FRIDAY SEMINARS

SATURDAY SEMINARS

SUNDAY SEMINARS

• Beginners Guide to Foam Prosthetic Application: Cuts, Scabs and Wounds

  Speaker: Taelor Cansler

  Saturday 8:30am - 9:30am

  Room 12

  FREE Early Bird seminar This one-hour seminar will teach you the steps on how to apply a foam prosthetic gash, wound or cut from start to Taelor will only be providing the wound, zombie skin and a sample of haunt blood for a take home kit. You are more than welcome to bring your makeup kit in if you want to do it live with Taelor.

• Designing Sets for Maximum Fear on a Budget!

  Speakers: Bryce Alexander and Alexx Argen, Overlook Creative

  Saturday 9:45am - 10:45am

  Room 12

  $30/attendee (pre-registration) $40/attendee (on-site registration)

  This seminar focused on creating spaces for actors to work and for guests to flow through. Bryce will show three different room layouts and three ways to use each space. Additionally, he will review which one to use depending on the needs of the haunted attraction.

  C.H.A.O.S. (this seminar goes towards your C.H.A.O.S. Safety Certification)

• Undressing Distressing: Learning How to Create Creepy and Aged Costumes

  Speaker: Katie Lane

  Saturday 11:00am - 12:00pm

  Room 12

  $30/attendee (pre-registration) $40/attendee (on-site registration)

  Learn simple and inexpensive tricks for aging costuming, how to alter existing clothing items into period pieces, and easy embellishments to add detail to your wardrobe options. Katie will also review the basics of a costuming wardrobe, how to create one-of-a-kind pieces, and how to find the perfect staples!

  C.H.A.O.S. (this seminar goes towards your C.H.A.O.S. Safety Certification)

• Scary Spaces: Different Approaches to Haunt Design: What Works Best For You?

  Speaker: Allen Hopps, Stiltbeast Studios

  Saturday 1:00pm - 2:00pm

  Room 12

  $30/attendee (pre-registration) $40/attendee (on-site registration)

  Are you about to do a show or want to redo your event? This seminar will explore different approaches to haunt design and how to determine what will work best for your attraction. We will run through a few haunted attraction setups and styles and look at the advantages and disadvantages of each. We will cover in depth: playground method, island approach, zone/continent layout, daisy, linked daisy and concentric daisy layouts.

  C.H.A.O.S. (this seminar goes towards your C.H.A.O.S. Safety Certification)

• YouTube for Haunters

  Speakers: Allen Hopps, Stiltbeast Studios / Eduardo Talbert, Monster Tutorials

  Saturday 2:15pm - 3:15pm

  Room 12

  $30/attendee (pre-registration) $40/attendee (on-site registration)

  These guys know YouTube -- they have 2 of the most popular haunt themed YouTube channels and will be talking about: The algorithm, growing an audience and income expectations. Pull back the YouTube curtain and use it for your own channel or show.

• This is What Great Line Acting Looks Like

  Presenters: Allen Hopps (Stiltbeast Studios) Japes Palles (Midnight Terror / Lost Souls Chicago) Katie Lane Scott "Tater" Lynd Andrew Martingello (Midnight Terror) Jeff Walker (HellsGate) Rachel Johnson (Basement of the Dead / Disturbia) Teddy Summers (Sindicate Haunted House Group) Tim Stedman (Evil Intentions)

  Saturday 3:30pm - 4:30pm

  Room 12

  $30/attendee (pre-registration) $40/attendee (on-site registration)

  You’ve attended seminars hosted by some of the best queue line actors our industry has to offer. They have shared incredible advice and strategies. But, this time, we’re bringing the line to you. In this seminar, we will take you beyond theory and show you what exceptional line acting looks like in practice. Join some of the best queue actors in the Midwest as YOU BECOME THE AUDIENCE. Participants will be lined up in a queue line while our battle tested experts demonstrate the tricks and strategies they use to get responses that keep audiences coming back year after year. We will pause the action to highlight the tricks we use and explain how they work and how you can use the same strategies with your own twist. This will be the most authentic experience you ever have in a classroom.

• Psycho Social: Crazy Social Media Ideas That Work!

