
open forum.
The bulk of the seminars sponsored by the IAHA take place at the convention
center on Thursday, March 7. Topics cover most aspects of the haunt business,
including insurance, marketing, sponsorships, theming, throughput and working
with actors. With titles ranging from "Rigging and Flying" and "Junk Wars" to
"How To Make A Zombie" and "Guts and Gore: How to make those scenes real and
real gross," the presenters include make-up artists, illusionists and a stuntwoman,
as well as veterann haunt producers. The whole program costs $295. To register,
call 800-323-5462 or visit the web site, www.imevents.com/transworld.html.
IAHA uses Transworld to hold its Annual Membership Meeting and fund-raiser,
Saturday, March 9, 7 p.m. (19,00), at the convention center. In addition to
the election of board members and officers, the event will include the annual
"casket basket raffle" with baskets containing everything from gruesome props
to prize-winning wine donated by haunt attractions. The money raised finances
IAHA operations.
Part of those operations include two publications which will be available to
members this year: an update of the association's Safety Manual, and a new publication
called Haunter's Handbook, containing tips on prop building, make-up, managing
actors and staff, operations and marketing. "We're pretty excited about that
because it is a tangible deliverable for folks," said IAHA President D'Ann Dagen.
As the association gathers more material, individual topics will spin off into
their own manuals, she said. Another new IAHA initiative to be launched at Transworld
will be a legislative survey. "We want to find out the hot topics and goals
for our membership on a federal level and state-by-state," Dagen said. Already
pro-active in sharing safety and business tips, IAHA is seeking more ways to
make sure the only scary things haunters need to deal with are those they spring
on their customers.