To all of our instructors, we could never do it

2008. That was the first year we converged onto the Lone Star Convention Center and started out annual journey to the Academy. Since then a lot of things in our hobby have changed. Decorating groups and forums have folded and, in their place, new ones have come to life. Technological advances have changed the scope of our shared holiday. New ideas have emerged that were previously unthought‐of in decorating our homes and sharing them with our communities. The hobby has changed, and each year the Academy team has worked tirelessly to create an event that moves with those shifts. For the past four years, The Lone Star Holidays Academy set a standard of excellence for holiday events. Every year, the Academy runs for multiple days of learning, socializing, sharing, and growing. With dozens of classes held in multiple rooms, every attendee has the opportunity to enhance their holiday knowledge, regardless of experience level. So how could we improve on things? We could have just continued to have our event, focused on the local members of Lone Star Holidays, and have plenty of fun. Fortunately for everyone in attendance today, that’s not our style! Once again in 2013 Lone Star Holidays has partnered with DIY Light Animation and the Dallas/Fort Worth Friends of Halloween to combine all of the various aspects of our shared hobby. These additions make the Academy the can’t‐miss holiday event of the year. The planning of the Academy, or any event, is never easy. The education and logistics of planning make for a long year but we firmly believe that the experience of our attendees makes it all worthwhile to each of us. Everyone involved in the planning of the Academy has worked hard to meet the standard the event has created in the past, and we hope you agree that we have achieved and surpassed that goal. Have fun this weekend and Happy EVERYTHING! Rules of the Road… Hours of Operation: Friday June 12, 2013: Doors open at 11:00 am Vendor Room is open from 4:30 pm until 8:00 pm Saturday June 13, 2013: Doors open at 8:00 am Vendor Room is open from 10:00 am until 4:30 pm Sunday June 14, 2013: Doors open at 8:00 am Vendor Room is open from 9:00 am until 1:30 pm NOTE: Please make every effort to be on time for classes & avoid any disruptions. Classes: Classes are free for any paid attendee or vendor representative to attend. Photography or recording (audio and video) during the classes is at the discretion of each instructor. Please review the schedule of courses so that you may attend those of most interest/benefit to you and your display. The class descriptions in this workbook are broken up into different “tracks” so that there is something for everyone. Regardless of experience, feel free to attend any classes that interest you. Vendor Room: The Vendor Room is open to all paid attendees as well as any guests. There may be times when a vendor representative is unavailable as they also serve as some of our class instructors. Please be respectful of the vendors’ products and prices. Special Needs and/or Requests: If you have any needs during the Academy, please seek out any of the Board Members. They will be introduced during each day’s opening remarks. WATCH YOUR EMAIL FOR A LINK TO THE ATTENDEE SURVEY. YOUR FEEDBACK MAKES THE ACADEMY BETTER EACH YEAR.
THE HISTORY OF THE ACADEMY In 2008, shortly after the conclusion of the Conroe Workshop, discussions began about the positives and negatives of several of the Christmas decorating groups. There were a lot of tough talks and back‐and‐forth about these issues and a lot of interesting perspectives came to the surface. On the foundation of those discussions, a decision was made to start something new: Lone Star Holidays. The first piece of the puzzle was to establish Lone Star Holidays as a registered non‐profit organization within the State of Texas. For that to happen we needed to have three Directors named, who essentially held the ownership of the corporation. Those Directors did not want to simply have an organization that they were in charge of; they wanted a truly democratic organization. The Directors asked several of the most active and respected decorators in Texas to step into an officer role for the first year. Their responsibility was to establish some groundwork for Lone Star Holidays and carry the new organization through its first year. With open elections held in 2009 and 2011, Lone Star Holidays continues to be the only holiday decorating group to hold elections in this manner and it is just another example of the true democratic nature of your organization. 2009 saw Lone Star Holidays workgroups across the state with a variety of holiday‐related topics that were facilitated by some of our most knowledgeable members. That spirit of relationship‐building continued as we held the largest event of our young history: the 2009 Lone Star Holidays Academy. The inaugural Academy was a fulfilling and exciting time for everyone who attended. With several vendors on‐hand and over 20 classes, the 80+ attendees had the opportunity to come together and close out our first year with a bang. In June of 2010, the second Lone Star Holidays Academy took place with over 150 attendees converging on Houston for another two day event built around learning from some of the best decorators in the area. The Lone Star Holidays 2011 Academy returned to the Lone Star Convention Center in Conroe for another multi‐day event. Shortly after the conclusion of the event, DIY Light Animation reached out to join forces with Lone Star Holidays to create the very best holiday event ever. From those discussions the wheels began turning on the 2012 edition. In 2012 we took the event to a different level by inviting the team from DIY Light Animation and the Dalla/Fort Worth Friends of Halloween to help develop new and exciting tracks of education. We also included more venders than ever before, which allowed attendees to enjoy seeing new products and meet some of their favorites. As we celebrate our victories and open the 2013 Academy, the event continues to grow and our attendees build new relationships, which is truly what this event has always been about. The planners of this Academy work hard to ensure you have the best experience, because it truly is YOU who make this event what it is. From all of the Academy planners… Happy EVERYTHING! Enjoy the Academy! FRIDAY
Blue Bonnet 1
Blue Bonnet 2
Blue
Bonnet 3
(100: Round Tables)
Yellow
Rose 1 & 2
(30‐35: Classroom)
Yellow
Rose 3 & 4
(30‐35: Classroom)
Yellow Rose 5
(20: Classroom)
Beginners Guide to DIY Light Animation
(Kurt Gustafson)
SWAP MEET &
BEVERAGE STATION
Nutcracker Massive RGB Animations
Made Simple
(Sean Meighan)
SWAP MEET &
BEVERAGE STATION
Understanding DMX,
E1.31, and Pixelnet
(RJ)
SWAP MEET &
BEVERAGE STATION
7:30 AM
7:45 AM
8:00 AM
8:15 AM
8:30 AM
8:45 AM
9:00 AM
9:15 AM
CLOSED FOR SETUP
9:30 AM
9:45 AM
10:00 AM
10:15 AM
10:30 AM
10:45 AM
11:00 AM
11:15 AM
11:30 AM
DOORS OPEN FOR REGISTRATION
11:45 AM
12:00 PM
12:15 PM
WELCOME TO
THE ACADEMY
12:30 PM
MOVE BETWEEN CLASSES
12:45 PM
1:00 PM
Halloween:
Starting from Scratch
(Mike Carr)
1:15 PM
1:30 PM
Light Show Pro I Pt 1
(Edward Vassallo)
Starting from Scratch:
Display Design
(David Moore)
2:00 PM
2:15 PM
2:30 PM
2:45 PM
3:00 PM
3:15 PM
VENDOR AREA CLOSED
1:45 PM
MOVE BETWEEN CLASSES
Mechanical Props
Eric Kristiansen
Light Show Pro 1 Pt 2
(Edward Vassallo)
Starting from Scratch:
From Static to Animated
(Larry McGough)
MOVE BETWEEN CLASSES
3:30 PM
Finishes and Foam
Alex Lohmann
3:45 PM
4:00 PM
Light Show Pro II
(Edward Vassallo)
Starting from Scratch:
Light O Rama Hardware
(Don Teague)
4:15 PM
4:30 PM
4:45 PM
DINNER (ON YOUR OWN)
CLASSROOMS WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR
SOCIALIZATION & INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS
5:00 PM
5:30 PM
5:45 PM
6:00 PM
6:15 PM
6:30 PM
VENDOR AREA OPEN
5:15 PM
Haunted House
Room Layout
(Alex Lohmann)
Light Show Pro
Open Forum
(Edward Vassallo
& Ron Duszak)
Costuming & Character Development
(Alex & Jennifer Lohmann)
7:15 PM
7:30 PM
7:45 PM
8:00 PM
8:15 PM
CLOSING REMARKS
Marketing & Website Forum Discussion
SWAP MEET &
BEVERAGE STATION
Marketing & Website Forum Discussion
SWAP MEET &
BEVERAGE STATION
MOVE BETWEEN CLASSES
6:45 PM
7:00 PM
Starting from Scratch:
Electricity 101
(Anthony Vetrano)
Light Show Pro
Open Forum
(Edward Vassallo
& Ron Duszak)
Starting from Scratch:
Audio Solutions
(Ethan Gekoski)
CLOSED
Blue Bonnet 2
Blue
Bonnet 3
(100: Round Tables)
Yellow
Rose 1 & 2
(30‐35: Classroom)
Easy and Impactful Halloween Edition
(Scare Sessions Team)
Xlights
(Matt Brown)
9:30 AM
Configuring & Using San Devices Pixel Controllers
(Jim St John)
9:45 AM
MOVE BETWEEN CLASSES
SATURDAY Blue Bonnet 1
Yellow
Rose 3 & 4
(30‐35: Classroom)
Yellow Rose 5
(20: Classroom)
8:00 AM
DOORS OPEN
8:15 AM
8:30 AM
OPENING
8:45 AM
9:00 AM
9:15 AM
CLOSED
10:00 AM
Working with Pneumatics
(Joe Rogers)
10:15 AM
10:30 AM
10:45 AM
Using The Ether‐
Dongle/Conductor/ Slave/ Smart Strings
(RJ)
Light O Rama BS:
Beyond Sequencing
(Johnny Poore)
Beginners Guide to DIY Light Animation (Kurt Gustafson)
SWAP MEET &
BEVERAGE STATION
Nutcracker: Massive RGB Animations Made Simple
(Sean Meighan)
SWAP MEET &
BEVERAGE STATION
Buy it, Make it, Break it, Fix it 101
(Rick Stone)
SWAP MEET &
BEVERAGE STATION
MOVE BETWEEN CLASSES
11:00 AM
11:15 AM
Introduction to
Simple Haunt Makeup
(Jennifer Lohmann)
11:30 AM
11:45 AM
The Lynx Zeus (RJ)
12:00 PM
Interfacing Non‐
Lighting Elements in Your Display
