With Midsummer Scream screaming its way into Long Beach this weekend, it’s officially time to start making plans for seasonal events. Following up the show is the return of the Leadership Symposium for Seasonal Attractions (formerly the Haunted Attraction Network Leadership Symposium). This time, the event takes place at the Queen Mary and will be filled with collaboration led by some of the top contributors to the seasonal attraction industry. We had a fantastic time at last year’s event (listen to episode 242 of our podcast for all the details) and highly recommend it to those that are in the attractions industry. Here are the details on next week’s event:
Valencia, California, July 22, 2018—The 2nd Annual Leadership Symposium for Seasonal Attractions, is coming up July 30th aboard the historical and haunted Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. Produced by Gantom Lighting & Controls and hosted by The Queen Mary, the intense day of learning provides attraction industry leaders a plan they can use to combat mediocrity and make their events both memorable and profitable.
Crafting memorable first impressions using the critical elements of elevation, insight, pride, and connection is the touchstone for presentations at this year’s event. Added to this year’s Symposium are workshop discussions immediately following each speaker’s presentation. During these discussions, attendees use workbooks to plan memorable moments at their attractions. Deepening the learning using the discussion and workbook format assures attendees leave with an action plan.
The day’s activities also include a tour of the Queen Mary and a preview of the upcoming “Dark Harbor” Halloween event.
The speaker line-up is as follows:
• Ricky Brigante and Sarah Elger – “Transitions: How to Guide Your Audience’s Mind”
Ricky is the founder of Inside the Magic, a leading source of news and information in the themed entertainment industry. He recently sold this business to become a designer of uniquely interactive experiences with Pseudonym Productions in Orlando, Florida. As Producer and Technical Director, Ricky now helps Pseudonym redefine live entertainment, enticing audiences to push boundaries and question reality.
Sarah founded Pseudonym Productions with the goal of combining theater, architecture, and gaming to create hyperreal worlds where people are free to adopt new personas, step beyond their comfort zones, and get lost in a fully interactive alternate reality. Sarah has worked with Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal Creative, SeaWorld, NASA, and numerous other multi-million-dollar themed design projects worldwide and is now focused full-time on developing the future of live entertainment at Pseudonym.
• Ted Dougherty—“Impressions of Fear: Creating Positive Memories Through Active Emotions”
Ted is a writer, producer, and director who has worked with Universal Studios’ Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights, Knott’s Scary Farm, Hollow Studios, and Cedar Fair. Most recently, Ted co-wrote and directed Murder Co, the nation’s first R-rated horror escape experience. He’s also the author of the award-winning book, Knott’s Halloween Haunt: A Picture History (the first comprehensive history of Knott’s Scary Farm).
• Amy Hollaman
Amy joined Terror Behind the Walls as an actress in 2005 and is currently in her sixth year as creative director. Amy oversees casting, creative direction, stage management, and human resources for the 300-person cast. Year-round, she works as the historic site’s assistant director of events and operations. Amy teaches seminars and workshops on safety, operations, and theatrical training at Transworld’s National Halloween and Attractions Show, the State of Pennsylvania Attraction Safety Seminar, The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, and other haunted houses around the country.
• Robbi Lepre
Robbi is the retired Director of Theatrical Services at Busch Gardens Tampa and is the recipient of the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Haunted Attraction Association. She has more than 40 years of theme park leadership experience at Busch Gardens Tampa as entertainment department director, project manager, technical director, and producer for award-winning live shows and events. Busch Gardens Tampa's Howl-O-Scream event named by HauntWorld magazine and Haunted Attractions magazine as one of the best-haunted theme park attractions in the country.
• Scott Swenson—“The First Seven Seconds: You Have Less Time Than You Think to Make a Powerful First Impression”
Scott has been bringing stories to life as a writer, director, producer and performer for over 30 years. His work in environmental theatre, theme park, live theater, and television has given him a broad spectrum of experiences. During his 21 years working with SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, Scott was part of the team that created park-wide events such as Howl-O-Scream, Summer Nights, and Christmas Town. He wrote and directed over 20 walk-through interactive experiences for these events including Alone, (the first personalized, immersive haunt experience in a theme park), The Experiment, After Hours: Club Muse, and Welcome to Santa’s House.
Each speaker will moderate a small group; the following table moderators will each have groups as well:
Crafting memorable first impressions using the critical elements of elevation, insight, pride, and connection is the touchstone for presentations at this year’s event. Added to this year’s Symposium are workshop discussions immediately following each speaker’s presentation. During these discussions, attendees use workbooks to plan memorable moments at their attractions. Deepening the learning using the discussion and workbook format assures attendees leave with an action plan.
The day’s activities also include a tour of the Queen Mary and a preview of the upcoming “Dark Harbor” Halloween event.
The speaker line-up is as follows:
• Ricky Brigante and Sarah Elger – “Transitions: How to Guide Your Audience’s Mind”
Ricky is the founder of Inside the Magic, a leading source of news and information in the themed entertainment industry. He recently sold this business to become a designer of uniquely interactive experiences with Pseudonym Productions in Orlando, Florida. As Producer and Technical Director, Ricky now helps Pseudonym redefine live entertainment, enticing audiences to push boundaries and question reality.
Sarah founded Pseudonym Productions with the goal of combining theater, architecture, and gaming to create hyperreal worlds where people are free to adopt new personas, step beyond their comfort zones, and get lost in a fully interactive alternate reality. Sarah has worked with Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal Creative, SeaWorld, NASA, and numerous other multi-million-dollar themed design projects worldwide and is now focused full-time on developing the future of live entertainment at Pseudonym.
