WEEKEND SEMINARS

We will once again be offering our signature lineup of seminars from some of the top experts in the industry. Over 50 hours of classes in five tracks - Acting, Makeup, Props, Haunt Business, and Haunt Design! We will also have numerous Fanstasy classes in our Facepainting and Body Art Tracks. Classes run from 9-5 both days of the convention.

The Midwest Fanstasy Show and the Midwest Haunters Convention offers a combined registration. We will offer over 75 total hours of seminars from industry experts. Take as many classes as your schedule allows all for only $80 until June 1st ($89 afterwards and at the show). Seminar guests will also receive discounted admission to the Saturday Masquerade party.

2008 HauntBots Seminars

Makeup:

Introduction to " Cap Masks" - Scott Sliger
Creation,application, maintance and removal of bald caps
Cap Masks Part II - Scott Sliger
Combining a face piece with a baldcap, utilizing multiple pieces, and creating a finished piece / character within a limited budget
Two Part Silicone Applications - Rob Johnson
The Creation and Application of a 2 part SILICONE APPLIANCE as seen in Our new XTREME HAUNT FX instructional DVD.
Makeup 101 - Katie Johnston
Have you ever wondered "How do they do that?, What did they use? or how can I do that?"? Now's your chance to learn! I will walk you through the tools and tricks necessary for a beginner to get a running start into the world of Haunted house Make-Up. You'll learn what you can't live without in your make up kit, where you can get them and how to use them. I will demonstrate how to create with grease and liquid make up, latex and different types of blood.
Lifecasting Demo - Robert Beech
When an over the head mask or grease paint make-up is not enough, custom prosthetics are the way to go. Having a life mask made is the first step. Find out how to make one safely at this demonstration.
Watermelon Appliances - Michael Davy

Acting:

Acting For Females
This class is designed for the females of the haunt industry that want to take a leading role in the acting segments of the haunted houses. Want to learn how to be eerie, creepy, gorey, nasty, scary and downright disgusting? Then this is the class room for you. The class will cover costuming, acting, makeup, and character building. Taught by industry veterans Madison Poole (screamline Studios) and Veronica Jankiewicz (Terror on the Fox/Bad Boys Scenic Design) it is sure to be an interactive learning experience.
Improve Acting - Jonathan Frost
Of all the different facets of putting together a haunted attraction, actors have the greatest impact on your customers experience. No matter how much time and money you put into your set, costume, and lighting design, your actors still have the last word. Improvisation is the most important skill a Haunted Attraction actor can develop. Improvisation helps turn individual actors into an organized team that know exactly how to develop new characters and deliver a memorable show to your guests. This is a class for actors and management involved in organizing Haunted Attractions as well as other theatrical events.
Character Development - Melissa & Glen Gilmore, Beth Biasella, and Katie Lane
Queue Acting & Monsters In Motion - Melissa & Glen Gilmore, Beth Biasella, and Katie Lane
Acting Styles - Chuck Williams
Mr. Williams will teach you the hottest tricks in the Haunt Business on preparing for your monster role. From Ghouls to Vampires to Witches to Zombies, Mr. Williams will take you step by step through, and demonstrate, the ultimate scare.
If you are a beginner actor or a seasoned pro this witty, fast paced seminar is for you. Learn from the man that walked with the King in the cult movie hit "Bubba Ho-Tep".

Business:

Creating Radio Ads - Virgil Franklin & Dick Terhune
Marketing - Jonathan Johnson & Chad Savage
Legal Issues of the Undead - Shirley Cochran
Are you going to open your own haunt? Interested in what sort of business entity to use? Questions about employees versus volunteers? Come listen to Attorney Shirley Cochran discuss these and other topics in her presentation “Legal Issues of the Undead”. This presentation was well received in 2007 and is being repeated for those who did not have a chance to participate last year. Basic information will be provided but your questions are more interesting so make it to this interactive discussion of the legal ramifications of opening or operating a haunt.
Running a Haunted event as a fundraiser for a non-profit or charitable organization - Katie Hunt
Ghost Encounters is an annual fundraiser for Participation House Brantford. (PHB is a non profit organization serving physically challenged adults in our community) In 2007, we raised $36,000 in just four nights, with the help and support of almost 300 volunteers. This event is now in it's 17th year and has evolved over time. It now features a Haunted Hayride and Haunted Barn as well as many extras (food, Monster Makeovers, Coffin Photos, etc.) Learn how to: find a site to run your event; recruit groups, volunteers (we call them "Scare-pros") for your hayride and barn; get the necessary supplies for next to nothing; take care of your scare-pros; security; promoting the event
Understanding the business of Advertising - Timo Matero & Marc Obregon
Discover the secrets of planning and executing a successful advertising campaign from the experts at Accelerator Advertising, Inc. the Midwest's fastest-growing ad agency. Learn the basics of strategy, planning, and budgeting for your very own campaign that will garner professional results!
Topics include: Creating a plan; How much to budget; Where to advertise; Crafting a compelling message; Guerilla tactics; New medium advantages and more! Plus, time permitting- a free-form discussion where audience members will be able to seek advice and get solid answers from these two seasoned veterans of the marketing and advertising wars. If you own a haunt or manage a business; you should not miss this incredible presentation!
Engage your actors with Recognition: Walking the fine line of ego - Roger and Beth Miller
How to make a Monster - Ed Gannon
How to turn employees into valuable character actors! This class will cover everything from kids some hire as volunteers to solo acts, premier characters and line entertainers.
Successful Sponsorship Secrets Revealed - Mike “Tattoo” Krausert
Take the fear out of sponsorship writing and keep it in your Haunt where it should be! Mike “Tattoo” Krausert will unveil the mystery behind successful sponsorship writing with this comprehensive workshop covering product, machinery, food and cash sponsorships. Sponsorships are not one-size-fits-all in the world of haunted attractions and you will learn to recognize which sponsorships and partnerships are the best fit for your haunt. Mike has come a long way from his very first “sponsorship” of picking through piles of gummy, damaged soda cans to get free beverages for their cast and crew and he will help you avoid similar sticky situations. Learn proven tips and techniques on sponsorships writing and understand how to package your haunt to be attractive to potential sponsors. Mike will divulge the top five features Terror on the Fox’s main sponsor Oneida Casino lists as most important when they receive and consider sponsorship proposals.Discover better methods for letter writing, how to identify and package what your haunt can offer, research the best partnerships for your haunt, how to follow up, what to do when you get a yes, what to do when you get a no and more!