(Clyde Dearing)
12:15 PM
12:45 PM
1:00 PM
1:15 PM
1:30 PM
1:45 PM
CLOSED FOR LUNCH (ON YOUR OWN)
CONCESSIONS STAND WILL BE OPEN
VENDOR ROOM OPEN
12:30 PM
2:00 PM
Afternoon Events/Activities (Rooms TBD):
Soldering Lab
Bubbles, Snow & Fog
Haunt Fair
Lighting Your Haunt Panel
Easy & Impactful Christmas
2:15 PM
2:30 PM
2:45 PM
3:00 PM
3:15 PM
3:30 PM
3:45 PM
4:00 PM
4:15 PM
4:30 PM
DINNER (ON YOUR OWN)
CLASSROOMS WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR
SOCIALIZATION & INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS
4:45 PM
5:00 PM
5:15 PM
5:30 PM
5:45 PM
6:15 PM
6:30 PM
6:45 PM
7:00 PM
7:15 PM
VENDOR ROOM TBD
6:00 PM
7:30 PM
7:45 PM
8:00 PM
8:15 PM
CLOSING
REMARKS
Introduction to airbrushing and airbrush makeup
(Alex Lohmann)
Soldering Lab
Light O Rama Visualizer
(Don Teague)
Using Your Display
For A Charity
(Rob Duszak)
SWAP MEET &
BEVERAGE STATION
Photography 101
(Larry McGough)
SWAP MEET &
BEVERAGE STATION
MOVE BETWEEN CLASSES
3D prosthetics, effects & wounds
in latex & silicons (Jennifer Lohmann)
Soldering Lab
Using Madrix
(Jim St John)
CLOSED
SUNDAY
Blue Bonnet 1
Blue Bonnet 2
Blue
Bonnet 3
(100: Round Tables)
Yellow
Rose 1 & 2
(30‐35: Classroom)
Yellow
Rose 3 & 4
(30‐35: Classroom)
Yellow Rose 5
(20: Classroom)
Nutcracker
Advanced Topics
(Sean Meighan)
SWAP MEET &
BEVERAGE STATION
The Many Twists of
the Helix Controller (Greg Bartlett)
SWAP MEET &
BEVERAGE STATION
7:30 AM
7:45 AM
8:00 AM
8:15 AM
DOORS
OPEN
8:30 AM
OPENING
CLOSED FOR CLASSROOM SET UP
MOVE BETWEEN CLASSES
8:45 AM
9:00 AM
9:15 AM
Knowing Your Audience
(Mike Carr & Eric Kristiansen)
9:30 AM
10:15 AM
10:30 AM
10:45 AM
11:00 AM
11:15 AM
11:30 AM
VENDOR AREA OPEN
DOOR PRIZES AT 11:45AM
9:45 AM
10:00 AM
Wireless DMX (Steve Gase)
Sharing With
The World
(Johnny Poore)
MOVE BETWEEN CLASSES
How to make an
inexpensive corpse
(Alex Lohmann)
11:45 AM
Buy it, Make it,
Break it, Fix it 101
(Rick Stone)
Sounds of Music
with Audacity
(Joe Rogers)
CLOSED‐ DOOR PRIZES AWARDED IN VENDOR ROOM AT 11:45
12:00 PM
12:15 PM
CLOSED FOR LUNCH (ON YOUR OWN)
CONCESSIONS STAND WILL BE OPEN
12:30 PM
12:45 PM
1:00 PM
1:15 PM
1:30 PM
2:00 PM
2:15 PM
2:30 PM
2:45 PM
3:00 PM
3:15 PM
3:30 PM
3:45 PM
4:00 PM
MAIN HALL OPEN
VENDOR AREA CLOSED FOR TEAR DOWN
1:45 PM
4:15 PM
4:30 PM
Making plaster
plate mold for props
and prosthetics (Alex Lohmann)
Advanced
Soldering (RJ) The Claus Transformation
(Ryan Johnson)
How to make a
flexible silicon block mold
(Alex Lohmann)
The Future of DLA:
A Talk with RJ
Taking Photos and Video of Your Display
(Larry McGough)
Using Servos in
Your Haunt
(Don McBride)
The Future of DLA:
A Talk with RJ
Continued
Video Editing
(Chris Sims)
5:00 PM
CLOSED 5:30 PM
5:45 PM
TEAR DOWN COMPLETED BY 6:30 PM
6:00 PM
6:15 PM
6:30 PM
6:45 PM
7:15 PM
7:30 PM
7:45 PM
Light Show Pro I Pt 2
(Edward Vassallo)
SWAP MEET &
BEVERAGE STATION
Light Show Pro II
(Edward Vassollo)
SWAP MEET &
BEVERAGE STATION
MOVE BETWEEN CLASSES
5:15 PM
7:00 PM
SWAP MEET &
BEVERAGE STATION
MOVE BETWEEN CLASSES
4:45 PM
GOODBYES
Light Show Pro I Pt 1
(Edward Vassallo)
CLOSED
Intro to Light‐O‐Rama Hardware (Don Teague of Synchronized Christmas): Light‐O‐Rama continues to be the hardware option of choice for many, many decorators and we would be remiss to not cover the hardware aspects associated with it. If you’re new to the game and considering Light‐O‐Rama, this is the place to start. We will cover all of the available options from a hardware standpoint: Pros and cons, ideas for usage, and real‐world stories of integration that will help you make an informed decision on your future purchases. Photograph & Video Your Display (Larry McGough): “I want good pictures and video of my house but I don’t have the fanciest equipment and I don’t know how to make it look good!” We’ve heard that time and time again and we’re going to do something about it. Larry McGough of Panasonic will be on hand to guide you through the basics of capturing your display. Types of equipment, settings, tips and tricks to help you get the best results possible will all be a part of this session. Video Editing (Chris Sims): You have your photos and video and they look great. You took video from several angles so you could represent your display in the best way. Now what? Developing an attractive video package to share with your family and friends isn’t always easy. This course will help you with some best practices to help you get a finished video you can be proud of. Integrating Non‐Lighting Elements (Clyde Dearing): Our own Master Elf Clyde Dearing will take you on the journey of integrating some exciting pieces to your display… that don’t have a single flicker of light! Snow machines, bubblers and foggers have become more reasonably priced and attractive to holiday enthusiasts. As someone who has used all of these for many years, Clyde will show you how he integrated into his display, give you some best practices for placement, and show you ways to “trigger” your elements from your computer control system (because it’s not as easy as plug it in and let ‘er rip!). Note: During the “Recess‐ School’s Out!” Saturday sessions we will be looking at some of these machines up close and even demoing a few for you. Sharing With The World (Johnny Poore): You want to get your display music and voiceovers to the masses, but you’re wondering which radio transmitter you need. Not all are created equally, nor will everyone work for every yard/display. In this class we’ll be discussing the different options and features of transmitters, what’s legal (and what isn’t!), and also delving into antennas. Come and learn how to share your display with the world… or at least with the folks parked in front of the house! Photography 101 (Larry McGough from Panasonic): Ever grabbed your camera, took an adorable photo of your child, and then realized that it came out a blurry mess? We’ve ALL missed those moments! At the Academy, we are once again offering the traditonal “How to Photograph and Video Your Display” but this came specific class came as a result of event feedback in the past. Larry McGough of Panasonic was asked by many folks to teach a general Photo 101 level class and so here it is! Bring your camera and questions (or both) and learn how to use your camera, not just in your displays, but all year round. The Claus Transformation (Ryan Johnson): In 2012 the Academy held classes that dealt with the very basics of having Santa Claus in your displays and holiday gatherings. We are working to incorporate that information again this year but we had a very specific request in our post‐
Academy survey: SHOW people how to transform into Santa! That’s exactly what we will be doing this year as we will take the instructor from their everyday look to becoming Jolly Old St Nick right before your eyes! Using Your Display for Charity (Ron Duszak): Have you wanted to raise money for your favorite charity by using donations from your display? This is a very admirable goal but one that requires some planning and knowledge. Ron Duszak has been using his display to fund‐raise for years and will discuss the things you need to know to ensure you do it “the right way”. Using SanDevice Pixel Controllers (Jim St John of SanDevices): You’ve heard of SanDevices but aren’t sure how they can help you with your display. Jim St John (the owner) and Alan Dahl (a residential user) will give you a description of the feature sets of the various controllers in the SanDevices product line. Together they will explain all of the many configuration options, the pros and cons of Unicast, Multicast, and Art‐Net, and pixel system design considerations including the advantages of various pixel types. A Beginner’s Guide to DIY Light Animation (Kurt Gustafson): This session is an A to Z look at this obsession. It is intended for . Kurt, who has taught at the Academy before and is a great presenter, will also be sharing some beginner‐level information on RGB lighting, which seems to cause the most angst amongst people who have not worked with RGB before. This is a session that will be held first thing on Friday AND Saturday to let beginners get their ‘feet wet’ and provide just enough info to get you digging and wanting more! Introducing the Zeus Controller (RJ): The Zeus is the next in in the line of the Smart String controllers from DIY Light Animation. Zeus is a 16 string Smart String controller that includes a built in hub and standard fuses. It is a very cost effective part of the Smart String system that handles larger string count items like mega trees etc. In addition to learning about this exciting innovation, the Zeus will be demoed (meaning it’s there, not just talked about or on a PowerPoint screen) AND cooped for the attendees of the Academy. Buy It, Make It, Break It, Fix It 101 (Rick Stone): This session is just what it sounds like; an opportunity to delve into repairing anything related to DIY Electronics. Ever bought something and then started to wonder what made it tick? This is the class for you. We’ll take some items right through the process‐ you bought it, and then wondered how to make it yourself. So you broke it down, and then figured out how to fix it. Advanced Soldering (RJ): Soldering is an essential skill for the DIY decorator. You have the basics and your soldering station is set up and ready to go. What’s the next steps? RJ will help you with that. Like any other skill, soldering takes time to get better at. This advanced session takes you beyond the basics and will help you hone your