• Ted Dougherty—“Impressions of Fear: Creating Positive Memories Through Active Emotions”
Ted is a writer, producer, and director who has worked with Universal Studios’ Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights, Knott’s Scary Farm, Hollow Studios, and Cedar Fair. Most recently, Ted co-wrote and directed Murder Co, the nation’s first R-rated horror escape experience. He’s also the author of the award-winning book, Knott’s Halloween Haunt: A Picture History (the first comprehensive history of Knott’s Scary Farm).
• Amy Hollaman
Amy joined Terror Behind the Walls as an actress in 2005 and is currently in her sixth year as creative director. Amy oversees casting, creative direction, stage management, and human resources for the 300-person cast. Year-round, she works as the historic site’s assistant director of events and operations. Amy teaches seminars and workshops on safety, operations, and theatrical training at Transworld’s National Halloween and Attractions Show, the State of Pennsylvania Attraction Safety Seminar, The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, and other haunted houses around the country.
• Robbi Lepre
Robbi is the retired Director of Theatrical Services at Busch Gardens Tampa and is the recipient of the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Haunted Attraction Association. She has more than 40 years of theme park leadership experience at Busch Gardens Tampa as entertainment department director, project manager, technical director, and producer for award-winning live shows and events. Busch Gardens Tampa's Howl-O-Scream event named by HauntWorld magazine and Haunted Attractions magazine as one of the best-haunted theme park attractions in the country.
• Scott Swenson—“The First Seven Seconds: You Have Less Time Than You Think to Make a Powerful First Impression”
Scott has been bringing stories to life as a writer, director, producer and performer for over 30 years. His work in environmental theatre, theme park, live theater, and television has given him a broad spectrum of experiences. During his 21 years working with SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, Scott was part of the team that created park-wide events such as Howl-O-Scream, Summer Nights, and Christmas Town. He wrote and directed over 20 walk-through interactive experiences for these events including Alone, (the first personalized, immersive haunt experience in a theme park), The Experiment, After Hours: Club Muse, and Welcome to Santa’s House.
Each speaker will moderate a small group; the following table moderators will each have groups as well:
• Bea Egeto – Bea is the creator and co-owner of The Bunker Experience, established in 2016. Before creating this unique live-adventure game, she was a writer/producer in the digital media world. Bea produced scripted, brand-integrated, and sponsored web series. She has won a number awards including two Webby Awards and has been a Webby Awards Judge since 2009.
• Rick Erwin—For the past 12 years, Rick has been the Executive Director of the City Museum in St. Louis, Missouri, a 600,000-square-foot space that is an eclectic mixture of children's playground, funhouse, surrealistic pavilion, and architectural marvel made out of unique, found objects. The museum opened for visitors in 1997 and helped spark a renovation of downtown St. Louis. With an annual attendance of over 858,000, City Museum has consistently ranked a must-see attraction both nationally and internationally. Rick is a graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago MAAA program.
• Leonard Pickel—As an innovator, designer, artist, inventor, teacher, writer, and leader, Leonard has designed over 300 commercial haunted houses since his first in 1976. Through his company, Hauntrepreneurs®, Leonard has created frightening attractions for significant venues across the country and worldwide. Specializing in helping entrepreneurs get started in the haunting realm, Leonard has assisted hundreds of people to fulfill their dream of owning a successful haunted attraction or October seasonal-event business.
• Chris Thomas—As a composer, Chris founded Music for Haunts in 2012, a company dedicated to creating bespoke, customized, cinema-grade soundtracks for haunts and other themed attractions. He’s the resident composer for the Evermore Adventure Park. He’s also composed soundtracks for Knott's Berry Farm, Queen Mary “Chill,” Dreamland (UK), Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, and the Dent Schoolhouse. In addition to theme parks, Chris has been working with The Void on upcoming 4D virtual reality games and composed for film and the concert hall.
For more information about this year’s Seasonal Attractions Symposium, contact Philip Hernandez at philip@gantom.com or visit the Seasonal Attractions Leadership Symposium website at Eventbrite.com.
• Rick Erwin—For the past 12 years, Rick has been the Executive Director of the City Museum in St. Louis, Missouri, a 600,000-square-foot space that is an eclectic mixture of children's playground, funhouse, surrealistic pavilion, and architectural marvel made out of unique, found objects. The museum opened for visitors in 1997 and helped spark a renovation of downtown St. Louis. With an annual attendance of over 858,000, City Museum has consistently ranked a must-see attraction both nationally and internationally. Rick is a graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago MAAA program.
• Leonard Pickel—As an innovator, designer, artist, inventor, teacher, writer, and leader, Leonard has designed over 300 commercial haunted houses since his first in 1976. Through his company, Hauntrepreneurs®, Leonard has created frightening attractions for significant venues across the country and worldwide. Specializing in helping entrepreneurs get started in the haunting realm, Leonard has assisted hundreds of people to fulfill their dream of owning a successful haunted attraction or October seasonal-event business.
• Chris Thomas—As a composer, Chris founded Music for Haunts in 2012, a company dedicated to creating bespoke, customized, cinema-grade soundtracks for haunts and other themed attractions. He’s the resident composer for the Evermore Adventure Park. He’s also composed soundtracks for Knott's Berry Farm, Queen Mary “Chill,” Dreamland (UK), Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, and the Dent Schoolhouse. In addition to theme parks, Chris has been working with The Void on upcoming 4D virtual reality games and composed for film and the concert hall.
For more information about this year’s Seasonal Attractions Symposium, contact Philip Hernandez at philip@gantom.com or visit the Seasonal Attractions Leadership Symposium website at Eventbrite.com.
What seasonal attractions are your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.
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