Halloween Foot "Trip" Sensor to Trigger Or Activate Lights, Sounds, Scary Effects

Skill level: Super Easy.

Time needed: 5 minutes.

Expense: $10.00 - $20.00

The major bummer with most store-bought Halloween stuff that gets triggered is it's lame. A few tiny eyes may light up, or perhaps it will create a tiny shriek. I've yet to come across anything substantial (Loud, flashy, large, etc.)

"Startle People with a Photo Sensor to Trigger Effects"

You can assemble a little photo-sensor that triggers when people cross it and break the light beam. You may have seen something like this in small stores-when you enter, the attendant gets alerted to your presence.

Ingredients:

Photocell switch

2 Extension cords

Bright L.E.D. Flashlight

1 cardboard tube from paper towel (cut in two halves) or 2 toilet paper cardboard tubes.

1) Take the photocell switch and plug it into your extension cord. Take the other extension cord and plug it into the outlet on the photocell. Whatever devices you will be triggering will be plugged into this cord later. If you don't know what to plug in, see our "scare tactics" article.

2) Tape one of the cardboard tubes to the "eye" photo sensor on the sensor unit so that the cylinder projects out from (and shields) the light senor. This is merely to keep any ambient light (from other decorations or lamps) from interfering with our trigger. This is our "receiver."

3) Tape the bright L.E.D. flashlight to the end of the OTHER cardboard tube. This will be the light beam projector.

4) Find a place along your walkway to set-up the beam. The light (beam) emitting side must directly face the receiver. Remember to place the receiver (which requires power) on the side of the walkway that has outlets and/or leads to your effects. The light emitter side is totally portable. You may want to try to hide each of there in bushes, between rocks, or simply put decorations or things over the devices (being careful not to cover the holes of the tubes.) CAUTION: Do not place the receiver anywhere near water or where it can get wet (sprinklers, ponds, etc.)

That's all there is to it. The L.E.D. flashlight should last beyond any single nights of Halloween scares. We recommend plugging strobe lights, sirens, or other "gags" into the sensor. Check out the "scare tactics" for project ideas.

Halloween Decorations are certainly the foundation of a Happy Halloween, but adding some great effects or illusions and some "scare tactics" are the frosting on the cake. Yes, you may trigger them yourself, but it's much more fun to automate some stuff. This way you are free to hand out candy, laugh with the "victims," or simply just enjoy and take-in the whole exciting experience. For our trick-or-treaters we set up at least three triggered "effects." We were fortunate enough to have a forked drive-way; so we gave parents with "kiddies" an option to take the less-scary route. You may choose to warn anyone with little kids that there are some scary things ahead. It's fun to scare the older kids, teens, and adults, but not so nice to terrorize toddlers.

Bill Lae is an award-winning visual effects artist and Halloween Haunter. As one of Hollywood's effects artists, Bill worked for all the networks using his magic touch on TV's top shows including The X-Files, Buffy, & The Outer Limits. He created BigScreamTV http://www.BigScreamTV.com a series of DVDs anyone can use to create in-home Halloween effects with a TV. He also shot a how-to DVD called X-Treme Haunted House Make-Over where he shows folks how to haunt the house for little cost. His love for Halloween started long before he came to LA. As a child he made haunted houses in his parents' basement. In LA, he began mixing easy-to-use technology (DVD players, computers, printers, lights) with other household items to "trick out" his own house every Halloween. At last count, he had 700 trick-or-treaters. "It's my favorite holiday," Bill says. "I especially love amazing the hardened, media-savvy, teen-age critics. And it truly is the one time when everyone has the opportunity to give unconditionally-giving candy to strangers!" For more Halloween Projects: http://www.booityourself.com

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Choosing Scary Halloween Sounds For Your Halloween Party

Halloween sounds are the most important part of your Halloween Party. Many people tend to focus on decorations and costumes during this time of year. While a party would be alright without these scary sounds, the parties that do have them tend to be big hits.

Before you go out and pick up any sounds, you must make certain that they fit in with your theme. Once established you will be able to select the tunes that are going to be essential for your event and take it up to the next level.

Typically you will want to avoid certain sounds that are considered scary, but quickly become some of the most annoying sounds possible. A screaming cat can jolt fear in a person on occasion, but when you have it on repeat, people will start to find that it grates on their nerves. A more effective sound would be the howling of the wind.

