How To Increase Your Return On Investment (ROI) With The VFX Product Line.

Increasing Your Return on Investment – 6 ways VFX products pay for themselves and help your business succeed. In this article, we are going to share with you how VFX customers have used our products to improve marketing, create massive exposure, and increase attendance.

You’ll learn the secrets to getting the most out of VFX products. And how some businesses increased and even doubled their attendance with these simple strategies.

Learn valuable promotional tips to increase your revenue, and all the ways to use VFX products to give you the best ROI in this informative video.

The 3 core products at VFX that are the main focus of the ROI video are:

1. The Attack Line

2. Crate Creatures

3. The Lunging Line

Another great and popular product is the Bungee Line.

The Bungee Line is a great introductory product that is a little more “pocket-book friendly” to those just getting started with VFX and they made a great addition to your VFX scare tools.

But remember as we’ve said, when utilized correctly, VFX Products can easily pay for themselves!

The Top 6 Levels Of ROI – A Return On Your Investment

More than just Halloween Props & Professional Halloween Costumes

In the ROI Video Patrick Voss from VFX goes into detail on the top 6 ways you can utilize your investment in VFX Products.

Patrick is much more than the man behind VFXcreates.com and the groundbreaking Attack Line Zombie Puppets. Patrick is a veteran haunted house owner and designer. He has years of experience designing, marketing, and running successful haunted houses and attractions.

He uses this experience and insight when designing products alongside Doug Schaefer as they consistently create and develop what has been called in the industry as “Ground Breaking Tech.”

Return on Investment #1

A Unique Interactive Halloween Character

All 3 of the core VFX product lines feature creative characters that provide an array of choices to match your haunt and attraction theme from scary to funny and family-friendly.

These products are big attention getters and you will be sure to stand out in a crowd and even attract a crowd with a Unique Interactive Character and Halloween Prop.

They can also be used as a scary Halloween Costume.

Return on Investment #2

Utilized As A Stand Alone Realistic Haunted House Prop

Using his experience as a Haunted Attraction Operator and Owner, Patrick explains how he would use his own haunted house props.

When not in use by a professional Haunt Actor either in the haunt, at the Que line, or promoting the attraction off-premises, these scary and creepy products can stand alone in a scene.

 These can also be used in a Halloween Store, Seasonal Displays, and as Escape Room Props.

At tradeshows, events, and in the studio, the VFX team uses inexpensive lighting stands, mic stands, and tripods to display their products. The stands are fitted with a special block of wood that helps protect the inside of the Attack Zombie Puppets.

Return on Investment #3

Que Line Entertainment

As Patrick points out an important factor in any type of themed attraction is the entertaining of your Que line.

This is a key ingredient in many top-level and successful haunted houses and attractions. It’s also another opportunity for more marketing since many people will be grabbing photos and videos and sharing them on social media.

Often considered Life Size Halloween Animatronics, these products are not technically animatronics, they are actually Life-Size Puppets.

This makes them very easy to use and move around quickly to different areas. The illusion helps build anticipation within the crowds and ads massive entertainment value to your brand.

Remember… you want people talking and sharing their experience.

Return on Investment #4

Brand Exposure Outside The Attraction

One of the main strategies used by Haunt Owners is the concept of utilizing the props and characters outside the attraction.

Some attraction owners have been able to double their attendance using these marketing strategies.

The main key is to start early and train your team on how to properly use VFX products. 

You can use your VFX product at parades, Zombie walks, events, public gatherings, outside your attraction or store, basically anywhere you can get in front of a lot of people.

Have people follow the actor with the product with flyers, cards, coupons to hand out to people after they experience the puppet. It works like a champ.

Another great trick is to have a large QR code printed out and attach it to the back of the puppet and actor so that people can use their cell phones and go straight to the website for specials, discount codes, directions, etc.

The best part about these particular strategies is that they are for the most part free. (Beyond paying an actor and help)

It is easy to recruit help and this may be something you do as a team-building exercise or do it yourself. Because it is definitely fun and extremely entertaining!

Return on Investment #5

Free Photo & Video Opportunites

This return on investment is related to previous mentions about marketing outside the Haunt and entertaining the Que Line.

If there is one thing that Patrick and the Team at VFX have learned is that people love to take pictures and videos of the VFX products!

This is your opportunity to promote your brand by making sure that your business info, brand name, website address, or even hashtags are front and center in the photos and videos.

This is powerful and FREE marketing and a great way to leverage your exposure by letting the public do the work for you. 

Return on Investment #6

Viral Social Media Exposure

This is the greatest way to gain attention and traffic to your social media and website.

The key is to make sure that your brand is exposed in the pics and videos. We’ve discussed this in the previous ROI strategies.

Going viral can do more than just boost your ratings and traffic, it can gain you, your haunt, business, and brand national and even international exposure.

VFX has had several videos go viral and it’s become a standard in VFX marketing.

At the last Transworld HAAS show in St. Louis VFX had a short clip gain almost 19 million views on TikTok… and counting.

The key to these types of video is to keep them short and sweet, and repeatable. To get a lot of views it’s best that the video be very short so people want to watch it over and over.

Of course, it’s also important to be sure to use the correct hashtags and target the right audience, etc.

This isn’t the first time VFX has taken the internet by storm. 

While the general public may not be the demographic of customers for VFX, it’s more likely YOURS! And this is why YOU need to be using these strategies and techniques to promote your haunt and attraction.

VFX products are more than great scare props, they are marketing tools to help you succeed!

Because then you’ll come back and buy more puppets and products… it happens all the time!

We are constantly asked about the differences between The Puppet Master Sound System™ and The Minion FX System™. So we produced this short video that compares the two. Below are the specs for each product along with links.

Click  Below To Download PDF

The Puppet Master Sound System™

The Puppet Master Sound System™ can take your character, puppet, scene or static prop to the next level and layers of realism to your attraction. This sound system comes with a USB cable and easy to use software to allow you to load up to four custom sound clips to the device. Load music, sound effects and voice-overs. Once you’ve loaded you sounds you can trigger them with the touch of a button which is easy to hide inside the puppet or prop. The level of customization that this product allows you to achieve will make you glad you purchased it.FEATURES:• Wired, 4-button controller (3 foot cat 5 cable)

• Load up to 4 Audio Clips
• Up to 5 Minutes Total of High Quality Audio Internal Memory
• Loop or Restart Sounds – looped sounds can play until you hit another button
• 2 Channels Available – Play 2 sounds at the same time• 2.5″ full range speaker
• Capable of over 100 Decibel output (Louder than a Chainsaw)
• Rechargeable Lithium Ion battery – typically lasts 6-10 hours on a full charge
• Weighs approximately 1 lb
• Approximately 4″ x 4″ x 2″

INCLUDES:
• Puppet Master System
• 4 Button Wired Controller
• 9v Wall Charging Cable
• 3′ USB transfer cable
• 3′ cat 5 trigger cable (can connect longer cable if needed)
• Link to download Windows compatible software  (can be used on Mac with Bootcamp software)
• Access to VFX’s FREE sound effects library

Puppet Master Sound System with Hacker Kit

Puppet Master Hacker Kit

4 Button Controller for Puppet Master

Puppet Master Harness

The Minion FX System™

The Minion FX System™ is about one pound 4”x4”x2” box that puts out sound Over 104 decibels at about a 1 meter distance. That is louder than a chainsaw. Those specs are pretty impressive alone, add to that the capability to program about 5 minutes of high quality audio, ANY sounds you want (up to 12, utilizing the hacker kit, or additional Key fob controller) on two different channels, and the possibilities get even better. Now add to that, a microphone and a six button wireless trigger (both included), and you are getting closer to what the Minion can do. Each trigger has a different wireless address, so you can use two systems together without triggering the wrong one. Then add the six button hacker kit (sold separately) with wireless transmitter so you can put triggers into an actor’s prop, and you’ve got a haunt attraction actors new favorite toy.

