National Haunters or Hauntcon Pt 1
With the feel good love fest that was Transworld in the books for this year…and with both Natl. Haunters and hauntcon just 3 weeks away it is decision time for many haunters out there.
Of course I have a vested interest in seeing Natl. Haunters succeed seeing as they have asked me to bring in a Medieval Weapons of War exhibit. It is really cool as between Weapons Mistress Cheryl and myself, we have a ton of great weaponry. She will hold it up for you to see, explain how it was used, and then actually pass it around for you to hold and feel for yourself. Sharp, dangerous pointed weapons…what could possibly go wrong? LOL
That said, I went to both sites to do a comparison of the two shows and it seems like Natl. Haunters will have a kick ass convention. Now I’m not saying that seeing the big attractions in Orlando isn’t cool but they will always be there. For sheer entertainment value, networking value, and educational value…Natl haunters walks away with the gold belt…by KNOCKOUT.
I will try to keep opinion out of it. I’ll just try to do a side by side comparison.
Damn…this is a lot of work
As of Wednesday April 07 at 11am
Natl. Haunters has over 100 Vendors on the show floor
Hauntcon has 31 as per their website.
Hauntcon is still trying to sign on vendors. I know this as I received an e-mail from them trying to sign my Haunted Productions Inc.
With 3 weeks to go Natl Haunters has 3x the vendors
Educational Seminars
Let’s begin where it counts…Safety. Natl Haunters is clearly leading the way by offering not just regular safety classes…but classes on codes, standards, life safety, fires, disasters…all given by the Office of the Pa Fire Marshal…AND THEY ARE ALL FREE.
That’s it…nothing else to say…pack your bags. See you at NHC. You can take all the make up, foam carving, scare seminars you want…the FREE Fire Marshal seminars are the ones that count. Agreed? In addition…there will be a seminar on MAKE-UP Safety…Toxic Makeup etc…THAT AGAIN IS FREE. Ahhhh…why are you still reading this? Why aren’t you buying your tickets?
Now for the other seminars
From Wood to Castle Rock…Natl Haunters Only. I’ll say it in just two words
Ricky Dick. Need I say more?
Scares without gore…Natl. Haunters Only.
Dark Arts Advertising w/ Dick Terhune…Both NHC & HC he is appearing at both!!!
Bloody & Gory Make Up…now that’s the ticket. Everyone loves BLOOD. Both NHC & HC are offering make up seminars featuring BLOOD…BUT…only NHC is featuring the Legendary Long Island NY make up Artist Steve the Bloody. Come on…with a name like that you gonna tell me you don’t want to see him? He was there last year and although he didn’t win the make up wars, he certainly got BLOOD EVERYWHERE…bring out the mops. The HC bloody seminar seems to be more geared towards movie make up. Steve the BLOODY has years of actual…practical…Haunted House experience. He rules…all others drool!!!
Fog Seminar…HC Only. Hint…press the “fog” button on the controller Next…
Detailing…Faux Finish etc. Both NHC and HC However…only NHC has detailing Gurus Mike “Tattoo” Krausert…Nick “Shady B” Wesseley…and to help talk about lighting your detailed creation is Bert Zelton of Mini Spotlight. You might have heard of Terror on the Fox…Bad Boys Scenic Design…Nightmare New England / Spookyworld. Well…these are the guys. These guys are Real Haunters and industry Icons not movie set guys. Add to that, the long time Creative Director of the New York Renaissance Faire talking about atmospheric design and sets and once again NHC wins out over HC. Read all about it…foam carving, detailing, distressing, different finishes and what to use to achieve virtually look you want. It’s all there.
Learning the “Thriller Dance” NHC only. Talk about a fun time. Now you can learn how to build tombstones, mausoleums, learn how to detail, finish, and distress them…and then use them in your “Thriller Graveyard” as your crew provides on line entertainment second to none.
Using 3-D Projection. Good for online entertainment for certain but can be used in the haunt as well. Saw it in the Darkness actually. HC only.
Airbrush…Both NHC and HC are offering airbrush seminars …with one big difference. The NHC seminar is airbrush makeup…the HC seminar is airbrush to detail inside your haunt. I know that when the heat is on and I have dozens of actors to get into costume, into make up, and into their scare spots that an airbrush artist that is good and fast is worth his/her weight in gold. This is what you will learn at the NHC seminar. The choice is yours but in my opinion it’s another round for NHC.
Real quick…NHC has Building an online presence…HC does not
NHC has X-Treme Marketing / Networking…HC does not
NHC has Tent Haunts…HC does not
NHC has mold making..HC does not
NHC has Guerilla Marketing…HC does not
NHC has bringing in customers…HC does not
NHC has Cheap Scares by Haunt Legend John “Prof. Nightmare” Denley
HC does not
NHC has LED Lighting…HC does not
HC has Stilt Walkers (just seen at Transworld)…NHC does not
HC has Haunts in the Woods…a good one…NHC does not
HC has using video…NHC does not
Both NHC and HC seem to have a good amount of actor training, retaining, character development etc. but only NHC deals with actor auditioning as well. Your choice
Both NHC and HC seem to have Pneumatics covered but NHC has Pneumatic Safety as well.
ONLY NHC HAS ME!!! Rich Hanf LOL I know…big surprise there Ha ha
That’s it for this comparison post. There will be many more to follow. I don’t care which convention you go to…as long as it is NHC…LOL Later H
With the feel good love fest that was Transworld in the books for this year…and with both Natl. Haunters and hauntcon just 3 weeks away it is decision time for many haunters out there.
Of course I have a vested interest in seeing Natl. Haunters succeed seeing as they have asked me to bring in a Medieval Weapons of War exhibit. It is really cool as between Weapons Mistress Cheryl and myself, we have a ton of great weaponry. She will hold it up for you to see, explain how it was used, and then actually pass it around for you to hold and feel for yourself. Sharp, dangerous pointed weapons…what could possibly go wrong? LOL
That said, I went to both sites to do a comparison of the two shows and it seems like Natl. Haunters will have a kick ass convention. Now I’m not saying that seeing the big attractions in Orlando isn’t cool but they will always be there. For sheer entertainment value, networking value, and educational value…Natl haunters walks away with the gold belt…by KNOCKOUT.
I will try to keep opinion out of it. I’ll just try to do a side by side comparison.
Damn…this is a lot of work
As of Wednesday April 07 at 11am
Natl. Haunters has over 100 Vendors on the show floor
Hauntcon has 31 as per their website.
Hauntcon is still trying to sign on vendors. I know this as I received an e-mail from them trying to sign my Haunted Productions Inc.
With 3 weeks to go Natl Haunters has 3x the vendors
Educational Seminars
Let’s begin where it counts…Safety. Natl Haunters is clearly leading the way by offering not just regular safety classes…but classes on codes, standards, life safety, fires, disasters…all given by the Office of the Pa Fire Marshal…AND THEY ARE ALL FREE.
That’s it…nothing else to say…pack your bags. See you at NHC. You can take all the make up, foam carving, scare seminars you want…the FREE Fire Marshal seminars are the ones that count. Agreed? In addition…there will be a seminar on MAKE-UP Safety…Toxic Makeup etc…THAT AGAIN IS FREE. Ahhhh…why are you still reading this? Why aren’t you buying your tickets?
Now for the other seminars
From Wood to Castle Rock…Natl Haunters Only. I’ll say it in just two words
Ricky Dick. Need I say more?
Scares without gore…Natl. Haunters Only.
Dark Arts Advertising w/ Dick Terhune…Both NHC & HC he is appearing at both!!!
Bloody & Gory Make Up…now that’s the ticket. Everyone loves BLOOD. Both NHC & HC are offering make up seminars featuring BLOOD…BUT…only NHC is featuring the Legendary Long Island NY make up Artist Steve the Bloody. Come on…with a name like that you gonna tell me you don’t want to see him? He was there last year and although he didn’t win the make up wars, he certainly got BLOOD EVERYWHERE…bring out the mops. The HC bloody seminar seems to be more geared towards movie make up. Steve the BLOODY has years of actual…practical…Haunted House experience. He rules…all others drool!!!
Fog Seminar…HC Only. Hint…press the “fog” button on the controller Next…
Detailing…Faux Finish etc. Both NHC and HC However…only NHC has detailing Gurus Mike “Tattoo” Krausert…Nick “Shady B” Wesseley…and to help talk about lighting your detailed creation is Bert Zelton of Mini Spotlight. You might have heard of Terror on the Fox…Bad Boys Scenic Design…Nightmare New England / Spookyworld. Well…these are the guys. These guys are Real Haunters and industry Icons not movie set guys. Add to that, the long time Creative Director of the New York Renaissance Faire talking about atmospheric design and sets and once again NHC wins out over HC. Read all about it…foam carving, detailing, distressing, different finishes and what to use to achieve virtually look you want. It’s all there.
Learning the “Thriller Dance” NHC only. Talk about a fun time. Now you can learn how to build tombstones, mausoleums, learn how to detail, finish, and distress them…and then use them in your “Thriller Graveyard” as your crew provides on line entertainment second to none.
Using 3-D Projection. Good for online entertainment for certain but can be used in the haunt as well. Saw it in the Darkness actually. HC only.
Airbrush…Both NHC and HC are offering airbrush seminars …with one big difference. The NHC seminar is airbrush makeup…the HC seminar is airbrush to detail inside your haunt. I know that when the heat is on and I have dozens of actors to get into costume, into make up, and into their scare spots that an airbrush artist that is good and fast is worth his/her weight in gold. This is what you will learn at the NHC seminar. The choice is yours but in my opinion it’s another round for NHC.
Real quick…NHC has Building an online presence…HC does not
NHC has X-Treme Marketing / Networking…HC does not
NHC has Tent Haunts…HC does not
NHC has mold making..HC does not
NHC has Guerilla Marketing…HC does not
NHC has bringing in customers…HC does not
NHC has Cheap Scares by Haunt Legend John “Prof. Nightmare” Denley
HC does not
NHC has LED Lighting…HC does not
HC has Stilt Walkers (just seen at Transworld)…NHC does not
HC has Haunts in the Woods…a good one…NHC does not
HC has using video…NHC does not
Both NHC and HC seem to have a good amount of actor training, retaining, character development etc. but only NHC deals with actor auditioning as well. Your choice
Both NHC and HC seem to have Pneumatics covered but NHC has Pneumatic Safety as well.
ONLY NHC HAS ME!!! Rich Hanf LOL I know…big surprise there Ha ha
That’s it for this comparison post. There will be many more to follow. I don’t care which convention you go to…as long as it is NHC…LOL Later H
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