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**StackerSteve** · 04-08-2009, 11:17 AM

Being my first time I am so stoked to be attending. Just got my tickets and I'm soon to be counting hours.

http://www.myspace.com/13chopsui FaceDealers

**drfrightner** · 04-08-2009, 12:50 PM

Mike,

Good luck with your show! I wish you all the best!

Make sure to give us all a review of the show after its over.

Larry

**TheMonsterMaze** · 04-08-2009, 04:30 PM

re: review

Will do!

You know, it's so hard to believe how much this has grown. 10 years ago, this was a simple picnic in my backyard.

But I cannot take the credit and I'm a firm believer of credit to where credit is due.

The National Haunters Convention exists because of Ricky Dick of Castle Blood.

A generation ago, he was inviting people to his haunt after the season. To show off the sheer utter "coolness" that is Castle Blood.

Here was a man not engaging in a flame war that was so prevalent at the time, but a man who was sharing his ideas. That inspired me, so I decided to share as well, and host a picnic in my backyard, share a few grilled burgers and beers, and treat each other like family.

That first year? I had three haunts show up (two of which were home haunts)

I was shocked when, over the years, we grew so large to move to my church (where the PA Gathering was held for many years.)

When we outgrew the church? That's when I bit the bullet and decided to start a real-honest-to-god convention at a hotel, and thank *GOD* Robert Kocher agreed to be my partner, as there is just no way one man can run a con by himself.

If you go back and read last years posts, the biggest complaint about last years show was it was too crowded (Who knew so many people would show up? Who would dream you would outgrow a hotel in your first year? Beforehand, I was having *nightmares* that we would open the doors and the only people there would be me and Rob...)

And a special thank you to Brett Bertolino of Eastern State Penn and Aven Warren of Fright Factory. We were unproven and unheard of, and yet they opened up their haunts for our bus tour last year. Last year we were one full bus, this year for the Bates Motel, we're two full buses and a third 95% full bus (not many seats left people, this is going to be the party of the year!)

There aren't many success stories in this day and age, and this upcoming weekend will show if this weird dream of mine was worth all the all the work. But I am feeling very optimistic, and we've all been working very, very hard. ( Daelynn Farrell has been virtually living on the conventions MySpace page since last year and Titas Raha has written more code for our site than the entire staff of Microsoft working on Windows (and not Windows Vista btw...))

All we ask is just give us a chance, swing by and check us out, and tell us the truth about what you liked and didn't like (so we can work on fixing the "didn't likes" and further support the "likes")

Michael Bruner
National Haunters Convention
http://www.nationalhauntersconvention.com

P.S. If you read this post and see me at the con, please walk up to me and say "hey dude, thanks for a great show" That sort of thing always makes the long nights and the 40-50 phone calls a day worth it, really.

**screamlinestudios** · 04-08-2009, 09:19 PM

I just decided to check it out and booked my flight and hotel less than an hour ago. I look forward to it!

**SinisterControls** · 04-08-2009, 09:27 PM

The Van is packed

Leaving first thing in the morning. See you all there.

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