ideas needed for "haunted" school house attraction

[orleans]

and any ideas about what to do with a couple of rooms that have several large wall mirrors on a couple of the walls?

can't ruin the mirrors, can't knock down walls, no drop mirrors, or two way mirrors. but something with lighting? window coverings/clings?

suggestions appreciated

[Tom_Foolery]

1. How about a Zombie Disco?

Just a thought.

[pipi_k]

2. I would suggest

Bush and Cheney life-size cardboard figures, but it probably wouldn't be sporting to terrorize the poor little buggers too much.

[Chan790]

3. what is the position of the mirrors?

(I'm trying to get a layout of the room. There's a few optical illusion stage-magic type things (which are non-destructive, though you might need some props) that can be done that will freak people out but I'd need to know the position of the mirrors to devise something or things.)

Are they on perpendicular walls or opposite walls? If they're opposite, are they directly across from each other? (In a way that they can be used to reflect images off each other?) Full-length or do they start a distance above the floor?

Basically, I'm thinking of some different illusions that work to make it appear something is behind you when you look in the mirror that are not there when you look directly behind you. This is easily done with even a simple slide projector (you project the "ghost" onto the mirror), but it doesn't work if the mirrors are opposite because the image will reflect, magnify and distort as it bounces between the two mirrors. However, opposite mirrors offer other possibilities; they can be used to expand people's perceptions of the dimensions of the space by constructing a maze between them (out of cardboard, leaving the mirrored walls uncovered where they occur)--the effect is one of mild disorientation, most people have experienced it in the form of the "fun house." (So oddly named. They're not fun, they're terrifying.) The effect is most dismal if the mirrors can be used to give the illusion that the door is nearby or accessible when it is not. (That typically requires the use of another non-permanent mirror so that the door can be reflected onto one of the other mirrors.)

[orleans]

5. thanks for the detailed respose

they are full length mirrors (to the floor) on the west wall and the north wall. we have no projector to use in this room. there are doors on either end of the west wall, with the mirrors between the doors.

[KamaAina]

4. Oh, if only Rhythm were around

she's the spookiest!

[Suich]

6. Did you see this post from LFR?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018677462

[Lady Freedom Returns]

7. Make those "Safe Rooms".

That way those that are getting a little creep out can dodge in there and calm down. Or one as a Safe Room and the other as a meet and greet with the "Cast". Where people can take pics with some of the gang in costume.

[CrawlingChaos]

8. hmmmm...... some thoughts

First and foremost with a haunted house, you get the most bang for your buck with light and sound. Get those working for you and you're 90% of the way there. Spooky lighting as simple as red or green light bulbs and perhaps add some great Halloween music from Midnight Syndicate or Nox Arcana. Their stuff is Halloween gold! If budget permits, I would add a fog machine too. If you do all this, whatever prop you use is almost sure to get the job done.

With those mirrors, I would be tempted to write a scary message in blood. It's cheap and it can be very effective. Then I think I would get one of those floor mats that let loose a thunderclap and flash of lightning when stepped on. I think most Halloween stores sell them, if I'm not mistaken. This could reveal some spooky vignette otherwise shrouded in darkness. As one example, maybe an actor in rocking chair in the corner, like a granny figure rocking very slowly and have them wait till their presence has been detected to hit their scarily made-up face with a flashlight. Oh heck, there's a million ways to go with that, but if you can have them emerge from darkness, I think you will get a big reaction.

Good luck with it -- have fun and I hope the event is a big success!

[orleans]

9. thanks. i was on youtube looking for stuff (sounds, voices, etc)

and i did run into midnight syndicate & nox arcana. never heard of them before.

thanks for your ideas. i appreciate it.

[PasadenaTrudy]

10. Peel a bunch of grapes

put them in a bowl, in the dimly lit room the kids stick their hands in the bowl and you tell them they are eyeballs. Scared me when I was little!

Ooops. Just realized this is about mirrors. Nevermind.

[orleans]

11. lol. i don't think this "attraction" is for little kids. i should check on that.

yeah--it's for older kids. (just checked) and adults