Conference Review
www.parkworld-online.com “
Stuart
suggested that conga lines through attractions were desirable for those keen to operate on a commercial basis rather than – as is still the case for some – a part time enterprise to brighten up October
Nightmare on sea!
enjoy seaside fixture ”H
Stuart Beare of Tulleys Farm, one of the day’s speakers
There was a chill in the air last month as scare attraction specialists from across the UK and beyond gathered in Blackpool for the fifth annual instalment of ScareCon.
Owen Ralph reports
eld on May 10 within the winding corridors of the Norbreck Castle, an ageing North Shore hotel, the venue was perfect for the
day’s proceedings and provided added frisson to the entertainment scheduled after dark. This, Europe’s only conference for the haunted/scare attractions industry, has been held in the UK since its inception, due to the critical mass of attractions within the country. Organiser and “scare consultant” Michael Bolton chose Blackpool for this year’s event due to the presence in the town of Pasaje del Terror at the Pleasure Beach and the newer Blackpool Tower Dungeon. During and immediately after the conference, delegates could benefit from discounted entry to both attractions, as well as the Gravedigger Ghost Bus over for the event from Dublin. Add to this the ScareBall and – for the really brave/stupid/insomniac – a chance to stay the night in a “ScareRoom” and there were plenty of opportunities to “live the scream.”
But first there were the day’s education sessions to
enjoy, and Paul Davis of Tollbooth Music got things off to a lively start with a presentation on how he creates soundtracks for attractions including Scarytales Live and Bunker 13. Citing BBC sound effects albums and computer games as early influences, the professional musician and sound engineer revealed he never goes anywhere without a portable recorder. Want to simulate the sound of sawing someone’s limbs off? Try passing a meat cleaver through a cabbage.
A ghostly embrace on board the Gravedigger Ghost Bus!
20
Icon Characters Darrell Xavier of Fearmasters Entertainment then provided an enlightening discussion on how he and his team created last Halloween’s Yorkshire Scare Grounds. Darrel must not have been able to believe
his luck when he found a site in the town of Wakefield – on Hell Lane. Four “icon characters“ were created as part of the nine-night event, including the clown Jack Rellik. After attracting around 7,000 visitors in 2011, Fearmasters will be back with a longer production this October. Saturn Imagineering has been building and theming attractions for many years, but made its debut as an operator this April when it relaunched the Silver Mountain Experience in Aberystwyth, Mid Wales. Simon Pickard and Simon Fish revealed how they had transformed an underperforming mine tour into a family visitor attraction by adding features such as The Black Chasm.
What started 15 years ago as a way for Tulleys
Farm near Gatwick Airport to shift more pumpkins has turned into one of the UK’s leading Halloween events, Shocktober Fest. Though significantly less scary and profitable than its evening programme, the complementary Spooktacular is important, revealed Stuart Beare, because it breeds the visitors of tomorrow. Stuart also suggested that “nuts to buts”
Scare specialists
A bloody good night was had by all at the ScareBall, although the dry cleaning bill was pretty high afterwards
JUNE 2012
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