This sounds like an easy question (and is it the correct question?), but it is not. A haunt with a theme is similar to military intelligence (can you say oxymoron). A theme locks (?) you into doing things a certain way. Example: A haunt based on Horror Movies (original idea). Each scene presented represents a scene from a notable movie. Ahh here/there is the rub. If the scene is not presented in the fashion of the movie from which, er, it was borrowed, then you are not true to your theme (which was notable horror movies). An example of what you could not do would be to give Freddy a chain saw! Is a theme a millstone about our neck? And unless were going swimming does it make any difference?
Enough of the preamble. A theme has advantages. Your potential customers have an idea of what to expect, the venue from which it is presented and will develop anticipation. A theme greater than the sum of its parts may lend itself to operational hours beyond October. "Haunted House" is programming customers for October. "Castle of Terror" could be extended beyond October. What are your goals? Because that is what it comes down to, are you seasonal or do you want the potential to do more with your haunt? When I first came up with the name "Castle Dragon" (complete name is "Castle of the White Dragon", but that's another story) for my haunt, I was under no illusion that I was anything more than an October event… but I had hopes. From day one I was looking for an alliance/permanent location type arrangement. Now in a fixed location and up year round I can plan other events. Some include: paint ball, Live Action Role Play, Murder Mystery, Renaissance Faire and parties. Castle Dragon opens in August as part of Hawkwood Renaissance Faire and operates through October. My theme has given me additional sources of revenue. I do not make big bucks during Hawkwood, but I do pay for all additions/improvements. Look out! A theme can become a crutch. We creative types can lose sight of distant goals, because something easy is within reach. A theme can limit your growth. Do the gains out weigh the losses? For me the answer is Yes, I have gained more than I have lost, because I create outside of Castle Dragon. Build goodies for others and create events that challenge my talents. The castle theme has been good to me, even though I stray a bit. I have this great prop, it's a dentist chair and equipment tower, true it has nothing to do with castles, but it was free and looks so good. I toss it in with no explanation. The main advantage to a theme is that it is easier to advertise/promote. It gives potential customers a point of reference to compare you to other haunts via the media. A theme makes it easier orientating your actors to their parts and place with in the haunt. It gives them a point of reference from which to spring in character creation. A third advantage to a theme (for those of us that are poor) is financial sponsorship. Talking with a potential investor or sponsor is easier when you say "… Like the movie Alien…" instead of, "… here's a sketch of my idea…" A haunt with a theme is the way to go for beginners. It would have made my beginnings in the haunt biz easier. The theme becomes your foundation. This foundation brings with it, confidence. Creative types need all the confidence that we can get. Now the question changes from "Theme or not to Theme" to "Theme October or Theme Year Around?" Is the haunt biz a hobby destined to become a career? Or is the haunt biz a hobby destined to fade away as you grow up? Two very important questions. I have been trying to answer one or the other since 1964, when the haunt bug bit me.Mad Hatter
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