IAAPA 2004 Review
By Larry Kirchner
It was a blast at IAAPA 2004. The show that supposedly takes buyers over 5 miles to walk up and down every row of booths was very exciting this year. Many familiar faces from the haunt industry exhibited such as: Distortions, Scarefactory, Scare Parts, Creative Visions, Halloween Productions, Haunted Attraction Magazine, Morris Costumes, IAHA, Oak Island, Lafond FX, Sinister Scents and even Transworld Exhibits promoting the Halloween Show.
Go right to the IAAPA 2004 photo album.
IAAPA additionally produced its first ever-haunted house seminar series for haunt owners and operators. Many people say there is nothing at IAAPA show for them, however I would beg to differ. For starters you can find literally all kinds of ticket machines like KIS (Keep It Simple), on line ticket companies, companies who sell wrist bands, promotional items, and just about every type of food item you could ever want in your concession stand.
IAAPA also featured a massive inflatable section, where you could find themed inflatable from Universal Horror Icons to a spooky Scooby Doo bouncer. Any haunted house that's even attempting a kid's section needs a themed inflatable right? I also spotted a very affordable hard coating gun, mold making material, foam cutters, you name it and it was there. One of the coolest things I saw was this giant inflatable movie screen. My mind went into a trance imagining how we could show old horror movies in our outdoor queue line. Wow I was amazed.
Is IAAPA better for the haunt industry than the Transworld Show? No, not at all! However IAAPA is the kingpin show for everything that is amusement. Sure you'll see many things that you couldn't afford in a lifetime, but you'll come away from IAAPA making connections you'd never find anywhere else.
Next year put IAAPA on your schedule in addition to the Transworld Halloween Show. For those who're still IAAPA fence sitters keep in mind that next years show will be in Atlanta. It has already been announced that Netherworld Haunted House will open for the IAAPA 2005 Trade Show.
Learn more about IAAPA at www.iaapa.org.
