Zombie Paintball?

[NightmareAftershockLLC]

Again, you're taking this the wrong way. Sorry that you're so sensitive to me being a realist and looking for the pros and cons.


If I said ONE time that your product is trash feel free to quote it. I'll give you 100 dollars for every time I said that your trailers are junk, your service is crappy, and your products aren't quality. Hell I'll give you an additional 100 for every time I said that your haunted house sucked too.

Try again. I'm wanting real numbers, facts, and statistics Greg. That isn't too much to ask.

However, you summed it up just right. As I said 12 posts ago, if we don't have the budget for advertising, we certainly should not be spending the money on a quality system like yours.

Again, idk why people get so defensive when I was nothing but respectful, inquisitive, and honest.

Thanks for the insight, sorry your feelings got hurt.

Feelings aside, if/when funding is readily available, I will be giving you a call to setup delivery.

[NightmareAftershockLLC]

Austin well said. This post is being followed by the owners, and I want them to see that without a great skeleton we can't branch out into uncharted territory. I really do appreciate everyone's input. I'm sorry if feelings are getting hurt, I simply want the facts, information, and statistics to back up any claim.

Just as I don't buy a washing machine until I know everything about it, any aspect of an investment into a haunted attraction is in the same boat.

Thanks again everyone!

[N2SPOOKINU]

My feelings are not hurt. I take this business VERY seriously and have offered to put you in contact with the owners of this product. Instead you chat away with ONE of my clients instead of getting a broad view of the experiences of the other owners.
I have attractions closer to the numbers you are reffering to.
Its not my feeling that are hurt. Several times I have asked you to call me so I can give you the information you requested from the horses mouth so to speak.
I appreciate your comments about my haunts and thank you for your kind words. I just dont understand all the questions when all the answers are just a phone call away. Again, 573-881-7061 lol

Greg

[NightmareAftershockLLC]

Because its 1140, and my family is in bed. I'm just browsing the Internet.

Additionally, I prefer written posts because I then have a visual reference down the road, and then it isn't "he said she said" and such Greg.

Surely you can appreciate that.

Additionally, for your feelings not being hurt, a few posts ago you claimed that I was trashing your products?

-Keegan

[N2SPOOKINU]

Well, I guess thats it then. many of my customers dont use this forum so without a phone call you wont get the info your requesting. I only know 2 clients that use these forums and you already talked to one of them. lol
Night Sir I'm off to bed.
Greg

[austind]

Keegan you will find true numbers are hard to come by on a public forum in our industry. If you want information like that you need to start a private dialog via the phone. The guys that do big numbers tend to under state how many customers they have and the guys doing lower inflat thier numbers. That may have something to do with this being largely a cash business. I know I have been looking into buying trailers and I looked up people that owned them on the Internet and called them. All of them were happy with the response they got from thier customers. Then I talked to Greg and he gave me a few more, but I never called them. I figure my way was at least a blind test and not some one close to Greg. All I can say is I have done some business with Greg and will say that a hand shake is good enough for me when dealing with him. He has alway done what he has said and I have only heard good things from other people who have delt with him. So my best advice is in a few weeks when you have time pick up the phone and talk to him on what he thinks you need to be ready for his product. He won't sell you something that won't fit your need. Good luck and stay the course.

[drfrightner]

I have to agree with Gregg and simply in general ... this should be an up charged attraction. Its very unique as I stated that 3D haunts are unique I think one of the problems is simply that if you do a 3D and its just a 3D its not very good. I think with the zombie hayride if you just rest on that its like ahhh been there done that. I think like I said we've proven without any shadow of a doubt that a 3D haunted house can be awesome year and year out...

You guys come through our haunt and everyone says the same thing every year that they loved the 3D haunted house... why? We keep investing and we keep trying to reinvent... and I think 3D haunts are novelty attractions and should never be a solo haunt. However I think if you put the same amount of time and care into them they can be more than just a man Mr. Wayne ... LOL

I think our 3D haunted house has created an identity for itself and never once in 5 years have I ever considered taking it out for something else, while I see haunt after haunt take out their 3D or change the theme. I think I've proven that its better to invest, reinvent, and improve! Are you tired of our 3D haunt or do haunt owners look forward to seeing it?

