MORE SCARY TECH
Bigger locations, larger props, and more dangerous stunts have become staples every Halloween season. Due to the increasing liability insurance and safety regulations, haunted house operators must closely monitor each and every piece; making sure that they are operating according to the manufacturer’s guidelines and safety regulations. This requires show-control systems that act as mini-computers and manage everything from monster animatronics to lighting. The increased reliance on advanced modern technology has helped spur the need for IT staff to be hired year-round.
“People have become more desensitized to horror, so now when they visit haunted houses they anticipate something bigger and better than what they experienced there in the past,” said Steve Kopelman, a haunted house expert who runs the website HauntedHouse.com. “Beyond just better props and costumes, haunts are investing in high-tech lighting and sound systems, as well as other state-of-the-art technology.”
THE BIG EFFECTS
The House of Torment in Austin plays out more like a movie than a typical haunted house experience with big-budget creatures and Hollywood-style specialty effects requiring immense amounts of technical attention and monitoring. Instead of effects activated by sensors, the House of Torment uses infrared video cameras to monitor where people are in the house. The came
ras are wired back to a control room where five people sit and determine when to activate the scare tactics. This ensures that everything goes off at the right time; coinciding with what the haunted house’s actors are doing.
“Technology like this really elevates the quality of the show,” said Jon Love, vice president of the House of Torment. “We are always trying to push the envelope when it comes to technology and always look to see how certain features can fit into our business – from video cameras and iPhone apps to zip-line machines.”
CREATIVE TECH TOUCHES
More haunted houses are also turning to high-efficiency LED lighting to save on energy consumption. Others are taking advantage of digital mixing equipment which links controllers, dimmers, advanced fixtures and special effects devices for centralized management. By using modern technology synchronized over a network, haunted house operators can make changes on the fly via remote control and have more creativity.
“Before QLab, we used small individual playback devices so every speaker had its own personalized soundcard,” sound designer David Roy of Nightmare: Superstitions said. “It was a decentralized process that was also time-consuming.”
THE FUTURE OF SCARY
IT staffers at haunted houses believe there is still a lot of life left in the haunted house industry, especially as more technologies get adopted. The experience is going to be more personalized – whether you fill out something ahead of time or swipe a card that details your preferences, it’s only going to get more intense as modern technology continues to play an increased role in the creation of a favorite Halloween pastime.
“What worked for the haunted house industry 20 years ago wouldn’t work today. We are in an intuitive and digital age, and if we aren’t taking advantage of the technologies out there, the younger demographics that flock to haunted houses won’t be impressed.” Said Michael Jubie, owner of Headless Horseman Hayrides & Haunted Houses.
WANT MORE? HERE’S 7 FUN FACTS ABOUT HAUNTED HOUSES AND HALLOWEEN TO GET INTO THE SPIRIT!
FURTHER READING
http://www.hauntedhouseassociation.org/safety/hayride_safety_and_common_sense.php
http://www.hauntedhousestartup.com/haunted-house-starter-zone