DAY 1 – Setup.

“We’re here! What’s in all these bags?”

From Patrick Voss – FEAR EXPO LIVE in Owensboro, KY.

“We pulled up to the loading dock door and 4 Fear Expo crew members came out with floor dollies and helped us load-in. This place is nice. Convention center is beautiful and hotel is awesome.

As we set up the booth today Fear Expo crew gave us water and each booth got a bottle of hand sanitizer. We’ve been asked at least 4x if we need anything or any help. It’s been great.

Thank you Fear Expo Crew!!”

DAY 2 – Friday Fear Expo Live Opens.

“Booth Setup & Open For Haunt Business”

“Patrick Voss from VFX shows us around booth 702 at Fear Expo Live. VFX is one of the main sponsors of the show and brought some fantastic products to showcase. Check them out all weekend and you can enter to win a year of classes at the Stan Winston School of Character Arts.“

DAY 3 – Sat Fear Expo Live

“VFX Front Page Local Newspaper”

“Fear Expo Live brings haunters to town.

Patrick Voss, owner and art director of VFX of Fairview Heights, Ill, interacts with the life-size puppet, Psy-Co the Clown, for passersby on Friday at the Fear Expo in Owensboro Convention Center.”

About The Show

The Pro Haunt Show is the result of a last minute concept that was developed by the VFX Team and Gregson Studios when we learned that Transworld 2020 was cancelled due to Covid. Since we were all self quarantined and had limited resources we pulled together the cameras and equipment we had available and tossed together a quick set and streamed the show live on YouTube and Facebook.

The entire series was unscripted and we relied only on a basic outline for what to cover in each show. This version has been re-edited and has been broken down into shorter episodes since the original was a grueling marathon of fun and madness.

The Attack Line – Hagitha the Witch

Patrick introduces Hagitha The Witch, a new addition to the VFX Attack Line of Puppets. He also gives us some tips and tricks for properly operating and caring for your Attack Line Puppets.

About Hagitha the Witch Puppet

Hagitha the Witch is always looking for yummy,…er, I mean adorable children that can fit in her soup pot, er, I mean play with her kitty. Yes, that’s it, her sweet, black kitty!

This Hagitha the Witch Attack Line Puppet comes dressed in a black, period costume with witch hat and all the amazing features as our Attack Line Puppets, including a 2X, gray hoodie/harness with fake, removable fist disguise so that your puppeteer looks like Hagitha just jumped on them and is riding them instead of a broom. You can choose which style of eyes you’d like for your witch puppet – Wicked or Mismatched. Comes with preloaded audio so she is ready to use out of the box when you receive her. Custom audio in character voices are available for additional charge. Contact VFX for more details.

(Note: Clothing may vary)

This puppet includes a custom Puppet Master Sound System™ and free shipping in the continental US!

Lunging Line – Illusion Box

Doug reviews the basics of the Banshee Boxes from the VFX Lunging Line. He explains how they are properly used and takes a look at the built in Puppet Master Sound System™.

The Lunging Line features an array of innovative products that are designed to confuse and entertain guests at haunt attractions, theme parks and anyone for a Halloween costume.

About the Banshee Box – Ghost Illusion

We’ve been hiding a few tricks up our sleeve, now we unleash our First in a line of Illusion Boxes, The Banshee Box. Designed and created by VFX artist Doug Schaefer.

From this rustic wood box that looks empty, you can hear a music box playing along with whispers of a little girl that seems to ask “Why won’t you come and play with me?”. Once your audience is drawn closer to inspect – BOOM – you can Launch out the Screaming Light-up Banshee Face!

Great for queue entertainment or roaming characters, this completely portable prop has lights and sound powered by Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (Batteries Included)

These Illusions come with a built in 100+ decibel Puppet Master Sound System™ to complete the effect. The Puppet Master Sound System™ triggers are located on the bottom of the box, for ease of operation. The sound system comes complete with 4 sound effects, is rechargeable, and lasts 6-10 hours on a single charge.

LED lights are powered by a separate rechargeable battery that lasts up to 8 hours on a charge.

There are no pneumatic cylinders, motors, or servos to maintain as the animation is all mechanical, which means less that can malfunction or break.

2020 / 2021 Catalog

You can still download the latest VFX Catalog “Famous Puppets of Hauntland”

Bungee Heads

The Bungee Line is a very popular startle and scare product from VFX that was designed to be more pocketbook-friendly to those on a tight budget who don’t want to skimp on quality or scare factor.

Doug is the VFX bungee expert and provides some tips and tricks to proper operation and safety. He also gives us some back story to the Bungee Head concept.

More About Bungee Heads

The Bungee Prop Line is the brainchild of VFX artist Doug Schaefer, while sitting with his own severed head in his hands, he had the idea to add a bungee cord into the molding process so it could be tossed towards unsuspecting guests to give them a great startle.

These life-size, foam filled latex props weigh 2-3 lbs. and have an embedded bungee cord with multiple layers of reinforcement to help it last longer. Includes a heavy duty cord lock to adjust and secure the bungee to the user’s wrist.

