Thread: Themes...I Don't Get It!

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I just read a thread from natascha where she's obssessing over a Theme for her Hallowe'en Haunt - "A Murder Mystery".
Why do you people put yourself through such stress, why not just throw a bunch of stuff out there? Pirates, Vampires, Witches, Aliens, hey, it's HALLOWE'EN, anything goes, mix it all together, nobody's gonna criticize.
One year, when he was topical, we included a "Michael Jackson's Bedroom" Scene in our Haunt. Now, if you're a little boy, THAT'S SCAREY!

Here's an idea for all you "Theme"people out there - try an "Anything Goes" Hallowe'en, and see how much fun it is compared with a strict theme.

Well, in answer to your first question, natascha is talking about a party, not a haunt. There's a big difference.
As far as themes go, though, a lot of people like to tie everything together. It doesn't make a lot of sense to have aliens and pirates mixed together. It just doesn't compute.

The best part about Halloween, you can decorate the way you want, not the way someone else tells you. If someone wants to have a mishmash, that's fine. If someone else wants a theme, that's great too. It's all about fun.

P.S.
Forget young boys: Your Michael Jackson bedroom scene would scare ME.

I personally feel that it looks a bit tacky when EVERYTHING is thrown together, it's confusing and not as scary, really.

Putting together a theme can be much more enjoyable, it makes you work a bit more, which is fun.

As for our haunt, we go for The Haunted Mansion theme, and it's very eerie. If we started throwing in vampires and aliens, it wouldn't be as memorable. IMO.

To each his own.

Having a theme actually makes it easier for me. It provides a cohesive "experience" for our guests and makes it possible to concentrate our efforts. If we went with an anythig goes approach I would find it way too hard to put anything together at all I would spend so much time rearranging stuff. It also allows us to plan and build. Wondering what the new addition to the haunt will be is sort of a neighborhood pastime. We don't change themes every year like some folks, now that sounds crazy to me, but no theme at all just sounds like no fun at all to me.
Just my .02

DB

I go with themed areas, but no one theme for the entire haunt. I like to confuse people, one minute they are geting chased by jason and freddy and the next they are dancing in a disco full of bubbles. By the way for those who know of my troubles last year I think I may have a new location for this year so keep your fingers crossed for me.

They are crossed.

Like Michigal said, we do a Halloween Party Not a Haunt.

Yes - there is a little stress in the begining trying to figure out what path to start on, but once the ideas start flowing I prefer a Theme, it helps keep me on track. I also like being able to talk to people and when they bring up past years it is easier to remember things by what year it was, such as: Zombies, Hollywood, Circus, Aliens, etc.

I have people asking me at Christmas time what our theme will be the following year.

It gives people a goal, and helps with costume choice, Not that they have to stick with the theme, but most of our guests choose to.

I also like the challange of how to incorporate past props into new themes.

Once we run out of ideas for themes I probably would have an "anything goes" mix it all together year, I would probably call it "Ghosts of Halloween Past"

A guaranteed path to a lame Halloween display is to throw a bunch of unrelated stuff out there. Ends up looking like a Halloween store on your front lawn.

When I see pictures of these displays posted, I always shake my head. I agree with the idea it's not scary, it's tacky. I've rambled on regarding this topic in the past on this forum.

But ya gotta be happy; so to each his or her own.

My own approach is a graveyard on the main section of the front and a creeped out farm-like setting on the other, for the scarecrow and other related nightmares. Driveway separates the themes.

Frankly, I don't find theming stressful at all. It really works for me. In fact, the whole planning and build process - which has been underway for a few weeks - is how I destress on the weekends. Love spending time in the workshop. It's also an amazing way to spend time with my three kids who are totally into it.

Good times, as always.

JD

Don't get the idea that my Front Yard looks like some kind of Hallowe'en "Spoof" Exhibit. No Aliens or Chainsaw guys outside. The Graveyard is just that, a Graveyard. With a few ghosts and a Witch or two thrown in. INSIDE, the Walk-thru, that's where we let loose. Room after room, with no "Theme", nothing to "Tie it all together". I mean what has a Killer Clown got to do with a Werewolf or Mrs. Bates? How does a Mummy relate to Frankenstein of Jason? But, believe me, it works.

I just think that TOT's would get tired of seeing seven rooms of Pirates. Or Vampires, or whatever.

A lot of people here only have room in their front yard for a display, which is basically the equivalent of one room in a haunted attraction. So, by sticking to one theme for us yard haunters, its like sticking to one theme for a room in your haunt.