Most of these tracks tend to last a considerable amount of time, and the howling mixed with the occasional clanking of chains or even squeaks that appear will send a chill down a person's back. This makes it one of the most effective Halloween sounds you will encounter and you might find people are looking around in fear as you play this track.

If you have a haunted house theme, cackling witches and ghost moans are effective. You just need to be certain they are evenly spread out on the track. Constant moaning and cackling will lose its effectiveness. Try to find a set of tracks that have a mixture of noises that will help you to bring out the fear in the mood.

With the wind blowing and the creaking of an old floorboard these sounds when mixed in sparingly, you get the ultimate mix. In addition, if you can find chimes and organ music they will enhance the level of fear that your guests begin to feel.

Be sure that you keep the environment to match the mood that the music sets to enhance the fun that everyone has as well. If you have a haunting tone usually a brightly lit party zone with colorful balloons isn't the best solution.

Of course if you are looking for a light hearted concept, you can play some of the more classic Halloween songs that are available. "Monster Mash" is one of the best known tunes for this time as is "Thriller" by Michael Jackson. Begin to compile a list of songs that would make for a fun Halloween theme party. Some other suggestions would include:

• A Nightmare on my Street by DJ Jazzy

• Ghost Busters by Ray Parker Jr.

• Halloween Theme Song

• Friday the 13th Theme Song

• This is Halloween by Marilyn Manson

• Purple People Eater by Sheb Wooley

• Tubular Bells

• X-Files Theme Song

This is just a number of ideas you can use. Depending on the theme of your party and musical tastes of your guests you can add additional songs as well. Just remember that some songs can be intense and not appropriate for all ages. Take that into consideration as you begin to create your ultimate playlist filled with the best Halloween sounds available. Most of all enjoy this remarkable holiday.

spookynite.com is a very informative and resourceful Halloween website for Halloween Costumes and all your Halloween Music that you will be looking for.

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How To Use Halloween Sounds To Complete Your Scary Party Or Display

If you are having a Halloween party or just want to make your house scary for trick or treaters, the aesthetic gruesomeness of your house or yard can be enhanced with creepy Halloween sounds. A scream from the bushes or a witch's cackle can make any Halloween decoration come to life and scare both young and old. The sounds will captivate the youngsters as they try to figure out if they are real or a part of the make believe, macabre world that you have created. The sounds of Halloween are just as important as that blood spattered door or the dummy you have hanging in a noose in the tree in your front yard.

You can buy commercial Halloween sounds on CD or audio tape. These types of products have been around for a long time and you might remember the 33 rpm album that was a hit around Halloween time. It featured the screams of the dying, the cackle of an old woman, the howl of the wolf, and even the creaking of an old door. The audio tracks of today are a lot scarier and have more variety. In recent recordings you can hear the screech of a cat, the moan of a ghost, and the screams and torment of a devil possessed soul. There are even recordings that feature the voice and Halloween sounds of Freddy Kruger, Jason, and Michael Myers.

These recordings can be used at Halloween parties or to aid ambiance to your Halloween decorations. A good technique is to use your surround sound system outdoors. You can place the speakers outdoors in different locations so that the high and low sounds come from all around. By doing this you can see the confusion and fright in your visitors eyes as they try to see where the sound is coming from. Have the speakers placed out of site so that the sounds will sound like they are coming from your Halloween displays or the bushes. The more speakers you have the more fun it will create as the Halloween sounds creak and scream around the trick or treaters and their parents.

A unique idea for Halloween sounds is to record your own. You and your friends can really get creative as you record your scariest voices. You can do a wolf howl or a mummy's moan and record it so that it can be played at your Halloween event. Be creative and try different sounds. Bang some pots and pans and use different sound props to create a plethora of scary sounds and terrifying sound affects. Record a vicious sounding dog and play it as your guests walk by. Watch them jump as they think Cujo is about to bite a chunk of them.

Halloween sounds do not have to be limited to the gruesome utterings. You can mix your audio with Halloween songs like 'Monster Mash' and theme songs from 'The Adams Family' and 'The Munsters'. Go wild and let your imagination go wild with you. Remember sounds are as important as looks on Halloween night. Don't go all out on displays and forget your Halloween sounds.

Are you looking for ideas for kids costumes this Halloween? Visit the Get In Costume website for plenty of helpful tips such as Halloween face painting and making your own costumes.

Plus, you can get a free copy of my special report "The Family Guide To Halloween Safety" at http://www.getincostume.com/freereport

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