Crate Creatures

Patrick Introduces us to Trixie the Baby Triceratops Dino Puppet, one of the more Family Friendly creations in the VFX product line up.

He explains how the system works and gives us a quick look at the built in Puppet Master Sound System™.

More About Trixie

This crate creature dinosaur is alive and well, and hungry. This T-rex was genetically developed deep in the bowels of RM Labs. Splicing together dinosaur and A few reptilian DNA strands, and injecting into a reptile egg, RM Labs was able to bring this once extinct creature back to life.
As the baby began to grow, and its teeth started to come in, a scientist realized a warning would be needed to prevent potential bite injuries. The baby T-Rex is playful at times, but it must always be remembered that it is still a carnivore, and can be dangerous near feeding time.

Puppet Master Sound System

In this part of the show, the guys demonstrate some of the exclusive electronics products offered through VFX and we start with the Puppet Master Sound System™. It is included in The Attack Line Puppets, The Lunging Line and The Crate Creature Line. They also present it as a stand alone system and explain the functionality as well as add-on options available.

Details on The Puppet Master

Take your character, puppet, scene or static prop to the next level and layers of realism to your attraction with the Puppet Master Sound System™. This sound system comes with a USB cable and easy to use software to allow you to upload up to four custom sound clips to the device. Load music, sound effects, voice-overs, whatever! 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 the Puppet Master Sound System™.

Each of our Attack Line wearable puppets comes equipped with a Puppet Master Sound System™, but you can purchase this product separately to add additional sounds to your Attack Line or to turn any puppet purchased anywhere into a screaming, howling or laughing spectacle!

The Minion Effects System

The next in the electronics lineup is The Minion FX System. It’s sort of like The Puppet Master Sound System on Steroids… oh and it’s wireless!

Technical Info on 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, not to mention a lot lighter in weight. Those specs are pretty impressive alone, add to that the capability to program about 5 minutes of high quality sounds, ANY sounds you want (up to 12, utilizing the hacker kit, not included with this kit) on two different channels, and the possibilities get even better, your most effective haunted house characters are not limited to whoever can carry and run with a chainsaw. Now add to that, a microphone and a six button wireless trigger (both included), and you are getting closer to what the Minion Actor Sound System™ can do, and each trigger has a different wireless address, so you can use two systems together with out 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.

So now actors can walk through a crowd and have theme music playing wherever they go, and it will be heard. They can pre-record a speech they say hundreds of times each night and just lip-sync and save their voice. They can growl, howl or cackle all night long and not go horse. They can add horn noises to a creepy clown, or loud “caws” to the crow prop on the gravedigger’s shoulder, the possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

Stay Tuned for the Next Episode of The Pro Haunt Show!

Want to learn more about the products featured in this Episode?

The Attack Line Puppets

The Lunging Line

Bungee Heads

Crate Creatures

VFX Electronics

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!

#CayetanaEH

Patrick Voss, the owner of VFX, received an email from Adrian Cervera, producer of El Hormiguero, one of the most popular live TV talk shows in Spain. The show had purchased a Munch Zombie Puppet from VFX and were going to use it on the show for some fun. 

“They had a lot of fun scaring the crew before the show and Munch was obviously a hit with the hosts and audience. They discussed how the VFX puppet worked and the sound buttons being hidden under the puppet’s pant leg.”

“If we had known in advance we could have helped them load some Spanish voiceovers on the puppet to use for the show.”  Voss was just excited to see one of his and lead artist, Doug Schaefer’s creations being used on live TV in another country.

The incredibly detailed puppet creations by VFX have scared and entertained people all over the world at haunt attractions, theme parks, and in individual’s homes. The company is continuously developing new, innovative products.

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

What a crazy year this has been! We normally do 5-8 tradeshows and conventions through the year to generate around 95% of our orders. This year we had one show in January…that’s it. We were preparing for the March TransWorld Halloween and Attractions Show with new and expanded catalogs, new products, a killer booth, relaunching the Minion FX System, as well as launching the new, cutting edge Voice Shifter by SFX Mods. Everything was lining up for an incredible year. And then, one by one the shows all cancelled due to Covid-19.

We started trying different things to generate online sales, from virtual shows to our own web show, Pro Haunt Show.

We even mailed out catalogs to hundreds of customers and potential customers, the first time ever. Resulting in a trickle of orders to just get by, month to month. It got to where I had to lay off Doug and Sandy…no orders…no income. That was not fun.

People were calling, texting, emailing, sending messages through our website chat system, asking questions about our products. There were numerous people who told me they saw the video and were like, “I have to have that!” Asking people how they found us and what key words they searched for us with brought some interesting feedback, like… 

• Hugging Puppet
• Zombie Doll Prop
• Wrap-around Zombie
• Zombie Doll
• Halloween Zombie Puppet
• Life-size Zombie
• Zombie Grabber
• Realistic Zombie Puppet
• Zombie Animatronic
• Clinging Zombie Puppet

…and so many more!

Take care, stay safe, wear a mask, wash your hands, don’t touch your face, keep your distance and keep your fingers crossed for 2021 to be the most awesome year for Halloween ever! Heck, start NOW to make it the most awesome Halloween ever!

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: