Thread: My trip to the Chicago Halloween show

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in one word - awesome

First and for most props to Minions Web for the invitation, without which I'd never have made it in.

My first time to anything like that and it was amazing. So many booths and vendors and props it was like Halloween in February! Our first stop was straight to Minions booth and they were out with the web guns making HUGE webs across the isle and most of the way up to the ceiling. Really impressive, I'm going to have to revisit my skills in making webs with their guns and try to get mine to look more like theirs.

We walked around for hours and met a lot of vendors. It was really great to meet some of the people you've bought off of on the internet. Froggy's was there of course and I stopped by to give my support to a great product I've used for years. There was a new twist on an old item that I was very impressed with.
Arrival Mask had a booth there and were showing a line of masks made out of soft foam latex masks that looked great. I got to try one on and they fit very close to the skin so the mask moves with the head like a second skin. With the snug fit the jaw moves when you talk and makes it look even more real. The company is two brothers who make all the masks by hand and while we were talking the owner of Haunted Jail? from NW Indiana came by and was telling us stories of how some of his actors who use those masks terrorize their guests. Those were some funny stories. (I ordered some of their masks)

I got to meet the people from Bucky's Boneyard and they were terrific. I got a great deal on all my skeleton needs for this year and she said that if you place an order online make sure to tell them you're from halloweenforum.com and they're always happy to give discounts.

Some great high end props were there as well. Above my price range but great to look at and dream (and think of how to build one myself!) I came away with a ton of new ideas.

All in all it was a great experience. The people there said it was smaller than usual and that there would be more booths at the StLouis convention but next year the Chicago convention is planning on having a much bigger one. Sorry if this ended up sounding like a commercial for a couple of companies but I just wanted to highlight my happiness with new people I met and even new people I've done business with and met for the first time

Thanks for the rundown and sounds terrific!

So, I'm all about the props... What was the stand-out new prop you saw there?

Sound great! I'll be there on Monday.

The wife and I got to go to this one today too. It was our first buyer direct show, and it was an incredible experience. I too got to meet Corey and learned a lot about some products I didn't realize he had. It is pretty neat to talk to the people we buy from. We only has time to attend one seminar, and we watched about half of the fashion lingerie show. We were afraid we weren't going to get to see all the booths if we stayed and watched the whole thing.

We learned a lot and had a great time talking to the reps and sellers about their products. We aren't going to be able to attend the Prop show this year, but next year they are combining both shows, so we're planning on making that!

Now I am all fired up about Halloween again!

Thanks for sharing ! Any pics ?

No camera's allowed. Even though they didn't seem to enforce that much, I still play by the rules.

I don't live to far from the one in Chicago. I didn't go because I have heard bad things and that it wouldn't ive up to the one in St. Louis.(Of course I am going to the one in St. Louis though) They normally have a sign that says no cameras but you can still do it. No one will say anything.

Originally Posted by Deathtouch

I don't live to far from the one in Chicago. I didn't go because I have heard bad things and that it wouldn't ive up to the one in St. Louis.(Of course I am going to the one in St. Louis though) They normally have a sign that says no cameras but you can still do it. No one will say anything.

I head the same from the people who were regulars to the show. Something about there being 2 main halloween shows and Chicago only having one of them there this time. I also heard that next year Chicago will have both.

I didn't see any Creature Reacher costumes or a Gore Galore booth at the show but hopefully you'll see it in St L.

Terra - I don't remember the name of the booth but there was one that had some very high end detailed static and motion props like the groundbreakers and rocking grannies. Fantastic stuff.

I know I'm seeing posts here and there about looking to buy skulls and skeletons for cheap and at the show the plastic skulls were $2.25 each. Bargain Basement Barnies for $35 if you order at the show. I don't think you can get those prices from any of the websites but they were very happy to take my order even though I was a home haunter and not a huge buyer. I'd say that everything I saw a price on was at least 50% off retail although some vendors had a minimum buy

lol...I did buy 3 dozen skulls and 3 BBB's among other things tho!

Oh, that sounds like Distortions (rocking granny). They do have some good stuff.

Still busy getting Hammacher Schlemmer a vid of the webbers in action....
Just read the threadand wanted to clarify one thing.

TW will have both shows under one roof, in St Louis, not Chicago next year.

I already have the flier and the contract at the Minions Web booth.

More later.

Corey