soldering skills. Note: If you’re new to soldering, be sure to visit the Soldering lab on Saturday before heading to this Advanced class on Sunday. There are no pre‐requisites at the Academy but you will have a much better understanding if you have the basics first. The Many Twists of the Helix Controller (Greg Bartlett): When the Helix debuted in 2008 it was the first standalone DIY light controller and the first to use XBee radios for wireless networking. Since that time it has gone through several revisions and remains one of the most advanced and versatile light controllers available. Come learn the intricacies of the Helix controller from the developer (Greg Bartlett) and discover how it can take your display to the next level. The ABC’s of Using the Etherdongle and Conductor (RJ): This class is intended to bring you up to speed on the use of the Lynx Etherdongle and Conductor to help overcome some of the challenges that arise when putting on displays in the past. The session will cover not only what they are and how they work but how to use them in your show and the steps to set them up, how to create chows and schedules, and hoe to connect them to create almost unlimited sized shows without the headaches. Understanding DMX/ E1.31/Pixelnet (RJ): DMX? E1.31? Pixelnet? What does all of that mean? Don’t worry, RJ from DIY Light Animation has you covered. This session will get you up to speed on each of these components and help you figure out what is right for you and your display. Wireless DMX (Steve Gase): How do you make your DMX devices run wirelessly? Steve is going to show you how it’s done in this session. Take your DMX knowledge to the next level! The Future of DLA‐ A Talk with RJ: This class is intended to show the progress over the years of DIY Light Animation, whats going on now and where it is heading in the future. Easy and Impactful: Our resident TV star Clyde Dearing, who originated and taught this course for many years, wanted to do a less‐formal approach this year. Instead of a class session we’ll be able to have a more relaxed atmosphere, see some pieces in person and others on the big screen. These types of “show and tell” always seem to bring in new ideas so be sure to bring your own! Our hope is that you can gain some new and exciting ideas that you can add to your holiday displays. Haunt Fair: Because of the schedule and number of classes it is difficult to do actual builds at the Academy. So once again we are coordinating show and tell and prop specific demos during the first Haunt Fair. You’ll see everything from stationary objects to the more complex animated figures. There will be lots of items on hand for you to see up close and ask questions about. Move from section to section and see some of the unique display props for your Halloween haunt. Lighting Your Haunt Panel: Light can be a powerful resource in a haunt IF you know how to use it correctly. Sometimes the simplest items, used subtlety, are a big success in a haunt. During this panel we will be talking about the simplest spot lights, to black lighting, and finally to using animated lighting control to create some amazing results. You never knew what that single light bulb in the garage could do for your haunt! Bring your questions, be ready to learn and ready to share. Floods/Bubblers/Snow Machines: This session (not a class) will partner perfectly with the “Integrating Non‐Lighting Elements” class and show you various hardware options you have available. We have done the LSH Bubble Off in the past and we held the Flood Off in 2012 but this year we’re stepping it up for An “Off” Experience! Clyde Dearing and his team of elves will be coordinating several hands on demos of bubblers, snow machines and foggers. Come and see these pieces up close in this all‐demo, all‐Q&A session. Soldering Workshop: “Until a year ago I didn’t even own a soldering iron.” This was made in a recent post by one of our long‐time attendees and is a great example of the different levels of knowledge in our shared hobby. We have some of the most creatively technical minds in the holiday hobby and for 2013 we’re taking Soldering to a new level. In 2012 we tried having a Soldering Room open for an entire day but it was nearly impossible for folks to get to that room because they didn’t want to miss any of the other classes. For 2013 we have what we think is the solution. During the Soldering Workshop you can drop by, get tips from the experienced attendees and actually have the opportunity to sit down at a soldering station to try your hand at it. Marketing Forum Discussion: Let’s face it: we do a lot work for the holidays and we want people to see the end result. What are some of the ways that you can market your display and get the word