Poo in Haunted Houses

[Darkangel]

I stand corrected then guys, thanks! I assumed otherwise...

BUT, it still does nothing to add respectability to our craft.... I guess we reap what we sew we earn every bit of the lack of respect we've obtained....

DA

[Allen H]

It takes all kinds Dark, there are as many styles of haunt as there are different types of customers.

[unihaunter]

look at the bright side

Look at all the media poo thats shoved down peoples throats maybe haunt poo is not so bad.

[Darkangel]

You make a good point Unihaunter.

DA

[Darkblood]

Hey everyone...don't forget:

Even Disney has an entire ride featuring Pooh!
Sorry I had to!

Kirk

[Cookie Crumbler]

This is an interesting topic because it’s, quite frankly, weird to talk about, yet so many haunts employ this it had to be brought up sooner or later.

I’m sorry to be the one that did hahaha.

So is poo a legitimate “tool” of the haunting trade as has been inferred by some here?

Or a low-brow, non-creative, cheap way to get reactions? There are certainly those who feel this way.

Well, I’ll say this: I’m quite shocked at how few anti-poo haunters have spoken up.

I want to get out of the way that I am 100% with Dark Angel and Allan Bennett. I’d never, ever utilize poop in a haunted house, and personally, in an ideal world, I’d prefer not to be professionally affiliated with any haunts that do.

But with that said I’m not here to criticize those that do… A good haunted house is supposed to be filled with artistic and creative expression, and techniques to make people feel fearful and in some cases uncomfortable. So who am I, as an advocate of using moderate (but certainly still gory) blood and dismembered latex body parts in a haunt, to say that using simulated poop is wrong?

Nor do I want to sound like a hypocrite when I say I believe Jim Warfield’s example is actually pretty funny. Because even though it’s still poo, it’s cat poo. And for some reason, that seems cuter and less offensive than normal poo. It seems just insane enough not to offend most people, but make them laugh which is the ultimate intent.

And my base argument on the artistic merits, or lack thereof, of “resorting” to poo only holds up so far, as explained in Allen H’s first post… He’s proven that the use of poo can in fact be artistic to convey a sense of integrity in storytelling. I can’t believe I just said that. But I’d also like to spotlight the fact that he ended his post by saying he hasn’t used poop since, and that he doesn’t like it or want to use it again either.

And as for John the Xtreme Creator… not much you can do about the introduction of poo to a haunt in that fashion! That is a weird, weird story John! hahah.

So after all of that, here’s where I finally start to make my point:

I personally believe that a very large segment of the population simply doesn’t want to see or focus on human poo.

I don’t know this for sure, but I know myself, and I know the people I know, and how they’ve responded to poo in haunted houses.

There are two kinds of revulsion, I believe:

-Laughing, “OMG”, “Grroosss!!!” revulsion. Like something sticky, or slimey, or a picture of a worm. These kinds of things I believe are not offensive to most people, they won’t alienate anyone in your audience. It will make them uncomfortable, but in a “fun” way.

And then:

-Angry, embarrassed, TRULY uncomfortable, or even legitimately sickened. This can be effective with some people, but can also have the opposite effect with many others. I believe if you take this too far, it will drive many potential repeat and potential future customers away.

There are lots of people out there who do not want a spotlight shined on the fact that they too are creatures that create poo. When many people are out on the town, they want to feel like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Not poo covered creatures. If I were at a haunt with a female I wanted to impress, I’d be ashamed I took her somewhere that they shoved shit in her face. That’s just me. But I’m speaking as a customer in this instance. Remember this isn’t just about us. It’s about our customers and what they want.

I visited a haunt with a friend last year that was actually one of the better haunts around. However, in one scene there was what appeared to be a busted pipe above a toilet, and flowing out of it was what I can only describe as an out-of-control geyser of what I hope was simulated diarrhea. It was composed in a way where you only had about 1-2 feet along the back wall to traverse- if you didn’t want to literally get sprayed by diarrhea water.

When my friend and I left, after 20+ minutes of haunt, the first thing he said was: “That was cool, but the toilet was ridiculous.” We agreed it was a fun show, worth the money, but ultimately not worth returning to. If I were to say the diarrhea wasn’t a factor in our decision not to return next year, I’d be lying.

Personally, I see poo in a haunt, and I say to myself: “Oh, these people must not be very creative, they had to resort to poo.” I’m fully admitting here that I’m not necessarily right about this, but it is how I feel.

Dark Angel made a point about not getting respect as an industry, and I think it bears repeating. We really don’t get enough respect, considering the talent level around here!

Jeez we’ve got people here who’ve worked in legit movies, television, theater… Making stuff cool enough for movies, television, theater…

I’ve never seen a mainstream movie, or any movie for that matter, where they showed me a piece of poo. Not even the king of low-brow torture-porn, Rob Zombie, has shown me a piece of poo. I’ve never had to smell poo in a theater, they don’t show me poo on television, and I’m pretty sure the folks paying to see Broadway shows and Operas aren’t being shown or forced to smell the performer’s poo. The internet and haunted houses are the only mainstream entertainment-based places to go if you want to see poo. And lets face it, the internet can be a pretty shady place.

Yes, occasional comedy movies will infer actual poo, but it is highly rare and even then almost never human poo. We must, at minimum, face this as an industry: They simply don’t shove human crap in your face anywhere… Except haunted houses!!!

The only mainsteam place I’ve seen poo was in an Adult oriented video game that I’m pretty sure was banned by a group of US Senators.

I would think that to evolve as an industry, we’d want to rise above, maybe match the standard set by R-Rated movies at least. I’m not saying I’m right, I’m just saying we should think before throwing crap out there. Ask ourselves: “Is this poo I’m holding really necessary to what we’re trying to accomplish?” “Does this poo artistically lift the overall presentation of our show?” “Am I doing the overall reputation of my industry any favors with this chunk of human poo?”

