Two inexpensive tricks that would be fitting for Halloween are the "Haunted Hanky" and also a card trick called "The Web". You can see a demo of "The Web" trick at: http://www.penguinmagic.com

I would contact John Bundy through the Café for his lecture notes. He does a very good lecture on adapting props you already have for the Halloween market.

John is probably one of the top Halloween magicians in the country.

Would Skeleton in a closet w/Arthur Stead cd work in a daycare?

I agree with Richard. I have seen and known John Bundy and Morgan for a few years now and he does indeed have some great ideas for Halloween and how to transform your props into fun Halloween themed props. He also has some great insight on routining as well and does a lecture on this from time to time.

Kyle

Have a look at "haunted Castle" either here
http://www.derekrutt.com/haunted%20castle%201.htm
Or at the top of the little darlings page

Derek

I just got back from Kidabra and there was a Halloween night. Some ideas using props you had (Barry Mitchell's was extremely cleaver as was Duane Laflin's) but most were selling complete rouitnes.

I hope to have on the website soon a 20th Century Ghost set. It will be a purple silk with a handpainted ghost and orange silks for high visibility. I will also be making some 9" ghosts to work with TT. I have in stock a streamer that has Jack O Lanterns on it.

I know a lot of people say "Gee I don't want to spend all that money on props I can only use once a year" But Halloween is the second biggest holiday behind Christmas.

I would lean towards the more whimiscal effects that are spooky not the blood and gore items. A head chopper or disceto could be done but I would use a very light comical approach. I think the public gets enough of the blood and gore in the theaters.

Richard

Likewise from KIDabra, Tim Sonefelt has a whimsical haunted house & ghost silk routine currently in production. His website: http://www.wonderimagery.com (Hey!! I got it right this time, Donald!).

The KIDabra Halloween and Christmas showcases were professionally video taped and will be hitting the market soon. These showcases included holiday-specific routines performed by David Kaye, Barry Mitchell, Jim Kleefeld, Dwayne Laflin, Steve Taylor, Ken Scott, Dave Risley, Ralph the Great and others...complete with explanations for each effect and performance tips. Keep an eye open as these will be very worthwhile DVD's for the kidshow performer's library!

Skip

Be sure to make a BIG black spider balloon - two black 11" rounds tied together by the nozzles (one a little larger than the other) plus three black 260's joined at the same juncture as the rounds - instant scary spider!

Check out Derek Rutt creations on the web. I am ordering some products from him - he has some cool jungle stuff and some ghostly items. I never recommend to scare the little darlings, his props are very suitable for a scary show. Also Mike Bents forgetful frankie from Murphys Magic.
Regards
Mike

Just saw this on the Hocus-Pocus Website!

Looks like it could be the New "KING" of All Halloween Effects!!!

gO TO: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/?hn=1

THEN CLICK ON: Jack O' Lantern Animated Sphere by Losander


=Frank=

Tim Sonefelt did version of the zombie with his lecture years ago. He made it up into a jackolantern.

Richard

Yay, you got it right this time, Skip! You win a cookie! Hehehe!

- Donald

I've seen a skull zombie (made of foam), or any plastic skull you could zombify. Zombie is great for halloween. In the same vein, you could do the Tenyo(?) Glorpy effect using the little rattle/no-rattle house that comes with it and a good story.

As for making something move, try transposition. Multiplying bananas with a story about the hungry ghost who steals them every time you pack for a picnic. Blooming Bouquet with a monster who eat flowers. Lota Bowl seems perfect here, leave it on your table the whole show, intermittently 'feeling a chill' and shivering, then showing the water.

A sidenote: Sammy Smith has done the Arm Chopper for kids, and in context it's not scary at all. I would stay away from Guillotines or jigsaws, but a comedy arm chopper always goes over well. Kids are just small adults, they like violence!

Well this post has been dead for awhile, but Halloween is just around the corner. I have been in the market for some halloween tricks and came across Derek Rutts website. He has a lot of great items for sale, but also are his ideas. If you have some items like these you can easily convert them to do some of the same routines, of course you can always buy new ones also. An example would be if you have run rabbit run, I made a decal of a ghost and attached them to each of the rabbits. Now my rabbits are ghost, and the out side portion I used the foam boards to make a castle back drop.

The Wizards' Journal # 4 (on my site) has many new Halloween effects in it, not just redecorating old ones. Of course, check all the Wizards' Journals, because Halloween items are posted throughout. There are other items, like "Hat For All Seasons" in Wizards' Journal #8 that can be adapted to any seasonal theme (hence the name!) including Halloween. Don't feel you have to buy anything when you visit the Magic Nook. It's a great place to go just to stimulate your own brain cells and get ideas!