Thread: What are your rules?

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When it comes to yard haunting, what rules do you have? To make your haunt the scariest it can be?

For example, I think my main rule is if the decoration is supposed to move, but doesn't, it can't be in my graveyard.

Things like birds, cats, rats, snakes. Props like that, scattered throughout a graveyard just make everything look so...fake. You know what I mean?

For me, the more real looking, the scarier and better it is. Everything must look as real as possible for it to be effective is my philosophy.

"The path to true fear is found through reality."

Do you have any rules you adhere to when it comes to scaring your friends and neighbors?

I think "have fun with it" is the only hard and fast rule I have.

I do have some real...nearly obsessive compulsive tendencies to make everything...I don't know the word.

Well, mom was insane, and a floral designer for a time. It was drilled into us certain rules, no even numbers, group spacing, etc. These same rules filtered into other areas as well. The aquarium was stocked according to the rules, for instance. Dinner plates, gardening...

So, I have a problem attempting to create order.



(yes, these headhunters only use pikes in groups of odd numbers, with odd numbers of skulls in each group, tall in the center, shorter on the ends with color matched skulls.)

It comes off too staged at times. Yet I can't NOT do it.

So, I let the kids go nuts. I set aside a number of things that are theirs. Give me a little random chaos, kids, here, have fun.

Last year I think we hit it off perfect in that area. My obsessive placement of corn and reeds, 20+ kids throwing in pumpkins at random.

I have to agree with unorthodox, fun. I'm not too concerned about it being scary. I do like a little humor. The reaction I would like to get is awe, like "wow, that's neat" type of stuff. I also like to reward people with a sharpe eye, by hiding tibits here and there for them to find.

When all is said and done, the final thing is, "do I like it" if so, it's in, if not, oh well back to the drawing board

Ditto on the fun.....

I don't really have any set rules yet. I like to try to keep things flowing and in groups that go together. Otherwise I don't have enough stuff to really be to picky yet. I think/hope that will change this year though. We shall see.

Originally Posted by BeaconSamurai

I have to agree with unorthodox, fun. I'm not too concerned about it being scary. I do like a little humor. The reaction I would like to get is awe, like "wow, that's neat" type of stuff. I also like to reward people with a sharpe eye, by hiding tibits here and there for them to find.

When all is said and done, the final thing is, "do I like it" if so, it's in, if not, oh well back to the drawing board

That's exactly how I feel. First & foremost - it has to make ME happy. My display has no gore or horror. My skellies wear the most obnoxious shirts I can find & ballcaps. The epitaphs on my headstones are goofy. But that's what I like & raspberries to everyone else!

I mostly agree with fun being the most important part, but I do see where you're coming from with the realism. I prefer realism myself. Especially if the prop is intended to be realistic. Most of the fake arms and legs out there look way too plastic even the ones that have tons of detail. I don't have any blow molds or inflatables because they're just a little too "cute" for me, though I really did want to get that Pac-Man inflatable Walmart had last year (it was too expensive but sold out before clearance). On the other hand, you can easily go too far with the realism as well. Too much gore and you're going to have kids and parents throwing up on your driveway.

No real rules here. Just want it to look nice. I don't do outright scary, just spooky.

I guess it has to fit the theme of graveyard and Halloween-ish, tho. As long as I'm having fun with it, the rest is just gravy.

My rules are: Scary/spooky outside, nostalgic and traditional inside.

All the old school cut outs and blow molds are inside, and in our back dining room area we have a big mirrored hutch where we put all the little trinkets and collectables.

Outside is all scary. I try not to mix in anything humorous or hokey. Not that I don't appreciate those styles of display, it is just that if I'm trying to scare TOTers, I want to create the fullest scary atmosphere I can.

The only thing that can be found in both areas are Jack O' Lanterns. To me, those transcend all styles of Halloween decor.

The "friends, family, & neighbors all have a great time" Rule is our one big rule for the evening. That, & fix anything that breaks down, burns out, or blows/gets pulled over so no TOTs get disappointed during their evening of haunt fun.

If in late August or early September kids start asking when we're out in the front yard if we're doing Halloween again this year, we know we succeeded in following all the rules!