Not one of what I consider “the best” haunted houses I’ve personally seen use poo. Now granted my opinion and yours of which are the best haunts is likely totally different. So that only goes so far. But I have personally seen a good 8 of what have been widely considered universally as among the “industry elite.” And these haunts simply don’t have poo.

It seems to me that while there is no questioning the guaranteed visceral reaction of poo, I can’t help but think of what we are sacrificing as an industry for this, dare I say, “cheap pop” from the crowd. In my own personal experience, out of every ten normal people, maybe 2 will enjoy the poo, 5 will react but won’t be overly bothered by it, 2 will think it’s incredibly low-brow and stupid, and one will be incredibly offended and totally put off. These are not scientific numbers of course. This is my experience.

Soultrkr said something like “It depends on your audience.” He’s totally right… but anti-poo reactions can be strong enough to lose many repeat customers. Why bother REALLY putting customers off with poo if you don’t have to? Do you feel the poo really adds that much to the show?

If my numbers are even close to correct, and I’d seriously bet they are, then using poo is actually hurting how haunted houses are perceived by the general public. If my numbers are off… well then I’d bet even more people than we know are thinking using poo is low brow and stupid. I’d personally bet that out of every ten customers who get poo shoved in their faces, anywhere from 1-3 will be so put off, that they will forever think of haunted houses as trashy carny garbage.

Many of these people might not show they are outwardly pissed, or even be truly offended. But they’ll certainly think of haunts as a “low” form of entertainment.

I have SEEN THIS REPEATEDLY firsthand. And I’m not a snob. I’m an average, somewhat crazy, middle-class person with average middle class friends. And I don’t know of one person who enjoys being subjected to live poo.

Obviously some of you do and that’s cool! But you are ignoring the MANY people out there who clearly think it’s stupid, trashy, and pointless!

This is why I initially said “I don’t get it.” Because I don’t get how it’s worth the trade-off.

I have a VERY hard time seeing any arguments “for poo” as being half as good as the arguments against poo.

With all that said, if you know your customers and demographics well enough, and you believe they like this, then certainly disregard my opinions! I’m just thinking about your bottom line in the long run, and all of our standing, collectively as an industry, in the eyes of mainstream appeal!!!

I certainly applaud those who are not ashamed of their poo, and don’t mind using it in their acts. It is really something… to embrace yourself as a poo-creating creature. But not everyone wants to think about, laugh about, or embrace poo!!! Think about your customers too! All of them! In the end, that is the core of what I’m saying.

Could I be wrong? Absolutely. But I think I’ve made some pretty strong points! Also, Disney's Pooh is the greatest Pooh of all.

[MDKing]

Well said Cookie Crumbler.

And also, you and I agreeing with other on something? That's a shocker!

Allan

[Cookie Crumbler]

Well thanks, Mr. Bennett!!

Yeah... we agree again... shocking indeed!! hahaha.

And I have a feeling it probably won't be the last time!!!!

[lurker]

Holy scatology Batman! I have never seen such a long winded discourse based on shit that didn't come from Washington DC! And to see two outspoken people agree on shit is truly like watching C-span. Quick, someone alert the media, the haunted house industry has reached a bipartisan opinion on poo. Next week we are going to tackle the tough subjects of blood, spit, and toe nail clippings.

[Cookie Crumbler]

Really? I'd call my post a must-read. Seriously.

Believe it or not, want to accept it or not, this is a pretty serious issue for the industry, lurker guy.

I'd like to know if you can tell me how anything I've said here is anything but exactly what this industry needs to hear?

[Cookie Crumbler]

While I wait I'm looking at the Darkwood Manor Website!!

[lurker]

Maybe you are right. How about turn it into an article, and get it printed in HauntWorld magazine.
There are lots of perceived offensive stuff found in haunted houses. I really don't think poo or the lack of poo is going to change perceptions of haunting as a whole. Blood, for example is offensive to some. The implied violence that a lot of haunts use is offensive to many. Where do we stop? I don't think anyone wants to see 1000s of carbon copies of Disney's Haunted Mansion every October. But, I maybe wrong.
I look forward to your article, with illustrations of course, in HWM.

[MDKing]

Cookie Crumbler, forget what Louis said it is an important topic and the thread presented lots of opinions. This forum has been slow lately, so it at least sparked some debate which is needed to liven it up around here. Otherwise it's shameless promotions and nonsense.

Allan

[lurker]

I believe my site is poo free. However it is full of BO.

[Cookie Crumbler]

Hahaha, to be honest, I personally think it would be a very helpful article, because some folks don't know where or when to draw a line. I'm not saying I know where the line is, I'm just saying!

Personally, I'd prefer if we'd all draw the line on one thing...

If I had a vote, I'd say we take a hint from EVERY OTHER MAJOR FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT and draw the line at poo.

I hear you on the blood being offensive thing... but come on that is a silly argument. Movies show blood, video games show blood, TV shows blood, classic art shows blood... And none of them show poo!! Ever!!! That should tell us all something!!!

I don't want every haunt to be like Disney's haunted mansion. My Disney line was in reference to Darkblood's post. Do whatever you want in your haunts! I'm just questioning the use of one thing: Poo. You should too. We should all question those who use it, quite frankly.

I'm sorry, most people legitimately don't like having human poo in their faces!!! They don't think it's funny or scary, they think it's trashy. But somehow our industry doesn't collectively see this! I can't believe I have to verbalize these things. hahahaha.

As for Mr. Bennett agreeing with me, what can I say, he's a solid dude. If anything, he's proven he's less into poo than everyone here!!! If that's something to make fun of, well... that's a world I'm not sure I want to live in.

Haha.