NC why do we not have a group?

[handfulofrubies82]

I follow Stolloween on Facebook and he put up this message:
"Tomorrow is the first Mid Michigan United Haunters Association (MMUHA) meeting in St. Johns, Michigan...this is an opportunity for Halloween/Haunt enthusiasts to get together to shoot the breeze and share information. The first gathering is a meet and greet, share photos, videos and props. You can find out all the juicy details on HauntForum. Next week I plan on finishing Scott's Undead Pumpkin and will post more progress pictures...until then keep building! MMUAH...HA...HA"

Does NC have anything like this? Why are the haunt cons always somewhere five states away? I'd even settle for a NC yard haunters association - its great to have a forum, and I know there are a lot of prop sites/forums out there, but its also nice to see each other in person and have hands on workshops.

[Karmakrazy13]

I would love it if NC had a haunt convention, that would rock! We should start one!!!

[Sissyhaunt]

It would be awesome if NC started something like that. I know me and my friends would definitely go.

[handfulofrubies82]

What would be better, a haunt con for professional haunters with vendors or a group that involves regular people that like to make props and arrange their own yard haunts? I would love to see one of the big haunt cons come around here, but it would probably be easier to start a group for people who do their own haunting. Myself, I like to yard haunt, and make props and learn different techniques. I'd like to have a group that gets together, makes a few props, talk about local haunts and maybe a once a year have a meeting where we could have some vendors come in to shop from. I don't know anything about how to arrange the last part.  As far as the props go, I always thought it would be awesome if Lowes Hardware would arrange a halloween workshop where you could pay a fee, learn how to make a prop and take it home. I mean, they have all the materials and people that should know how to use equipment that I don't know how to use. Plus, if I could see their equipment in use to build props, that would make me want to buy those tools even more to see what they can do.

[Badger]

I think there is a glut of conventions for professional haunters. (TransWorld, HAuNTcon, National Haunter's Convention, Midwest Haunters Conventions, West Coast Haunters Convention, Canadian Haunters Convention) and a few others I can't think of.  The problem is that there are not that many vendors and prop makers in the South that would be willing to stop production, pack up, and travel here for a weekend.  This past year HC and NHC were held on the same weekend which really split the number of vendors at each.  Next year, they'll be running consecutive weeks.  I don't think the big vendors would be willing again to do both so I'm guessing it's going to be a split.  Most of the big boys are based in the Midwest and travel can be a real issue.  More vendors attended NHC this year in PA rather than travel to Orlando to HC.  Next year HC will be in Louisville, KY so perhaps that will help their numbers.  The first HAuNTcon was held in Charlotte so I doubt it will be back in the area anytime soon...

NC has had a couple of smaller Cons over the years (Zombie Con, Monster Con, etc) but both of those are not planning to happen this year due to costs and low numbers.  While I think it would be great to have a "Southern Haunters Convention" for professional haunters, I don't see it as being feasible.  I doubt you will get the larger vendors to attend at this time.  Perhaps in a few years but in my opinion, now is not the time.

However,  I do think a NC Haunters Association may be a feasible idea.  The two national associations (IAHA and HHA) just merged this month and hopefully this will benefit everyone...