FEATURES:
• Wireless, 6-button Key fob Controller (30-50 Foot Range)
• Load up to 12 Audio Clips (6 per Key fob controller or Hacker kit)• Use as a PA System
• Up to 5 Minutes Total of High Quality Audio Internal Memory
• Loop or Restart Sounds – looped sounds can play until you hit another button
• 2 Channels Available – Play 2 sounds at the same time• 2.5″ full range speaker
• Capable of over 100 Decibel output (Louder than a Chainsaw)
• Rechargeable Lithium Ion battery – typically lasts 6-10 hours on a full charge
• Weighs approximately 1 lb
• Approximately 4″ x 4″ x 2″• Capabilities to control lighting and motion effects (with additional products)

INCLUDES:
• Minion FX System
• Six Button Wireless Key Fob Controller (with battery)
• Wired headset/boom microphone
• 9v Wall Charging Cable
• 3′ USB transfer cable
• Link to download Windows compatible software  (can be used on Mac with Bootcamp software)
• Access to VFX’s FREE sound effects library

Minion FX System

Minion FX System with Hacker Kit

Minion Hacker Kit

Minion Harness

VFX and Robot Monkey Lab have just launched their Kickstarter Campaign.

See it LIVE here!  
(Click On Image Below)

A Note From Patrick Voss:

“Back in 2009 I teamed up with James Gregson of Gregson Studios to create a line of DIY videos on how I do some of my effects work. It was called VFXsecrets. With the state of things now, we have decided to revisit that and have several ideas for instructional videos on how to create products like ours.

We are reaching out to you for feedback on what YOU are most interested in with these. Please take a look and give me some feedback. The course that gets the most interest will be the one we do.

Once we pick a course based on level of interest, we will set it up on Kickstarter.com to raise funds to complete it. If you’re not familiar with Kickstarter it’s a crowdfunding website. Whatever course we do will be available after the Kickstarter at a retail price, but during the Kickstarter you’ll be able to order it at a discounted price.

Here’s a BONUS we’re throwing in. If you participate in the Kickstarter for a VFXsecrets course, and it’s successful, the amount you pledge can be used as a one-time discount on your next purchase at full price of select products through VFXcreates.com online store. You can even let a friend use your one-time discount.
(Cannot be used with any other discount or sale. Expires 2 months after a successful Kickstarter ends)”

Watch our video below for more information:

Many VFX customers have purchased online and have not had a chance to talk with us at shows. Others have purchased from us at shows or in person and did not have the chance to receive instruction on how to operate their Attack Line Puppets. So we created this consolidated video of instructional information and great demonstrations by the Puppet Creators and Masters, Patrick Voss and Doug Schaefer.

Covered in this video:

• Puppet Basics
• Product Features
• Techniques For Acting Puppet
• Caring For Puppet
• Puppet Master Sound System Operation

The Attack Line

The Attack Line

Puppets you wear…and SCARE!!! Life-size, interactive character puppets you wear…and SCARE!!! Highly detailed, realistic character puppets, created with haunt attractions and theme parks in mind.

Zombie puppets, clown puppets, scarecrow puppets, werewolf puppets, vampire puppets, mummy puppets and more!

Great to use in your attraction, to entertain your queue line and (MOST IMPORTANTLY) as a marketing tool at other events and in parades, etc. to promote your attraction.

The Puppet Master Sound Systems

The Puppet Master Sound Systems

VFX Electronics – Loud Enough To Wake The DEAD! Sound FX systems for puppets, CosPlay, characters, haunt attractions, escape rooms, etc. VFXcreates.com has some of the most awesome sound FX systems around. The Puppet Master Sound System­™ and the Minion FX System™ each have their own special features. These systems are great for puppets, character VOs, CosPlay, LARPing, haunt attraction scenes, escape room games, mascot characters, theme park characters, etc.