  Speaker: Laura Kilpatrick, FearWorm

  Sunday 8:30am - 9:30am

  Room 12

  FREE Early Bird seminar In this class, join Laura, Tyler, Tashona, and Ernest from Team FearWorm for an inspiring social media workshop covering the big three: Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok! FearWorm manages Social Media for many of the country’s TOP haunted attractions, (Fear Factory, Dark Hour, Midnight Terror and more!) In this class, Team FearWorm offers you a peek behind the professional social media marketing curtain! You’ll discover expert content planning processes and learn several of FearWorm’s favorite high-performing social strategies. If you’re looking to propel your social channels to new heights in 2022, you won’t want to miss this class! Each attendee will receive a set of planning documents that can be used to make your social INSANELY awesome! Warning: Come to this class prepared to dive-in to your social media planning! During this class, Team FearWorm will depend on audience participation for invaluable 1:1 social media consultation that happens LIVE!

• Character Creation Power Hour #1: Broadview Approach for Directors, Designers and World Builders!

  Speaker: Allen Hopps, Stiltbeast Studios

  Sunday 9:45am - 10:45am

  Room 12

  $30/attendee (pre-registration) $40/attendee (on-site registration)

  The lofty goal of this class is to show haunted attraction designers the tools and tricks of creating characters to fill the worlds they create. These can be used to create just one character for you or to design the 25+ characters you need to fill your attraction.

• Character Creation Power Hour #2: Focused Approach for Actors Creating Characters!

  Speaker: Jonathan Seth, Enigma Haunt

  Sunday 11:00am - 12:00pm

  Room 12

  $30/attendee (pre-registration) $40/attendee (on-site registration)

  (Please note you do not need to take part #1 to take this class) The purpose of this Seminar is to introduce a process for scare actors and actor trainers to create, and perform as, effective characters that bring to life the worlds created by the designers, with the tips and techniques for unique interactions. Creating and performing as characters that are effective in a haunt setting is not always intuitive, and whether as a scareactor or an actor trainer, having a process with specific techniques to connect with the character, the world, and the guests, is essential to raising your game.

• Tricks and Tips to Help Your Haunted House THRIVE!

  Speaker: Ben Armstrong, Netherworld Haunted House

  Sunday 12:15pm - 1:15pm

  Room 12

  $30/attendee (pre-registration) $40/attendee (on-site registration)

  Join Ben Armstrong of NETHERWORLD Haunted House on a wide range of topics featuring critical knowledge and interesting insights into many areas of haunting including getting started in the business, fire safety, the guest experience, haunt design ideas, actor training, marketing with photo ops and crazy scares. This monstrous mix of divergent information should feature something for everyone including insight into some of the concepts that have shaped the last 25 years of NETHERWORLD Haunted House!

  C.H.A.O.S. (this seminar goes towards your C.H.A.O.S. Safety Certification)

• Creating a Foam Stunt Prop Workshop

  Speaker: Michael Burnett, Fightnight Studio

  Sunday 1:30pm - 2:30pm

  Room 12

  $70/attendee (pre-registration) $80/attendee (on-site registration)

  Every horror film icon has his or her weapon of choice, but how do the filmmakers create these scary scenes AND keep all the actors safe? Rubber stunt weapons of course! In this demonstration workshop, Special Makeup Effects artist Michael Burnett (FrightNight Studios, Universal Halloween Horror Nights, Evil Dead 2) will show you through demonstration how to mold, cast, seam, assemble and finish your very own realistic film quality urethane foam stunt hatchet! This is a great adult as well as a parent/child activity! You will learn: Silicone mold making basics Techniques for casting urethane foam in a silicone mold Assembling your stunt prop Painting and weathering techniques You will receive a kit of materials to take home with you so that you can use what you learned in the class to create your own stunt prop! The kit will include all the materials needed to seam, assemble and finish your very own realistic film quality urethane foam stunt hatchet that you can use for Halloween or when you shoot the next great slasher film! You will also receive an illustrated, step-by-step guide to follow as well as a special link to a video guide you can watch on your smartphone or computer.

• Motors & Motion: Get Your Home Haunt Moving with Fright Props!

  Speaker: Scott Bibus, Fright Props

  Saturday 9:45am - 10:45am

  Room 11

  $30/attendee (pre-registration) $40/attendee (on-site registration)

  When should I use a motor over a pneumatic cylinder? What is a linear actuator? What controller should I use to control my props? What are pneumatics and how do they work? If you've ever wondered about these questions and more, then this is the seminar for you! Join Scott as he discusses the latest in prop building techniques and technologies. This seminar will feature product demonstrations and plenty of opportunities for questions and answers, so come curious and ready to learn!

• Bringing Your Home to Life: Introduction to Pneumatics for the Home Haunter

  Speaker: Jim Slanker, Chicago Haunt Builders

  Saturday 11:00am - 12:00pm

  Room 11

  $30/attendee (pre-registration) $40/attendee (on-site registration)

  Looking to make your home haunt or display go Bump in the Night using compressed air and pneumatics? Join the Haunt Master from award-winning Home Haunt, Canyon Trail Cemetery, to learn the basics of bringing your haunt to life with pneumatics. He will go through the components needed, what to use, and what not to use when creating props animated with pneumatics.