out to your community? There are so many different opportunities and this session will allow us to come together and discuss what has worked for you and what has not. Websites, social media, press releases, events and other pieces will be discussed during this block on Friday evening. Starting a Haunt from Scratch (Mike Carr): A primer for the person who is just starting out, from nothing, or is making the jump from Christmas decorating. How to plan, how to build, how to buy. Themes, approaches, planning for the expected audience, using you site to its best advantage. Mike will get things started for you in terms of your Halloween education at this year’s Academy! Mechanical Props (Eric Kristiansen): Eric Kristiansen, the founder of the Dallas/Fort Worth Friends of Halloween, will be at the Academy showing some exciting mechanical props for use in a home haunt. Whether you are mechanically inclined or you just want to get some inspiration, this is a class that will help take your haunt to the next level. Finishes and Foam (Alex Lohman): Alex will work with you to provide examples of rust, foam and hard coat so that you can make the most of your haunt scenes. Laying Out Your Haunt Area (Alex Lohman): Making a successful haunt, at home or as a business, isn’t as simple as throwing some scary things up and turning off the lights. The setting makes all the difference in how your “guests” experience your haunt. Alex will show you some approaches to lay out and ideas on how to make the best of any space. Costuming & Character Development (Alex & Jennifer Lohman): You have your haunt planned out. You’ve laid out your space (in your mind at least!) and know what props you need. But a haunt comes alive when you add people to it. Not the visitors, although they’re important, but the ghouls, goblins and ghosts that will interact with those guests. This session will discuss how you develop the characters in your haunt and how to get them in the right costume. Easy & Impactful Halloween Version: Many of our Halloween instructors will be taking part in this session to show you some easy props and ideas to make your haunt special. You would be surprised to see what you can make out of items you either have laying around the garage or that you could purchase relatively cheap. Pneumatics in Your Haunt (Joe Rogers): Working with pneumatics can add a whole new dimension to your haunt. During this session Joe Rogers will show you the basics of working with air and you will get to see some examples of final projects using pneumatics. Introduction to Basic Halloween Make‐Up (Jennifer Lohman): This session will show you how to use some of the very basic materials and concepts to learn about make up for your Halloween experience. You’d be amazed at how a few techniques‐ and a lot of practice‐ can add a whole new dimension to creating your characters. Airbrushing & Airbrush Makeup (Alex Lohman): We’ve seen great examples of airbrushing. Tshirts, canvas and even vehicles sport some of the most innovative pieces of airbrushed art you’ll ever see. But did you know that airbrushing can add so much depth to a haunt? Whether it’s the scene or, more amazingly, the character’s make up, you’ll hear from Alex on how to achieve new effects in your haunt (and beyond). 3D Effects, Prosthetics and Wounds (Jennifer Lohman): Let’s face it; in our haunts, while trick or treating with the kids, or even at the neighbors Halloween party at the end of the day we really want to scare people! You have seen photos and videos (and maybe some in person) of wounds and prosthetics. Now Jennifer will show you how to work with latex and silicones to brings those dreams (or are they nightmares?) to life. Knowing Your Audience (Mike Carr & Eric Kristiansen): You have all of these great ideas that you’ve learned at the Academy. The time has now come to tailor your haunt to your audience. How do you avoid scaring children to hysterics, while still thrilling adults? Gore or No Gore? Touch or Not? We’ll discuss humor, surprise and other techniques for haunting. This course will help you determine what you’re really hoping to achieve with your haunt so you don’t disappoint your visitors or yourself. Making an Inexpensive Corpse (Alex Lohman): Dead bodies are a part of Halloween‐ that’s just a simple fact. But you can’t use the real thing (if you do please don’t tell us about it!) and some of those bodies you see at the Halloween stores have a hefty price tag. Alex is going to show you some ways to create a realistic corpse without breaking the bank. You’ll be able to make your own cemetery full of bodies! Mold Classes (Alex Lohman): Alex will be teaching two additional classes that center around mold creation. Plaster Plate Molds are used to create both