Thread: Props and Setup for Halloween Speech at Clemson

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Alright, I wasn't sure where to post this so I tried to put it in the section that best fit the situation. The situation I'm dealing with is a little strange (even for us yard haunters) so let me explain. I'm a student at Clemson University taking a public speaking course. In this course I'm going to have to give a persuasive speech in a little over a week or so. I decided to try and persuade my class that Halloween is the best holiday ever. So here is my dilemma: I have no idea what props to bring, how to set up, what to do, or what would be considered appropriate. Pretty much the only thing I'm ruling out of bringing to the presentation is the mausoleum. Sorry, but that's not going to happen, lol. I have a way of getting my tombstones and what not into the classroom, but I can only bring so many for obvious reasons.

Here is a list of the other props I have that I would be able to bring:

1. Potion bottles
2. Lights and sound
3. Some tombstones
4. Cauldron Stirrer Rick
5. Corpsed Blucky and possibly the accompanying talking skull assuming the one I ordered gets here before my presentation is due.

I want to give a good show. Most people who aren't haunters prefer Christmas to Halloween and I want to show how awesome Halloween can be. I'm not asking for help with writing my speech, just what to do to impress them with some sort of setup. The speech is only allowed to be 8 minutes, more or less.

This is our chance, fellow haunters! To demonstrate the awesome power of All Hallows Eve to the world! Or at least my class... So, any ideas?

Thanks in advance!!

You should show also maybe how to build spider victims, pvc piping body, pvc spiders, and show examples of peoples work from here. Use this place to show some of the magic people create here.

Originally Posted by osenator

You should show also maybe how to build spider victims, pvc piping body, pvc spiders, and show examples of peoples work from here. Use this place to show some of the magic people create here.

I've already planned on that. However, it will be within the main body of my speech. What I'm looking for is something to do at the beginning of the presentation for a little "shock and awe."

Btw, should I decide to use someone's props specifically, I will contact said person for permission and give them proper credit.

Remember, Gore does not equal scary or Halloween. If you go for gross things, people might hate it. When I teached kids and teens cartooning, I always did one Halloween theme day, and it did happen I got one precious snowflake that freaked out, because his parents didn't allow to draw anything scary. Of course, I didn't let him ruins everyone's else fun and simply turn his desk so he faced the wall instead.

Do some research of the history of Halloween too.

Show maybe different style of haunters too, like some like scary, some gory, some supernatural, some disaster scenery, zombie, etc.

and don't forget to bring them candy!!! Isn't that what Halloween is really about? j/k


btw- good luck to ya!!

You are right on track with starting with a scare at the beginning. You can do something simple like beginning your talk with an air horn blast. heheh... Seriously though.

Here's something I wish was pointed out to me much earlier in life. Always thought to myself, "Why in the world do people like being scared?" I'd always avoided haunted houses 'cause didn't think there was anything I'd like about them. Until one day... finally went in one.

Perhaps you could weave in the lyrics of 'This is Halloween' into the presentation to help explain the why Halloween is so cool. What's highlighted are points that you should emphasize:

Boys and girls of every age
Wouldn't you like to see something strange?
Come with us and you will see
This, our town of Halloween
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Pumpkins scream in the dead of night
This is Halloween, everybody make a scene
Trick or treat till the neighbors gonna die of fright
It's our town, everybody scream
In this town of Halloween

I am the one hiding under your bed
Teeth ground sharp and eyes glowing red
I am the one hiding under yours stairs
Fingers like snakes and spiders in my hair
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!
In this town we call home
Everyone hail to the pumpkin song
In this town, don't we love it now?
Everybody's waiting for the next surprise
Round that corner, man hiding in the trash cam
Something's waiting no to pounce, and how you'll...
Scream! This is Halloween
Red 'n' black, slimy green
Aren't you scared?
Well, that's just fine
Say it once, say it twice
Take a chance and roll the dice
Ride with the moon in the dead of night
Everybody scream, everybody scream
In our town of Halloween!

I am the clown with the tear-away face
Here in a flash and gone without a trace
I am the "who" when you call, "Who's there?"
I am the wind blowing through your hair
I am the shadow on the moon at night
Filling your dreams to the brim with fright
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!
Halloween! Halloween!

Tender lumplings everywhere
Life's no fun without a good scare
That's our job, but we're not mean
In our town of Halloween
In this town
Don't we love it now?
Skeleton Jack might catch you in the back
And scream like a banshee
Make you jump out of your skin
This is Halloween, everyone scream
Wont' ya please make way for a very special guy
Our man jack is King of the Pumpkin patch
Everyone hail to the Pumpkin King
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!
In this town we call home
Everyone hail to the pumpkin song
La la-la la, Halloween! Halloween!

Did a blog post once about the 'ScreamLaugh'. The standing O (so-to-speak) that we all strain to hear from our victims....err, I mean, Trick or Treaters. They love to be scared because it makes them happy! Here's that blog post if you are interested: http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/...ers-scare.html

Lol, Cathy. Believe it or not, I hadn't thought of bringing candy, but that would probably be a good idea. Thanks.

Osenator, I like the idea of showing different styles of haunts instead of just a bunch of people doing cemeteries. I didn't plan on using much gore. My haunt doesn't really involve any. Probably the only "gory" prop I have are a plastic severed hand and foot in a meat try wrapped in plastic. I just want to give them a scare. Maybe turn off the lights with my props set up with some lights and sound effects. That was what I was going for, but I'm not sure how to go about it. Thanks for the advice so far!

Terra, I think incorporating a song sounds good in theory, but in practice might be difficult to pull off. I don't think I'll be able to concentrate on what I'm saying if there's a song with lyrics playing in the background. Or maybe I'm not fully understanding what you mean?

If you guys have any other ideas, please let me know.

No, I wasn't thinking of you playing the song. Perhaps if you have a handout you can have the lyrics there. At the end of your presentation you can have the class scream after you say: "Everybody Screammmm....!"

The scare is important, just as is the anticipation of the scare is important. If you have a TCT or any leaping gag - placed by the entance or exit, I believe would create a memorable mood. Also do not forget that Halloween is one night a year where you can dress up and be anbody that you want to be and people WILL address you accordingly. Are you going in costume? Can you tie your "scares" to your costume?

Can you incorporate a friend into the audience? Maybe you could have a few dressed as zombies wondering down the aisles? Maybe they could hand out some candy? Thunder and Lightning are very spooky sounds......a very loud thunder would get their attention.

Good Luck with your speech!