Attracting guests to an area...

[gotwilt]

We have an open air midway haunt, sorta just a themed area.

The area is roughly 150 ft long by 15 feet wide.

One side has old west building facades the other a fence, bushes, smaller props and the like, think amusement park midway. One area we have a Unit 70 horse lucky, we are trying to think of ways to get people to come over to it and stay for a bit instead of just walking by getting to the next indoor haunt.

Any ideas on how to accomplish this or a spiel of sorts to get folks over there?

Thanks

[Jim Warfield]

Turn off the light where you don't want them to go, turn on a light where you want them to go.
Then when they are in the lighted area, turn off that light with a shrill scream! hahahahaha!
It also helps to have something unusual to look at where that light is.
Maybe something sort of puzzling, needing then to look and think awhile, further distracting them so the boogeyman can walk right up next to them....then it's too late.

[Greg Chrise]

Get your picture taken with Lucky! A sign with the haunts name, some number of possble poses like brushing or holdinf the rope, not telling them Lucky has some tricks.

One place had get your picture taken in a coffin for $2. I caught myself just watching and a crowd just watching the reactions of people getting into the thing, posing and various levels of acceptance. I'll bet the purpose was to get you to slow down, not necessarily to make a lot of money and see hey what's this right next to us? Oh, a poorly signed 3D attraction for $3. Let's do that!

Photography requires bright lights, so Jim's bug theory will work well.

[Greg Chrise]

I'm wondering if it is like musical chairs? People will only get up and walk when music plays. When the music stops they all sit and wait? Can people go to the music? Then go to the next music?

Maybe everyone gets some free magnets and the whole haunt can be set up on a North to South Grid? The you have a dog leg where a giant pin ball flipper has to send a group on their way back into game play?

[Jim Warfield]

..and flipper turns out to be a shark!