Thread: sigh.. i give up on Halloween......

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Ive had my decorations out in front of my yard since Oct 1st, and Ive been planning since August (my first year decorating the yard) spent numerous amount of money on it and I have nothing to show for it...

I am so fustrated becuase I spent so much money on these decorations (money doesn't come easy, as I am only a 20yr college student and I have tuition to pay and I only get paid at my job $200 every 2 weeks ($ usually covers for food/gas/etc) but yet I have managed to buy approx. $500 worth of Halloween decors since August.

I was so excited when October rolled around because I get to display everything and it is my first year doing so along with my lovely girlfriend who moved in with me recently.

But everytime I walk out my house in the morning, something always seem to be wrong, the tombstones fly away to the neighbors yard, the inflatable isnt standing, stuff falling all over the place, I mean its a mess.

Today, after a t-storm/windy day, basically my whole yard was destoryed and I suddenly gave up/threw in the towel and I took all my tombstones/graveyard stuff and inflatable and stored it back in the garage.

Im still debating if I even want to do anything next year for halloween other than the usual Pumpkin by the doorstep.

Sorry I had to vent, I hope no one thinks Im crying and moaning..

It gets frustrating, I know.....Try putting up your display on Halloween night and during the off season...we as a Halloween family can come up with some weather proof/ wind proofing the displays.....I am thinking 3' rebar for the headstones!

awww don't give up. Think back to how excited you were when you started to build it all. There is nothing we do that doesn't frustrate us at some point. We fall on our butts, and we pick ourselves up. Go on a mission........ make the props stay put! These guys here on this forum have some great advice to help you along and I am sure they will gladly help... me, I can't offer much other than maybe some encouragement to continue (as I am only starting out and haven't actually displayed anything) check back next yr... you'll hear me venting I'm sure.

Keep plugging away, its going to be ok and you'll be glad you did!

We don't put out the majority of our props until the weekend before Halloween, because of the weather.

We string our webbing, change out the porch lights and we've hung up the hangy-up stuff, but fence, tombstones, lights etc... we wait on. The stones and such go in the week before, and the main props and electronic stuff don't go out until the big night.

We are using coat hangers popped through the tombstones near the bottom and bent into a "U" shape to stake them into the ground. A little paint and a little caulk and you won't be able to see the wires, and they should stand up to most winds. I've heard about the rebar (hammered into the ground) and pvc pipe sleeve glued to the back of the stones too, and if you have the time, it would be very sturdy too.

So sorry that stuff got messed up - it's happened to us several times, and we've had a few nice props ruined by unexpected nasty weather. Don't give up, tho! It's really worth it when you get the "cool house!" comments and see the TOTs enjoying the effort.

Sit back, relax and breath. Take it on 1 at a time. Hell, last year i could swear one of my props ended up in the next county. Wind here in October can be harsh. Packing it up won't give you the haunt you want to acheive. Now get out there and BOLT it all down...........Hang in there. Were here for ya.

I know you feel. Last year was my first year trying to go all out decorating for Halloween. Our tombstones blew all over, spider web was all tangled up and fallen in places due to the massive rains we got last year. It was a little tedious, but I was replacing them every time they were scattered.

This year, however, I learned from my beginners mistakes and properly staked anything that could move. Inflatables are just one of those things that can't be set up if it is too windy. I have to turn mine off quite regularly to prevent seam rippage.

I'm sure we're not the only ones with beginner blues, so don't give up yet! Problems can sometimes be good, as long as we take the information and use it to our advantage in the future. Just know your not alone in the battle against the elements!

Don't give up, it'll work itself out for the best. I'm sure everyone on this forum remembers the horrors of the first haunt, where nothing ever went right. Its a learning experience.

Blah!
The Count

I totally understand what you mean. I had learned last year about the winds so I designed with that in mind. Then, an hour after I put it all out we had wind gusts of 35 MPH an hour. Some things held and some things didn't. So I told hubby, "Well, this is a great way to trouble-shoot." and we got to work making improvements.

Today, another batch of big winds and I'm not worried (for once).

Don't give up yet. I have been building A haunted house for five years, and I still think of ways
to make it go smoother. The more years you haunt the more ideas and techniqes you develope. If the tombstones stones you are talking about came with plastic stakes throw the stakes away and use rebar like Jack Reaper said. For my inflatable spider I throw i piece of plywood on the ground and screw the bottom stand to that. Then I turn it on and let it inflate. When It is inflated I teather it down with cables and turn buckels till it does not move. Or you can use the teather it came with. I just like to use heavy duty material. Good luck and try to have fun with it. once you make it threw your first halloween you will be hooked. I started Decorating when I was 9. At age 15 I started building a ahunted house. Know I am 20. and I could not stop building a haunt if a wanted to. halloween keeps me sane throught out the year. It also gives me a hobby, and keeps me out of trouble{ can't do halloween if you are in jail, or prison} Halooween is a part of me. If you really want to be addicted try scaring people on halloween it is a rush.

thanks everyone for your nice encourgement, and 'bump' i dont appreciate your post.