Haunt Design:

Styrofoam Masonry – Bad Boys Scenic Design
A hit with attendees, this informative How-To workshop gives Haunters at all levels, the techniques to turn an average Haunt in to a highly detailed Disney-level attraction. Join Mike "Tattoo" Krausert and Bert Zelten from Bad Boys Scenic Design in this informative, hands-on seminar. Basic Styrofoam techniques will be addressed as well as tips and tools of the trade. Mike and Bert will also demonstrate and discuss more advanced methods including deep sculpture, lettering, foam props and applications used on the interior and exterior of there Haunted Attraction, Terror on the Fox. This hour and a half long session will be packed so arrive early to get seats!
Haunt Audio 101 - Virgil Franklin
Haunt Lighting - Timothy Bates
Triangular Grid Theory - Leonard Pickel
Fire Codes and Safety - State of Ohio Fire Marshal's office
Top 13 Scares - John Denley
John will cover the top 13 scenes that will scare your patrons and not your budget.

Props:

Pneumatics 101 - Brian Warner
This class will be covering all the basics of pneumatics systems and how to apply them to haunted attractions. Brian will be covering everything from what fittings to use, types of cylinders and valves, and safety. If you are an absolute beginner, or just someone hoping to pick up a thing or two that has not been covered somewhere else, you'll like this seminar.
All About Servos - Efx-Tek
Audio Editing for Props - Efx-Tek
Learn how using a free program, Audacity, can allow you to simply, and effectively, add audio to your props
Corpse Head Building - Christian Hansen
Mold Making - Chris Moser, Smooth-On
Fun with Animations: Cliff Martin from Hacker House & Pete Rondeau from HauntBots.com
Building your own animations isn’t hard. All it takes is some time, patience, and a box of Band-Aids.
During this seminar, we will cover a process to develop, design, prototype, and build your own unique animations for your haunt. We will also discuss animation safety, controls, materials, and coverings. The seminar will conclude with a demonstration of how quickly the HauntBots Controller can bring your project to life.

Seminars By Time:

Saturday 9:30 – 11:00

Makeup 101 - Katie Johnston
Character Development - Melissa & Glen Gilmore, Beth Biasella, and Katie Lane
Creating Radio Ads - Virgil Franklin & Dick Terhune
Haunt Lighting - Timothy Bates
Fire Codes and Safety - State of Ohio Fire Marshal 's office

Saturday 1:00 – 2:30

Introduction to " Cap Masks" - Scott Sliger
Improve Acting - Jonathan Frost
Engage your actors with Recognition: Walking the fine line of ego - Roger and Beth Miller
Styrofoam Masonry – Bad Boys Scenic Design
Understanding the business of Advertising - Timo Matero & Marc Obregon
Pneumatics 101 - Brian Warner
Fun with Animations: Cliff Martin from Hacker House & Pete Rondeau from HauntBots.com

Saturday 2:45 – 4:15

Lifecasting Demo - Robert Beech
Queue Acting & Monsters In Motion - Melissa & Glen Gilmore, Beth Biasella, and Katie Lane
How to make a Monster - Ed Gannon
All About Servos - Efx-Tek
Marketing - Jonathan Johnson & Chad Savage
Top 13 Scares - John Denley

Sunday 12:30 - 1:45

Two Part Silicone Applications - Rob Johnson
Acting For Females - Madison Poole and Veronica Jankiewicz
Running a Haunted event as a fundraiser for a non-profit or charitable organization - Katie Hunt
Haunt Audio 101 - Virgil Franklin
Corpse Head Building - Christian Hansen
Legal Issues of the Undead - Shirley Cochran
Cap Masks Part II - Scott Sliger
Mold Making - Chris Moser, Smooth-On

Sunday 2:30 - 4:30

Watermelon Appliances - Michael Davy
Acting Styles - Chuck Williams
Successful Sponsorship Secrets Revealed - Mike “Tattoo” Krausert
Triangular Grid Theory - Leonard Pickel
Audio Editing for Props - Efx-Tek