• CORPSIFICATION: How to Create a Cool Skeletal Corpse on a Budget

  Speaker: Michael Burnett, Frightnight Studios

  Saturday 1:00pm - 2:00pm

  Room 11

  $30/attendee (pre-registration) $40/attendee (on-site registration)

  Creating a creepy custom skeletal corpse can be easily accomplished with common materials and tools by using the techniques demonstrated in this demonstration workshop by special makeup effects artist Michael Burnett (FrightNight Studios, Universal Halloween Horror Nights, Evil Dead 2). Michael will take you step by step through the materials and techniques needed to turn an ordinary plastic skeleton into a realistic and super creepy corpse prop. This seminar will give attendees a basic understanding of the various materials, tools, fabricating, & finish techniques that can be used. Attendees will go home with an informative handout covering everything discussed during the workshop, including supply sources. With the information from this seminar, you will be able to create a great scary addition to your escape room, large haunt, or scary yard.

• How to Build Your Home Haunt to Last! Critical Construction Techniques to Save You Time & Protect Your Investment

  Speakers: Keith Newsome, OHA/ Ultimatum Masks Ryan Gregor, OHA/ Black Cat Cemetery

  Saturday 2:15pm - 3:15pm

  Room 11

  $30/attendee (pre-registration) $40/attendee (on-site registration)

  This class will be two-fold. First, we will teach you how to create a home haunt that is structurally sound, safe, lit, and staffed all while on a budget. Then in the 2nd half, we will show you tips and tricks on what to use, tools to use, products you would need, and a list of where to get them. This will include demonstrations on techniques and various tricks you can use. Finally, we will review how to store your investment to use for years to come.

• Home Haunt Actor Training: How to Train and Retain Like The Pro Haunters!

  Speaker: Michael Peters, Chicago Haunt Builders

  Saturday 3:30pm - 4:30pm

  Room 11

  $30/attendee (pre-registration) $40/attendee (on-site registration)

  When it comes to home haunting, having actors is usually an afterthought or added last minute on select nights only. Home Haunts should treat having actors just like a professional haunt would with multiple training dates, team bonding events, dress rehearsals, and most importantly interactive constructive training with them. In this class we will discuss how to and the importance of training your team of actors through different techniques in the industry!

• Easy Realistic Human and Creature Eyes Demonstration

  Speaker: Eduardo Talbert, Monster Tutorials

  Sunday 9:45am - 10:45am

  Room 11

  $30/attendee (pre-registration) $40/attendee (on-site registration)

  In this demonstration, participants will learn the techniques, tips and tricks to easily make very realistic resin eyes. Eduardo will demonstrate how different types of eyes can be made without complicated tools or techniques. Beginner and expert prop makers alike will benefit from this spooky demo.

• Home Haunters Guide to Lighting Options that WOW Your Neighbors!

  Speaker: Matthew Kerr, Ned’s LED

  Sunday 11:00am - 12:00pm

  Room 11

  $30/attendee (pre-registration) $40/attendee (on-site registration)

  You have built it, now will they be able to see it in the lighting you dreamed of? YES! Get ready to go to the next level as Matthew teaches you how to graduate from modified work lights and expensive landscape lighting to LED pin spotlights and effective fixtures to fit your unique themes!

• PVC Pipe Mannequin for Dummies... Pun Intended!

  Speaker: Rudy Vanderbiest, Chicago Haunt Builders

  Sunday 12:15pm - 1:15pm

  Room 11

  $30/attendee (pre-registration) $40/attendee (on-site registration)

  Bring some life, or lives, to your home yard haunt this year with some simple and inexpensive methods of converting PVC pipe and connectors into a Mannequin-style body that you can decorate into your favorite Halloween creature. We will walk you through the tools and step-by-step processes that will be easily translatable, so that you can build your own at any time. We'll also show you some additional options you can use to upgrade your stick body now or in the future.

• Tombstone Edition: Creating Stones That Make Heads Turn!

  Speaker: Cheryl Callender, Chicago Haunt Builders

  Sunday 1:30pm - 2:30pm

  Room 11

  $30/attendee (pre-registration) $40/attendee (on-site registration)

  Does your graveyard need a little life? You will learn how to use simple and inexpensive props to create unique tombstones which will make your graveyard stand out among all the others. You will also learn the basic construction techniques needed to make your tombstones the talk of the cemetery!

WEEKEND PACKAGE