An Unorthodox Halloween – Page 81

Music.

A while back, I posted some getting started tips.

I want to re-visit the importance of sound.

There is little that can drive more fear than the proper music and/or sounds in a haunt. Now, acquiring a suitable sound for your setting can be quite difficult. Anyone who has attempted to do a haunted house before, and has gone shopping for some music has probably seen the “scary” Cd’s (or tapes, back in the day) that promise some great atmosphere. Only to bring these home to find some music being totally ruined by really horrid cheesy sound effects.

Now, by far, the most common settings out there are nice and spooky, and if you haven’t yet, you really should be checking out Midnight Syndicate.

And, for those of you seeking more sound effect in nature, a couple of great options are found from the guys at Big Scream CD’s. From screams to chainsaws to creeking mansions.

And then, there is the more unique sound experience over at Zombietronix. A surround sound assault on the patrons. Very cool and creepy.

However, as you might have noticed, my stuff really doesn’t fit into the norm. We go much more tribal in nature, and have had to resort to creating my own sound track. This involves searching for music worldwide, and has come to include Native American drumming, Djembe drumming from Africa, Haitian drumming, and Japanese Taiko drumming.

I do want to note Portland Taiko, however. Their CD’s are masterfully recorded, capturing the rich sound of Taiko better than certain better known groups. Very nice. :b:

And yet, I’m never satisfied. I’ve been trying to find some chants to go into the drums as well, and have been searching Native American, African, and Haitian chanting this year for the right sound. So far, I have lots of chants that are fun to listen to, but none that fit the right “feel” for Halloween.

Or so I thought. I was listening to one of these CD’s when picking up my son from Soccer practice. His team mates looked around, and gave the car very strange looks, keeping their distance as the chants blasted out the window…

The power of music.

Preview, 2008.

Plans, and more plans.

Behold, the preliminary basic plan for the yard walkthrough ’08.

If you haven’t yet, watch last years video, here:2008, Folks will enter the front yard, which will house the field of skulls again.

However, it will be much more crowded, more skulls, more poles. A simple rope fence (as pictured in the 2006 photos) around the yard, forcing everyone through an entrance, walking by “The Bloodcloth”. (in progress)

There will be a clear path through the skulls this year (god have mercy on my poor lawn), and about midway to 2/3 down the path, depending on where it’s safe after blue stakes comes out, will be Fred.

Now, Fred is great and all by himself. But, Fred is also a nefarious little fiend. He stands there, sole purpose to soak up folks attention. For, off to the left, and now a little behind the folks coming through, as everyone stares at Fred, there will be my son. Hiding in his hut, dressed as a headhunter, and ready to jump out to scare and/or hand out glow bracelets. (hut in progress)

Then, as folks pass Fred and Kyle, they round the side of the house, and enter the gate there, walking under “Jack”, from 2006.

The scarecrows will line the side, like last year. However, instead of it ending there with me and the gazebo and candy, this time, they’ll have to turn left around the full back yard, and pass through the Totem entrance of ’07:

From there, they will cross the new ‘graveyard’.
(in progress)

Before getting to me, with a firebowl, surrrounded by crystal skulls, the gazebo, and the candy drop.

It hasn’t been determined whether I wear last year’s mask, or if I manage to get the new one painted and finished to my liking in time. (in progress) The delay here is mostly due to the ‘airbrush kit’ I got for my birthday didn’t exactly come as a complete kit. Rather, I must go find all the hoses and adapters I need now, as apparantly “complete kit” only includes the actual gun and paint cup.

Finally, we will have them exit out the OTHER side of the house, possibly past a comment/suggestion box if I have time/inclination to make one. Haven’t convinced myself people would actually take the time to use it yet.

So, there you have it, the yard plans for ’08 in their present state.

Odds and ends.

Catching up on some of the excitements that’s been going on here.

Couple new items I don’t fully know what I’m going to do with:

First, are the rose cages from my parents.

From Halloween buildup '08

I can see them eventually becoming stone pillars, totem poles, obelisks, ‘witches’, an arched entrance, a gate, and lord only knows what else I may come up with.

Second is this partition I found at the swap meet.

From Halloween buildup '08

Really have no idea on this one. It was just so pretty and exotic, I couldn’t just leave it there.

Next, some have wondered where I get all these bamboo poles.

Well, last year, I used some gift cards obtained from work to purchase them individually from Home Depot. And, yes, they were pricey, and wouldn’t have happened were it not for the gift cards.

