Halloween Weekend 2015

On October 30th 2015 I boarded a plane from Philadelphia, PA to Burbank, CA by myself for the first time. I traveled across the country to support my friends who were working on a brand new stage show. That stage show is Ghoulmaster's Haunted Playhouse. That's right the Ghoulmaster is back and better then ever with an all new show in Hollywood, CA.

I arrived at Bob Hope Airport around 5pm and the Ghoulmaster himself (Pete Carter) picked me up and we went straight to the theater for the 8pm show. This show blew my mind it was so good. I didn't have the words then to describe it because I was so tired from being awake for 24 plus hours and I still don't have the words. It was just outstanding on so many levels. These professional reviews do a fair job describing this show for me: Stage Raw, Theater Mania, Discover Hollywood, Broadway World, and Horror Buzz. There is a DVD out there where you can get a feel for the show, but it is nothing like experiencing it live.

My very talented friends: Pete, Chuck, Zack, Teddy, Lauren, Sam, and Brie worked on this show. As well as the rest of the cast who I have come to know and love. This show was the product of a dream coming true. If you work hard enough for something anything can happen. This show was funded by a Kickstarter campaign, and volunteers. This was very much a passion project that everyone involved felt strongly about.

While this run of the show has come to an end I have no doubt that this is not the end of the Ghoulmaster's journey. If I have learned one thing about Pete Carter it is that he doesn't give up and he finds ways to make his dreams come true.

Rewind to the 2014 GMG Show

Again, sorry this is over a year late but I wrote about all of my other GMG experiences so I felt that I had to continue. As it turns out GMG 2014 would be the last GMG show. This show was different in many ways. For example, there were four new cast members. That was a lot considering most years there was only one new cast member. These people meshed very well into the atmosphere that was already created. They made their characters come to life in the best way possible.  The color scheme also changed because the ghosts all wore white costumes. This made them stand out. The promo pictures alone were beautiful because the costumes popped out from the background.

The 2014 experience was very relaxed in my opinion. While we did have some challenges (especially with the CO2 tanks) overall it was a laid back atmosphere. We all meshed really well together. Everyone new their job and did it well. We stayed ahead of the game and even had some down time which I don't ever remember having. It was fun playing cards against humanity in the break room with both the cast and crew.

I remember actively trying to take everything in because I had a feeling that this would be the last year. As it turned out I was right. I have had 5 amazing seasons of working on this show. We have become a family not only the cast and crew, but the fans are also a part of this family. We may all be moving on to bigger and better things but we will always support one another.

Stay tuned on how we support one another in my next post.

Ghoulmaster's Ghost 2013

So it has been awhile since my last post mainly because I no longer have to for school. This post is also 7 months late but I felt that I needed to write down my experiences anyway.

Flashback to August 2013, I found out that I would be the supervisor for Ghoulmaster's Ghosts. This was great news. I have been working on this show for 3 years and I felt that I was ready to lead my outstanding team.

Move forward to September 13th, opening night. After a crazy tech week my team managed to put on a great show. I would argue the best one yet. We overcame some last minute issues with the installation of a new projector, all while trying to prefect the scene changes.

My first attempt at being a supervisor, in my opinion, was successful. At the same time it was stressful. I was never trained to be a supervisor. I just did what I thought was best. I found out that being a supervisor meant relaying messages to my cast a crew. Meaning my supervisors would tell me something and I had to tell my crew. The biggest obstacle I faced was time. Time was always against me. I had to make sure we opening the doors on time, that the pre show started on time, that the cast was ready and the stage was reset so the show could start on time. Putting on 3 to 4 shows a night in the span of 5 hours is hard to do.

I also learned this year that all that hard work means something to the fans. I have come to know many of the fans. They not only appreciate the casts talent, but they also acknowledge the crews talent as well. I have an amazing group of people that work on this show. Most of them have been a part of this show since the beginning. That is what I think makes this show so special. We work well together. We know our parts, and we do them well. I could not ask for a better group of people to work with, and I am fortunate enough to call them my friends

GMG 2013 was special and we will soon find out if we will get to do it all over again this year.

Ghoulmaster's Ghosts 2012

Last night, Friday, September 21^st, was the preview night of Fright Fest for Six Flags season pass holders. The Ghoulmaster’s Ghosts cast leads the procession and the Ghoulmaster awakens Dr. Fright to kick off Fright Fest every night. The procession is backwards this year because the stage has been moved from in front of the Big Wheel to Movie town.

After the Awakening at 6:30pm, the cast had to prepare for their show at 8pm. The cast did not get back until 7:15pm, and we could not do a run through before doors were to open at 7:30pm. This means that the first show we performed for a crowd was the first show we every done with full costumes and makeup. Surprisingly, we pulled it off with only minor adjustments to be made. That is a great way to start the show when we consider that last year took 2 weeks to pull off a show with no mistakes.

I believe that we are better prepared this year because we had a week of rehearsal compared to two days last year. The tech crew has been putting in 15 plus hour days all week preparing for this show. I had to do a personal first, and go under the stage to run wires. Most people do not know that there is insulation under the stage. I crawled in there with a full jumpsuit on including safety goggles and a mask. That was an experience. There is just enough room to craw between the structures holding the stage up. It is pitch black and sound proof. I felt like I was in another world.