I think with a paintball hayride we have the same issue ... its a novelty attraction. Are they scary NO NOT AT ALL... but could they be? Yes if we are willing to invent in over the top FX that take it to the next level. Are they more than simply shooting some actors out in the open... not really. So the point here is yes its a novelty attraction, and without some sort of re imagination or investment to make it seem more than just a man Mr Wayne I think it will wear off and your customers will be like been there done that.

I think you have to be totally committed to it for the long haul, ready to start the first year with the novelty and let that sell it, then move to the next level year by year by year... I personally don't envision it being an actor attraction but rather big monsters, things happening over your head, around every corner, great set design, more like a interactive targeting dark ride at Disneyland.

This will cost a lot of money a ton actually... but then I think you'd have something that would be a highlight reel attraction. How committed are you?

How committed am I to that end? I don't know because it would be something that would cost a ton but in the end might be worth it... these are all things you must ponder, consider, and think through. Its what I'm doing now... I see the potential and I also see the skyrocket cost of operating it.

I think if you stay with it you must go all out to create a dark ride type of attraction just with paintballs. Its a builder not a one trick pony because you won't get your investment back the first year I don't think.

Sky is the limit ... let me continue to think about this!

Larry

[NightmareAftershockLLC]

Austin, Larry, Greg, Allen, etc: thanks.

In short, I appreciate the information.

I believe strongly that anything you set your mind to will become a success with dedication, time, effort, and money. Half-assing anything will not get you anywhere in this industry, and if anything people will go out of their way to avoid your attraction or event if it is half-assed.

I am taking away from this a few major points, please correct me if I misunderstood anything:

1) Upselling is key. Allowing the customer to get in the gate for one price, seeing the paintball attraction, and selling that attraction at an additional price is effective and works?

2) Advertising is crucial. Building or buying any event or attraction without the public knowing it exists is detrimental. We need to, if buying this paintball setup, market to all ages, increase advertising budget, and not let our other attractions slump while focussing on the new event. WOM (word of mouth) is the biggest advantage or disadvantage once our customers leave our event.

3) Protect our actors. Typical paintball padding will not suffice. We need to work to not only protect our actors but also give them financial or additional compensation for being shot at multiple times per night.

4) Buy quality paint. Typical balls are too heavy duty even at lower pressures than Greg's custom balls that are softer, and have more of a water base ensuring a clean look after every night.

5) Not alone. The attraction is not a stand-alone event. It must be marketing and sold in addition to the regular attractions.

One last question: Greg do these trailers come with a sound system to play music?

Thanks all for your help, I appreciate it immensely.

The black plastic thing was a metaphor, not to be taken literally. My objective was to imply that to do a brand new attraction without ensuring the others are up to par is a waste, and this paintball setup is designed to ENHANCE my customers experience, not be the ONLY good experience.

[Darkangel]

I went to a zombie paintball in Maryland last year at a charity haunt. It was ok, the tractor was great but the guys loading were very unorganized and dropping paint balls on the ground while handling them looking discombobulated and the actors were just standing around. While this is no fault to the tractor manufacturer, not sure if Greg made it or not but the event itself was lacking more than anything. I did enjoy shooting the zombies and I must admit my daugher and I were actively looking for weak spots in their suits, just for fun lol Mainly because they stood there instead of really moving around.


I can see where costs would really add up and it wasn't close to being scary but it was unique and fun.

DA

[drfrightner]

If you are not organized you will sink faster than the Titanic. I don't understand what all the arguing is for it should be nothing more than a discussion about pros and cons. We can have a pro / con debate about animations or actors, make up or masks, hayride or a trail and the list goes on.

They don't have to get personal or anything. Paintball hayrides are flat out NOT stand alone events, they will fail. Paintball hayrides I think are add on attractions with an upcharge and even then you will spend a couple years getting your money back. Its the most expensive thing I've ever done, and I'm not sure if I regret it or not. It boils down to how committed you are to something...

But I think the best suited for these events are attractions with LOTS AND LOTS OF ROOM and Gregg for example has just that lots of room and I bet he has a lot less difficulties than we do. Its different and I think if you put enough money into it and I mean a lot of money into it you could make something super cool... I put tons of money into starting but now I'm seeing it will takes tons more than that to make it long term successful.

I think it can be very successful if you do everything 110% just like with my example of a 3D haunt... but in the end Gregg has it right you need lots of space to make it work best and it should be upcharged.

I did not upcharge and I don't have lots of space so I don't think I'm the perfect example.

Larry