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We all probably have things that didn't happen or didn't work in our haunt this year, but I'm curious to hear from you and learn what made your haunt really successful this year. I'm feeling the pressure as I think about selecting a theme for 2016 and not sure how to make it just as good if not better than this year's. Is there something specific you can point to that helped elevate your haunt with the ToTers?
Here's what we did...:
Our haunt (Frank N Stein MD Brain Research Center) wasn't that big (space wise) and didn't have a lot of props, but I felt turned out to be very successful. I had signage, some lighting, and 3 static props and one animated prop (2 connected Electroshock hats). I think I did a nice job creating the feel of a doctor's office with arrangment of furniture incorporating 3 areas of distinctive settings--surgery, waiting room, and Experimental Research. My orig plans however included more lab shelving with specimen jars, microscope, other samples, some additional prop patients and nurse for the waiting area and even another John Doe body prop. In retrospect I don't think it was important or that anyone would have really noticed more. Hubby donned a doctor's jacket and I did wear a bloody head bandage which I think added to the playfulness of the Center.
...and what I think made the big difference for us:
A kind of last minute change--letting ToTers BE the second Experiment patient--I think made all the difference in turning the haunt from good to great. Could have been a flop if no one wanted to wear the second electroshock hat and sit through a few seconds of lights and sound. A number of kids (and parents who wondered what kind of Brain experiments we might be performing on their kids) were initially hesitant to walk into the lab. Some asked if it was scary or if something was going to jump out at them. We assured them it wasn't the case and thanked them for coming to the lab. Invited them in to the clinic to look around and get their candy, then before heading out asked them if they wanted to be part of the Experiment. Kids were I think surprised by that. We also announced that there was a Free extra lollipop to anyone brave enough to sit down and let us transfer their brain waves into our gorilla patient. When we had a group of small kids and a parent come in and the kids were too timid, we managed to coax the parent many times to sit with the hat and subsequently many times the kids then wanted to do it. Other kids lined up to volunteer when someone in their group went first. Kind of surprising that the line of volunteers kept growing dispite nothing happening to them other than flashing lights and sound. No vibrating seat cushion. They even stuck around to wear the hat if they were at the end of the line and their friends had left. That really amazed me. They wanted to be part of the experience and then ran to catch up with their friends. That situation happened 3 or 4 times. While we had a number of little tots (3-6 yrs old), I'd say most of our kids were 1st grade through pre-teen so really understood there was no brain waves getting transferred.
The kids could have been off gathering more candy elsewhere after getting our regular candy but they actually stuck around for this. It really was fun for them and for hubby and I. I really want to come up with something different this year but just as fun so please share your successful moments for inspiration.
Here's what we did...:
Our haunt (Frank N Stein MD Brain Research Center) wasn't that big (space wise) and didn't have a lot of props, but I felt turned out to be very successful. I had signage, some lighting, and 3 static props and one animated prop (2 connected Electroshock hats). I think I did a nice job creating the feel of a doctor's office with arrangment of furniture incorporating 3 areas of distinctive settings--surgery, waiting room, and Experimental Research. My orig plans however included more lab shelving with specimen jars, microscope, other samples, some additional prop patients and nurse for the waiting area and even another John Doe body prop. In retrospect I don't think it was important or that anyone would have really noticed more. Hubby donned a doctor's jacket and I did wear a bloody head bandage which I think added to the playfulness of the Center.
...and what I think made the big difference for us:
A kind of last minute change--letting ToTers BE the second Experiment patient--I think made all the difference in turning the haunt from good to great. Could have been a flop if no one wanted to wear the second electroshock hat and sit through a few seconds of lights and sound. A number of kids (and parents who wondered what kind of Brain experiments we might be performing on their kids) were initially hesitant to walk into the lab. Some asked if it was scary or if something was going to jump out at them. We assured them it wasn't the case and thanked them for coming to the lab. Invited them in to the clinic to look around and get their candy, then before heading out asked them if they wanted to be part of the Experiment. Kids were I think surprised by that. We also announced that there was a Free extra lollipop to anyone brave enough to sit down and let us transfer their brain waves into our gorilla patient. When we had a group of small kids and a parent come in and the kids were too timid, we managed to coax the parent many times to sit with the hat and subsequently many times the kids then wanted to do it. Other kids lined up to volunteer when someone in their group went first. Kind of surprising that the line of volunteers kept growing dispite nothing happening to them other than flashing lights and sound. No vibrating seat cushion. They even stuck around to wear the hat if they were at the end of the line and their friends had left. That really amazed me. They wanted to be part of the experience and then ran to catch up with their friends. That situation happened 3 or 4 times. While we had a number of little tots (3-6 yrs old), I'd say most of our kids were 1st grade through pre-teen so really understood there was no brain waves getting transferred.
The kids could have been off gathering more candy elsewhere after getting our regular candy but they actually stuck around for this. It really was fun for them and for hubby and I. I really want to come up with something different this year but just as fun so please share your successful moments for inspiration.