Thread: Southern California Haunt Association (SCHA) ... or better!

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A friend of mine mentioned that he met someone that was part of "The Southern California Haunt Association". Supposedly it is a group of people that all get together once or twice a month and swap ideas and share knowledge.

When I went to the SCHA website, it was nothing more than a "yahoo group" that when I tried to email or subscribe, the emails bounce back. I even emailed the guy he met with to get more information, but never got a response.

Does anyone know about this SCHA group?

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This got me thinking ... since I got no feedback or reply ... perhaps "I" need to start my own group for people in (Southern) California that does what this other group supposedly does ... or doesn't.

I have a large office space, and have a lot of "movie" contacts and would love to share and collaborate with other "home haunters" ... Maybe do some group buys, or road trips to get the infamous "blue / pink foam" that is so hard to get in California, project builds, etc. I am sure there are other people like me that would have loads of insite and skills to offer that would benefit everyone involved. Who knows.

The question becomes ... would there be any interest ... or would I just be dreaming that people really do have the same interest in California. Would it be worth my time to set up and then find out there is no one out there.

Any advice?

Thanks.

Hell, I'd join as long as the meeting site wasn't too far away. I'm in the SFV so a club in this area or relatively close would be perfect.

what area of Southern Cali are you talking about?

I think they mean CalHauntS (California Haunters Society) www.calhaunts.com of which there is a Southern California group and a Northern California group.

The Southern California group has been meeting monthly for 6 years. It is absolutely free to join and attend the meetings, which are usually potluck lunches in the backyards of various members. People bring unwanted props and other Halloween-related items and those are given away during the door-prize drawing. Then an instructor teaches the Make-and-Take, where you can take home a prop that you make that day. The only money involved in the club is for the materials of the prop. Sometimes the Make-and-Take is not prop-building, but rather hands-on instruction on using an air-brush, welding, or applying haunt make-up. The meeting locations so far in 2010 have been: Simi Valley, Upland, Moreno Valley and Burbank, and the next one is in Nuevo in Riverside County, so you can see they are somewhat spread out. The attendence numbers around 50 people, many who come to the meetings simply to socialize with other haunters and pick their brains. There is also a chat forum and often group-buys are arranged so that discounted rates can be had, and in November there is a viewing of videos of members haunts. Please check the website and contact them for more info.

If someone here belongs to the Northern Calif, feel free to add info for that group, too.

Here is the SCHA ... the one I was told about that I could only find a yahoo group for: The Southern California Haunter Association (SCHA)

If I was to organize a new "haunt" group ... it would be based around the San Fernando Valley / Los Angeles ... but would be open to anyone who was willing to attend or join from ANYWHERE in California.

I would be down for one in the L.A. area for sure.

I live in the OC, but don't think i'd be able to make it to any meetings. I work on the weekends.

Oh, okay- I checked the link. Never heard of that group, although the description sounds like CalHauntS. Probably not surprising, since some other states contacted CalHauntS in order to base their meet-in-person group on the CalHauntS's format. You are welcome to join our group, and perhaps you can rideshare with our members who attend regularly from Agoura Hills and Moorpark in the SFV, plus the Simi members I already mentioned (who are a couple that specialize in fright effects for the movies). I'm probably missing some others.

Broadening the region beyond a few counties has been helpful in that it attracts people with a broader range of skills; we have the founders of well-known haunt info sites Scary Terry's Halloween Page (servo guru and one of the first with a vortex tunnel) and wolfstone.halloweenhost.com (writer of detailed illustrated directions on a number of projects; see his technology page.)

I've just joined the CalHaunts SOCAL group, although it's a far drive for me in San Diego. I can tell you it is a large group with a wealth of smart folks. Their build schedule is laid out for an entire year with people assigned to host and organize.

Meetings have potlucks, prop demo's, tech demo's, build instructions, actual build (you build it there and take this home with you), and raffles. At my very first meeting I won a battery-powered throbbing bloody heart prop that will work perfectly in my labratory.

For the San Diego area, we have a new Garage of Evil SOCA Chapter - we had a M&T last weekend.

Originally Posted by streakn

I live in the OC, but don't think i'd be able to make it to any meetings.

OC here too. Everything in So Cal's too far. Too bad someone couldn't start an Orange County chapter. I'm just sayin...