Prop pet peeves

**Dalloween** · 08-31-2009,06:57 PM

So I have my own pet peeves when it comes to "features" I don't like in mass-commercially sold props. A couple of the trends I'm seeing so far this year, that I don't care for are:

- LED eyes of strange colors, that usually blink to the rhythm of the voice if the prop has a sound track.

- Props with a spoken track and a stationary mouth. For example the zombie from Spirit that lifts the headstone over his head... if he just screamed or moaned or something rather than chattering on an on I would like him much better... or if he's going to chatter, his mouth should at least move with the words.

- Sound FX and/or music in prop tracks that make no sense. I saw one skeleton prop that had a talking track, but it started with the howl of a werewolf and then continued to have the sounds of church bells and other noises in the background... why? lol

Don't get me wrong... I'll probably end up buying most if not all of the animated pieces from Spirit this year (and have spent in the thousands of dollars with them every year for the last five or six)... but still if I had my preference I would tweak those minor pet peeves.

Am I being too picky, or do you all have your own similar pet peeves?

Jim

**Dragonomine** · 09-01-2009,03:27 AM

My pet peeve is that most of them are too expensive. lol

**Wolfman** · 09-01-2009,04:00 AM

Scale.

The few "props" that I've seen in stores are too small to ever scare anyone but a small child,

The big stuff that can be purchased on-line are so costly that they are beyond the reach of almost any Home Haunter.

In short - Build-It-Yourself is the only way to go.

**Terra** · 09-01-2009,05:22 AM

The huge increase in gore or blood splattered all over them.

**UnOrthodOx** · 09-01-2009,05:28 AM

Originally Posted by Terra

The huge increase in gore or blood splattered all over them.

Really crappy looking blood and gore, IMO, as well.

**pumpkinman** · 09-01-2009,05:33 AM

Commercial props are ok... for a commercial haunt. I prefer to make everything that I am going to display. I choose the clothes, the size, the face, the position etc...

**Junit** · 09-01-2009,06:16 AM

Originally Posted by Dragonomine

My pet peeve is that most of them are too expensive. lol

Definately mine as well

**HauntedPumpkin** · 09-01-2009,06:39 AM

I reallyt can't say I have any prop peeves since I make my own props, for some of the same reasons Pumpkinman & Wolfman notes above. It also lets me have unique props that noone else in the area would have and I can set the prop & my haunt to match the effect I am looking for instead of possibly having to do it the other way around.

I guess if I did have a peeve it is that I need MORE time! There is never enough time to make all you want each year.