05-10-2011
That's what I'm talkin about.
Recently I came up with a weird idea where every wall section is 8 foot by 8 foot and there are a lot more props, the hallways are then somewhere between 7 and 8 foot wide to allow passing by actors and patrons that go at different speeds. Allthough the walls are heavy the actual set up time would be half, the amount of hardware would be half the cost and even the amount of lumber required is slightly less. Perhaps triangular grid 2.0 ? More set dressing and design.
Just a note, there are straight passages in a triangular grid but if you segment the layout sideways into smaller modules it is not obvious to customers or even those helping set up or act what the pattern is. Most large lay outs assume the longest lines are the straight paths and the boo pack layout suggests that. Instead you make a bunch of smaller haunts in one 3,000 SF space and the straight lines go sideways.
The central corridor(s) also go sideways and you go from one end of the haunt to the other side and back into the wrong side of the next module of about 1,000 Sf per module. By screwing around with the pattern even people that have the thing right in front of them can not draw it or comprehend how it is laid out. So of course customers have no idea.
The bigger triangular grid layouts get to be a bit much to absorb and enjoy once they exceed about 3,000 SF. Even 3800 Sf patterns are a bit much. Just an observation from working on so many of them.
Screwing with the customers spacial security was a bonus after 20 minutes of twisting and turning then one side indoors was 80 feet long and of course this was the chainsaw run that at that point seemed like an insurmountable task with strobes things coming down out of the overhead and sometimes multiple chainsaws and the exit was also a turn, not seen as light at the end of the tunnel. Then outside it was a moment of relief then another outdoor run of chainsaws for another 80 feet.
A certain level of exersion has already been done by the customers and you can actually get more linear feet out of a triangular grid that is in a 3,000 SF space as would be in a 6,000 SF square design. The power of diagonals.
Boo Pack rules and then you cheat and lift and reverse things with tracing paper and even turn things sideways. Once you have an overall design you can flip it literally over end or from this side to that side of a transparency and get years of use from the designs.
This way you can focus more on what happens here, here and here in 100 different spots.
Another fabulous post from the U.S.Department of Wild Imaginings, now in spectaclar stereo, sponsored by the Adhesives and Sealants Council, suggesting ways to stick things together since the 1800s. Not fabulous in a gay way. Your results may vary. Illinois residents add 8% sales tax. These posts have been made by professional post makers, do not try this type of posting on your own without extensive training, lovely assistants and a trusty clown horn.