HOWEVER. The Bamboo Fencer is the solution. Their fencing, individual poles, and all other Bamboo accessories prove to be cheaper than anywhere else I can find locally, or on the net. Even factoring in shipping. Where Home Depot had the poles for $1.20 ea, I’m spending less than $0.50 ea on the new ones from Bamboo Fencer.

Finally, I had to remove the Nightmare Before Christmas widget. I noticed this morning it had changed and was doing a strobe-like animation flipping between christmas and halloween decoration. Strobe effects are not used in my haunt, neither will they be on the site.

The Story of Fred.

Fred.

Fred was first brought into the house back in January. Now, back then, the plan was to not do a whole lot new this year, and instead focus on a few more dramatic things. Namely Fred, and the Hut.

But, at the time, the idea for Fred was much different. The ORIGINAL idea was, instead of purchasing the one, large skeleton to impale in the yard, purchase SEVERAL child sized skeletons. So, as you look on Fred, imagine a smaller Fred, and a bunch of em. Corpsified like Fred here, but with tattered bits of costume melded in with the flesh as well.

A little spider man over here, a little power ranger over there, a disney princess yonder, etc. …maybe one or two still holding the pumpking T.O.T. bucket…

I still LOVE the idea. However, several minds more sane than mine talked me into believing such a sight to be all together too much for wee ones to be dealing with. Thus, we started with Fred. Bigger, bolder, yet not QUITE so personally identifiable.

Why “Fred”?

I suck at naming things. Period. So,…”I didn’t know what his name was, so we just called him Fred.”

(Warning, there is some mildly suggestive material in the video, so don’t play if you’re sensitive to that)

Rodney Carrington – Fred via Noolmusic.com

Now, last time we saw fred, he was still hanging up on my little frame. That has changed.

From Halloween buildup ’08

Fred currently towers over the yard. Jen wanted him out FRONT for everyone to see. And, he certainly gets a reaction. Some slow down and look, some smile and laugh as they walk by, some even come up to comment. Others actually AVOID looking at him as they drive by, or make little snide comments they think I can’t hear as they walk by. (though why anyone is surprised to see this “already” in my yard is beyond me) Both kinds of reactions just cheer me up anyway.

From Halloween buildup ’08

And, I’ve had half the neighborhood’s kids rush over to tell me what they’re being for Halloween now, as well.

They’re probably going to be disappointed when it’s all torn down on Teusday.

From Halloween buildup ’08

But, the purpose of all this testing was to get a look at Fred in his “natural” setting. And see what lights to use.

Green Fred.

From Halloween buildup ’08

Red Fred.

From Halloween buildup ’08

Torchlight Fred.

From Halloween buildup ’08

Sunset Fred…

From Halloween buildup ’08

Safety First

We have a lot of fun here. And, if you’ve noticed, I like to test things out ALL THE TIME prior to the times I need them.

Most the time, that’s just me playing around with stuff for fun. But, there is always a practical reason to testing things out in a more controlled environment than when you have several hundred people requiring your attention.

We bought some new Tiki Torches this year. A Wal-Mart “Mainstays Garden” Brand name torch:

From Halloween buildup '08

And, while I was INTENDING to come here this evening and share all the fun we had testing out Fred, THAT will have to wait till tomorrow night. Tonight, we’re going to talk about the Mainstays torch.

See…It’s not so much a torch as it is kindling…

From Halloween buildup '08

I had Fred all set up, a few torches lit, including 2 of the Mainstays versions, and a make-shift spotlight (still waiting for the real spotlight to come in) to see how Fred is going to look. Testing Fred, but at the same time, testing these torches, that looked a little different than my normal ones.

I had it all set up, came in to grab Jen and the kids to come take a look before shutting it all down, and got to see on the way back out, one of the Mainstays torches go into it’s death throws.

The “flame guard” um…caught flame.

This, in turn, caught the bamboo on fire. This melted the plastic fuel canister, which spilt oil, and then we were cooking.

Meanwhile, I was trying to wrest the hose out from under the tire of my car.

The flame guard, and what remains of the fuel canister:

From Halloween buildup '08

The remains of the pole, and a nice burn in my lawn:

From Halloween buildup '08

Yes. Most of the time, testing is for fun. But then, there are these times. Right now, it’s an annoyance. It would have been disastrous with a bunch of trick or treaters around.

So, if you bought some of these…be very wary. I’ll be returning mine. And, come back tomorrow night for nice pictures of Fred.