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I saw a thread titled "Spirit Halloween, Expensive" or some such.
So. What would we guess to be an average price of our handmade
props? Figuring only the cost of material, not labor or time.
I'll start with my "life-size" buddies....I would probably guess between
40, 50 dollars each. Some even a little cheaper, depending on the
framework. (PVC, Plastic body, free standing, which mask, and so forth.)
My lesser, smaller, props....probably nothing over 20 dollars each for
material. Right down to the headstones...one sheet of material can make
several stones. Leftover pieces go into smaller things. So we try not to
waste.
The actual costumes and masks are my biggest expense. They can run
into the 100 dollar range. And I can sew. But still buying nice material and
a decent mask.
Fog machines, lights and such...we've built up a stock over the years. But
we continue to add to it at probably a few hundred a year.
Now....air tanks, moveable parts...the more expensive props, my gang isn't
into yet. As a group of 25-30 actors...we don't really NEED those yet. We do
have a few store-boughts that move. But nothing fancy. And I have no ideal
of the expense of those.
And I'll bet that most of us are somewhere in that range....not a boatload of
money in any one single prop.
But still, I bet a lot of us a respectable amount of money tied up in our entire
collection. When I look at my stuff, I don't think about the cost.
"Store-boughts" look just like what they are...Store Bought. Open the box,
this is what you have. Your neighbors can have one just like it. Everybody
in town can have exactly what you have.
But with our own personal hand-made one of a kind creations -fancy,plain,
big or little- we've got the only one. Something the neighbor won't have,
something the next haunt won't have. And that's a part of what makes each
one of our displays so special.
For myself, I know that I'll take time to walk around town and admire the other
peoples yards. I'm looking at their displays. I like that master's touch on the
props. To the point that I've knocked on the door of a stranger just to say "I
like that."
So to me...Yep. store bought may cost more.
But homemades are nicer.
So. What would we guess to be an average price of our handmade
props? Figuring only the cost of material, not labor or time.
I'll start with my "life-size" buddies....I would probably guess between
40, 50 dollars each. Some even a little cheaper, depending on the
framework. (PVC, Plastic body, free standing, which mask, and so forth.)
My lesser, smaller, props....probably nothing over 20 dollars each for
material. Right down to the headstones...one sheet of material can make
several stones. Leftover pieces go into smaller things. So we try not to
waste.
The actual costumes and masks are my biggest expense. They can run
into the 100 dollar range. And I can sew. But still buying nice material and
a decent mask.
Fog machines, lights and such...we've built up a stock over the years. But
we continue to add to it at probably a few hundred a year.
Now....air tanks, moveable parts...the more expensive props, my gang isn't
into yet. As a group of 25-30 actors...we don't really NEED those yet. We do
have a few store-boughts that move. But nothing fancy. And I have no ideal
of the expense of those.
And I'll bet that most of us are somewhere in that range....not a boatload of
money in any one single prop.
But still, I bet a lot of us a respectable amount of money tied up in our entire
collection. When I look at my stuff, I don't think about the cost.
"Store-boughts" look just like what they are...Store Bought. Open the box,
this is what you have. Your neighbors can have one just like it. Everybody
in town can have exactly what you have.
But with our own personal hand-made one of a kind creations -fancy,plain,
big or little- we've got the only one. Something the neighbor won't have,
something the next haunt won't have. And that's a part of what makes each
one of our displays so special.
For myself, I know that I'll take time to walk around town and admire the other
peoples yards. I'm looking at their displays. I like that master's touch on the
props. To the point that I've knocked on the door of a stranger just to say "I
like that."
So to me...Yep. store bought may cost more.
But homemades are nicer.