props and prosthetics while Flexible Silicon Block Molds have a variety of applications for your haunt. Each of these will be their own class and you will get to see the techniques and uses for each. Servos in Your Haunt (Don McBride): You want to make things move during Halloween and Don McBride will be on hand to show you the basics of working with servos. The possibilities are endless as you come up with ideas to use the knowledge and ideas Don will share with you during this class. Haunt Fair: Because of the schedule and number of classes it is difficult to do actual builds at the Academy. So once again we are coordinating show and tell and prop specific demos during the Haunt Fair. You’ll see everything from stationary objects to the more complex animated figures. There will be lots of items on hand for you to see up close and ask questions about. Move from section to section and see some of the unique display props for your Halloween haunt. Light Show Pro (Eddie Vassallo): In 2009 LSP introduced a new sequencing software solution to our market that changed the landscape of computer control options. LSP initially demoed at the 2009 Academy by Ryan Montgomery who assisted in its development. People were more than curious and they filled the room to hear about the features LSP brought to the table. Since that time we have had several approaches to teaching LSP utilizing several top‐notch instructors. In the fall of 2012, a leader in the RGB holiday lighting industry, Minleon International, purchased LSP with the intent of taking its functionality even further. With this goal, in 2013 Minleon has engaged one of LSP’s most well‐
known users of LSP in the Christmas community to come and teach everyone the nuances of the program. Eddie Vassallo is a world renowned user of LSP and will be coming to the Academy (all the way from Australia! Some of you know him as “FastEddy” on the different holiday forums) for one reason: to give you the absolute best in LSP training. Eddie will be teaching two LSP level classes (basic and advanced) and will also be available at the LSP booth to answer your questions and share his own experiences. You can attend each of them in order to get the full experience or you may choose to attend the sections that interest you. If you’re looking for the very best in LSP instruction you need only to look at the Academy. Nutcracker‐ RGB Effects Builder (Sean Meighan): Learn how to create massive RGB animations within a few minutes using the new Nutcracker software. Sean Meighan, the creator of Nutcracker, will be teaching this class and will take you through building a target model for your RGB device. Megatrees, Matrices and Rays will be covered. After learning how to model your RGB device, you will next learn how to attach effects to it. The library of effects is constantly growing. In this effects section, you will learn how to customize the effects in the library to get just the effect you want. Finally, we will go over how to get this new animated sequence into your favorite sequencer. We will cover LSP, LOR and Vixen and prior knowledge of at least one of these sequencers will benefit you greatly. After you leave this class you will be able to create animations using the Nutcracker software and load them into your favorite sequencer. Nutcracker Advanced‐ Creating your Own Animations (Sean Meighan): Sean Meighan will lead this talk will discuss how to create your own animations using the “user_defined” effect class. Some discussion of frames, RGB vs HSV color wheels and the dimensions of the RGB devices. The most complicated programs we will make will only be about a dozen lines long. Limits of animations on a small canvas will be discussed and how to work around them. We will create a fireworks display as the tutorial during the class. Some prior programming language (basic,c,java,php) would be helpful before you take this course. When the session is finished you will be able to write your own animation code and be able to customize the existing effects. Light O Rama Visualizer (Don Teague of Synchronized Christmas): The sequencing aspects of Light‐O‐Rama continue to be something that people request every year on our post‐Academy survey. With the introduction of the LOR Visualizer even more questions have come up in the decorating community. Don Teague is a long‐time user (and sales partner) of Light‐O‐Rama and will be on hand to show you the nuancies of the Visualizer and to help you feel more comfortable with this piece of the Light‐O‐Rama software suite. Light‐O‐Rama BS (Johnny Poore): No, not that kind of BS! We’re talking about the LOR suite beyond sequencing. With all of the software options available for sequencing, Light‐O‐Rama is still one of the top selling