Now that the first show is out of the way we go full time as of today, Saturday, September 22^nd. There are four shows on Saturdays: 5pm, 6:45pm, 8:15pm, and 9,45. If you are going to come, and see the show I would recommend coming in October. Everything is better in October. The park is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until October 28^th. Including Columbus Day.

Fright Fest 2012

It is that time of year again. October is just around the corner and Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey is gearing up for the best year of Fright Fest yet. Work crew has already started to transform the park by setting up terror trails and placing cobwebs everywhere. This year Fright Fest will last 6 weekends. That is one more weekend then last year. New thrills will be added while some favorites will get revamped for more fright.

I will once again be the stage manager for the Ghoulmaster’s Ghosts show located in Showcase Theater. In preparation for the show my crew and I have been hard at work hanging and gelling lights, fixing and placing speakers, working on props, cleaning the theater, and doing set design. All of these improvements are essential to putting on a great show.

This show will feature great dancing, video storytelling, fog, cold flow, strobe lights, lasers, projections screens, and a great sound track. The man behind the vision is the Ghoulmaster himself Pete Carter. Pete has had this stage show for three years now, and he develops a new show every year. It is an honor to work with him, and I am amazed every year by what he comes up with.

The entertainment department at Six Flags Great Adventure has spent the last year preparing for Fright Fest. Fright Fest is our time to shine, and is pretty much all we ever talk about at work. Now that it is finally here we are all excited to put on the largest Halloween party ever. Are you ready to join in the Horroreveloution?

If you are in the New Jersey area from September 22^nd to October 28^th feel free to come the Six Flags Great Adventure, and be sure to see the Ghoulmaster’s Ghosts show while you are there.

To see last years show follow this link.

For more information feel free to read my October 2011 posts on last years Ghoulmaster’s Ghosts show.

Experts Views on the Value of Business Plans

Expert Kevin O’Leary says that having a great idea is not enough. The idea is just the start. The entrepreneur then has to stay focused on the end result. Staying focused means sacrificing certain things, for example a social life. These distractions will not only delay success but they might hinder it entirely. He also says to not be afraid of failure. Failure sparks innovation. Doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results is the definition of insanity. Try something new after you fail and succeed at that then you will no longer be a failure.

I believe the most important section of a business plan to an investor is financials. Investors want to see the money. They want to know when they will make their money back if they decide to invest in your business. Investors want to know the price point of the items sold, how much inventory can you sell, and what is the net profit in the end. My business plan has changed to accommodate enough profit for the investor after they have seen the financials.

After financials the investor is looking at the branding of the business. Branding explains what the business is, and how it is marketed to the masses. Branding is very important, it is the identity of the business, and how it distinguishes itself from the competition.

Expert Barbara Corcoran is more concerned about the person behind the plan. She wants to see the drive, work ethic and qualifications. The management section of the business plan is important to her. She also wants to see who is doing a good job and who isn’t. Corcoran is concerned about the team around the business. If one member is not up to scratch then in brings the company down.

The bottom line is to have a business plan that lays out everything in your business so that there are no surprises to the investors or to the entrepreneur.

Kevin O'Leary and Barbara Corcoran

Kevin O’Leary and Barbara Corcoran are two of the five investors on the ABC television show Shark Tank. Robert Herjavec, Daymond John and Mark Cuban are the other three investors. The premise of the show Shark Tank is to listen to business pitches, and for an investor to make a deal with the owner of the company.

Kevin O’Leary started a software company called SoftKey in his basement, which he later sold it to Mattel for $3.2 billion dollars. “Barbara Corcoran turned a thousand dollar loan into a real estate empire in Manhattan.”

When deciding on which entrepreneur to back, O’Leary and Corcoran have different criteria. In a video entitled “Shark Tank Season 3 Set Visit: The Sharks Tell All!” from June 15, 2012 Corcoran mentions how O’Leary is just after the money or return on investment. Whereas, Corcoran claims that she cares more about the entrepreneur and the product.

O’Leary himself backs up Corcoran’s claim in his article “How to Win in Business Negotiations: Never Forget, it’s All About the Money!” Here are some of his tips from the article. Know what you want and can accept from the deal. Be reasonable in your demands. If you don’t know what you want, how can you explain why you want it? If you set up the negotiation showing the other side what is in it for them they will be more inclined to accept your offer. Finally don’t’ let greed get in the way of closing on a good deal. If it is a good deal take it. Don’t try to push for more and then lose it.

Corcoran credits her success to being able to develop great advertising hooks. She says that the hook is the key. Once you bring the people in then you have to find a way to make them trust you. She says “If people trust you, they’re going to buy from you, if they trust you they’re going to recommend you—and it’s in the recommending that build the empires.” On of Corcoran’s strategies for expanding her business was to publish a report on what she wanted to accomplish. For example she wanted celebrity clients so she published the “Madonna Report”. Because that ran in the paper Richard Gere became a client of hers.

Corcoran says, “I think entrepreneurs have to be born with the talent to work with people. A lot of people that want to be entrepreneurs, but they don't have the people talents, and I think the part that's made is your background, how hungry you are to succeed.”

I agree with this quote for Corcoran, but I would like to add that motivation is more important then the people skills. People skill can be learned, however, motivation can only come from within you.