Creative Moods

Creativity has different ways it affects people. Some become great artists, sculptors, carpenters, computer wizards, etc. It is difficult for one person to become proficient in all of the areas necessary to produce today's competitive haunt. Enter the haunt supplier. He creates that which you cannot and he charges you dearly for the privilege of doing business.

I have seen many of these marvels of construction in haunts all over the DFW area. They have one thing in common, over priced. Now it is true, charge what the market will pay. But, lets be serious, how many repeat customers are you going to have? Some of these suppliers are flakier than Quaker Oats, and others claim superior product as they deliver junk, if they deliver at all.

What to do? I get creative block. That is, I run head long into a brick wall and flop around trying to get past it. When I write, writers block; paint, painters block; er you get the idea. Most haunters have limited skills and/or specialize in one area. They have to rely on others (that they must pay) to fill in the gaps. Why?

Why indeed. What is happening is simple or maybe complex. When I became a haunter I relied on myself for everything. That has not changed for me. But, the average haunter sees what else is out there and he/she wants this and that oooh and one of those, too. This is not bad, but it becomes an obsession and the haunter loses sight of the goal. What goal? The one where I get to scare the bee gees out of folks. Two things happen when the haunter takes the path. One he begins to look like everyone else and two he must make more money to cover the investment in manufactured props.

Creative Moods are those that creative people get when they become creative. How can you expand your creative mood, extend your talents and create new haunt items to amaze your guests? Simple, do it yourself. You do not need to purchase fancy animations, wham bam super sonic lighting gizmos or custom music. You do need to expose yourself to opportunity.

Opportunity for creative moods and original ideas are all around us. But where around us? Everywhere! Places to look for creative inspiration are: Home Depot (lumber yard), Salvation Army (props and clothes), salvage yard (large weird looking items), Exhibit builders (set pieces and lumber), Performing stages, (theatrical productions save very few sets) and the trash can (there are more, but this will get you moving). I travel the alleys several times a year and pull treasure from the jaws of ferocious machines that would squish and mangle my find.

These trips provide my mind with roads to travel. I may start down one and end up somewhere else completely. So, who cares? An idea is an idea. It makes no difference what inspired you to create, it does matter that you create. You will discover that the money spent on one animation will buy more in your imagination than the animation will ever deliver for your customers. Skills limited? Unless you plan on standing in front of your haunt explaining to your customers how limited your skills are, no one will ever know. The customer only knows what you tell him or show him.

What skills are needed to become a good haunter? Passion is the main skill, a passion for the business. Because financial rewards (if any) will be fleeting. A true haunter is an artist that enjoys his craft. Carpentry skills are helpful and very basic. You are not building furniture. I have kids that can slap two sheets of OSB onto 2x4s and screw them together. Basic painting skills, like covering the panels with black paint. Want more detail? Purchase an opaque projector. Find something you like, project it onto a board and paint. Next level up is an overhead projector with transparencies made from your photo copier (my favorite). I am not an artist with paints. I need some guidance with lines, then its paint by the numbers. My creations are combinations of several photos. Once completed the finished product is my creation that does not resemble any of the originals. Basic knowledge and respect for electricity. Do not use damaged wires and keep all wiring off the floor. Other skills may be added, but with the basic ones you can do a bang up job of scaring folks. The key is to find ways to extend/expand your natural talents.

Failure is what all-creative people fear. This is what keeps us from trying to accomplish something new and propels us in search of that something special from the haunt supplier that will make our haunt the best. Once we have the item we proudly point it out as if to point away from all that is ours/us. I have purchased items. I do not point them out, I do not say look at this, I do not count on them to save my haunt and I certainly do not have more pride for the purchased item than I have for my own creations. It is not wrong to purchase items. It is wrong to do so at the expense of your own creativity.

There is no shame in asking for help. Many haunters are willing to share ideas and answer questions. I purchase skeleton kits. It would be insane for me to sit down and sculpt the human skeleton, then create all the molds and cast each part. It is easier to purchase a raw unfinished skeleton. To this I add my imagination. Once complete it is my creation. It is those that feel they must purchase a skeleton that has been painted, clothed and artistically completed, that need to realize that they are placing unfair limits on themselves.

JB Corn

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