and highly regarded options around. This session will cover those pieces that everyone seems to juggle with at the last minute. Creating a show, making a schedule, and various other aspects of LOR you need to handle after your sequences are complete. xLights (Matt Brown developer of xLights): What is xlights?? It’s simple really: xlights is a cross‐platform Christmas light show scheduler built on wxWidgets. It plays Vixen and LOR sequences and is compatible with LOR, D‐Light, DMX, Renard, Pixelnet, and E1.31 controllers. Now, if that doesn’t mean much to you you’re in luck because Matt Brown, developer of xLights, and a long time LSH member, will be on‐hand to show you how to download, install, configure, and setup your show in xLights. Bring your questions and let’s play “Stump the Developer!” The Sounds of Music: Audio Editing with Audacity (Joe Rogers): Back by popular demand, Joe Rogers will be on hand providing the knowledge he has acquired from years in the recording industry and residential display building. Using Audacity, Joe will help you understand the program, learn the fundamentals of audio editing, and offer you some real‐world best practices on making the music you choose unique to your display. Understanding and Using Madrix (Jim St John): Jim St John, a Madrix reselling partner, will lead you through a discussion of the features of Madrix including strengths and weaknesses. How is Madrix priced? How do you configure Madrix to work with pixel controllers? Jim will tell you all about those topics and share examples of creating display effects with this software platform. Madrix’s unique remote control feature allows you to easily add large pixel layouts to a display without having to manually sequence thousands of channels. Come and learn more about Madrix and what it can do for your display. Display Design (David Moore): First things first, you need to look at your “Canvas”: Your house and yard. We’ll talk about budgeting, what you aspire to get to, the different pieces of your house and how you can make them standout. Examples of popular items and Q&A will wrap up the session. Make sure to bring a photo of your canvas so you can see your vision come to life in your mind. From Static to Animated (Larry McGough): You want to take the next step and create an animated display. What are your options? Do you want to animate your elements or sequence to music? We will talk about the steps you need to either start an animated display or transform your static display to something new and exciting. Electricity‐ Your Best Friend or Worst Enemy (Anthony Vetrano): Let’s face it, to do what we do you need electricity. Not one bulb will turn on if you have not hooked your electric up correctly. Even worse is the potential danger you may create if you are ignorant of the basics of electricity. We will talk about measuring your power needs, tools and resources that you can use to educate yourself, and some best practices and ideas for hooking it all up. Audio Solutions (Ethan Gekoski): Many of us want to share our Christmas music and voiceovers with our visitors. You need a basic understanding of transmissions. In addition you need to determine what your “tone” should be in terms of musical selection. Voiceovers and options for musical editing will be touched on as well. We had originally planned a class comparing DIY hardware to commercial options but realized that the scope was just too broad. We encourage you to attend one of the “Beginner’s Guide to DIY Light Animation” classes (Friday and Saturday morning) and the Light O Rama Hardware class to get a great overview of the two most widely used options). The scope of work associated with an event like this is difficult to explain.
Without the people listed below we never could have done all of this.
We want to say a very special thank you to the following people:
To the Officers of the Lone Star Holidays Board of Directors, who assisted along the way: Jack Mayes, William Talbot, Anthony Vetrano, Ethan Gekoski, Harrison Ward, Scott Young and Gary Burress To RJ and the team from DIY Light Animation
for developing the DIY Expo classes.
To Alex Lohmann from 13th Street Morgue for the development of the Scare Sessions.
To all of our instructors, we could never do it without you: Alex Lohmann Anthony Vetrano Chris Sims Clyde Dearing David Moore Don McBride Don Teague Eddy Vassallo Eric Kristiansen
Ethan Gekoski Greg Bartlett Jennifer Lohmann Jim St John Joe Rogers Johnny Poore Kurt Gustafson Larry McGough Matt Brown
Mike Carr Rick Stone RJ Ryan Johnson Rob Duszak Sean Meighan Steve Gase And of course, to all of the attendees: Thank YOU for coming!
WATCH YOUR EMAIL FOR A LINK TO THE ATTENDEE SURVEY.
YOUR FEEDBACK MAKES THE ACADEMY BETTER EACH YEAR.