Speaker Bios
Bad Boys Scenic Design
As the company responsible for the design and operation of the top-ranked haunted attraction “Terror on the Fox”, Bad Boys Scenic Design has earned a reputation in the Industry for a distinctive, edgy style, innovative yet practical design techniques, attention to detail and commitment to quality. Bad Boys Scenic Design has fused several design styles to develop a practical Styrofoam technique versatile for haunts of any size and budget. Their commitment to the Lightscaping design method in their approach to haunt decoration is a major factor in their ability to craft highly detailed, authentic-looking scenes. Bad Boys Scenic Design has been featured in HauntSearch, HauntWorld Haunted Attraction, SkinDeep, Nickelodeon, Family Circle, & Sound and Video Contractor Magazines as well as industry videos highlighting haunts from across the U.S. The Styrofoam, cement masonry and façade design techniques they employ at Terror on the Fox, have been showcased in Haunted Attraction and HauntWorld magazines. Among their entrepreneurial credits, they have produced a video about their “Styrofoam Masonry” technique, the primary installment in a series of instructional DVDs, and the “2004-07” Haunted House” calendar —the first of its kind to celebrate the diversity of talent from a cross-section of haunts within the industry. The “Bad Boys” have been invited to teach technique seminars at Transworld National Halloween Show (2003), HauntCon (2004 - 2008) The New England Haunters Gathering (2008) and the Midwest Haunters Convention (2008)
Shirley Cochran has been haunting since Kelly Collins talked her into volunteering for an outdoor haunt in the early 1990’s. A founding member of Feature Creatures of Central Ohio, she is known as Grizzelda the Witch at Terror Park Haunted Stadium, but has been a ghoul, bag lady, and other characters in the years she has been involved in haunted houses. She has been an attorney for 28 years and has her own private practice in Columbus.
Katie Johnston -
I have been doing my own make up since 1984. I got the opportunity to join the
design team at Nightmare in Painesville, Ohio in 1996 and was hooked on the
industry. I became the Cast manager and Head Make up Artist in 2000, and have
trained actors and make up artists in the art of Haunted House Makeup ever
since. I am the make up coordinator for Evilusions, and have completed 2 how-to
videos for beginners. I'm ready to pass on what I've learned over the years!
Mike “Tattoo” Krausert ~ President, Co-owner Bad Boys Scenic Design
With 19 years of experience as a haunt designer, Mike is President and co-owner of Bad Boys Scenic Design headquartered in Green Bay, WI. As a respected designer within the Haunt Industry, Mike has written several instructional articles for Haunted Attraction and Haunt World magazines and has co-taught classes on Styrofoam design methods at Transworld National Halloween Show (2003), HauntCon (2004 - 2008), and now the Midwest Haunters Convention! As one of Bad Boys Scenic Design’s resident consultants, Mike continues to promote new techniques to advance the design evolution within the Haunt Industry. He is available to fellow haunters looking to employ innovative yet practical design techniques to their own venues. He is steadfast in his commitment to develop and share Bad Boys Scenic Design’s creative approach to haunt design that can benefit the needs of novice and expert haunters alike. Mike resides in the Boston area.
Roger & Beth Miller -
The haunting duo of Beth and Roger Miller, have been assaulting the senses of wary customers for more than 35 years. Although best known for their make-up and acting, they round out their experience with promotions, design, education and consulting. Working with more than twenty-five haunts, they have extracted a science and method through which the Art of Haunting can be taught.
Leonard Pickel -
Owner of D.O.A. Design, a consulting firm for the Haunted Attraction Industry and editor of Haunted Attraction Magazine, Leonard Pickel built his first haunted house in 1976 while still in college. Since that time he has designed over 80 original and creative Haunted Attractions including Haunts for Madison Square Garden, Universal Studios Florida, Six Flags Great America, several Six Flags parks, Morris Costumes and SCREAMS Terror Park. Leonard's creative accomplishments include design and sales of the industry's first turn-key Haunted House 'kits,' and the first adaptation of "Field Theory" (triangular grid system) in a Haunted Attraction.
Brian "Gadget" Warner is responsible for all the Metal Design & Manufacturing/Pneumatics Systems/Electrical Systems for Evilusions. Brian has been designing and manufacturing the mechanical and pneumatic systems of large machinery for a number of years, and has been a machinist for over a decade. This background allows his designs to be economical, efficent, and built to last like no other, and his obsession with all things pneumatic has yet to be matched by any sane person.
Bert Zelten ~ Bad Boys Scenic Design
Bert brings more than 25 years experience in electrical and pneumatic controls to Bad Boys Scenic Design. Since joining the company 7 years ago, Bert’s knowledge and skills have helped expand the creative potential for the Bad Boys’ Design team by finding new approaches in merging animatronics with static scenes in a way that is seamless and natural. Bert is responsible for adapting, maintaining and repairing animatronic props and pneumatics within the event. Among his many talents, Bert has also rigged the LED lighting network hidden within Terror on the Fox to highlight areas within the interior scenes while masking the light source of origin. And yes, Bert is that handsome dude on Bad Boys Scenic Design’s Styrofoam Masonry instructional DVD. If you choose to purchase one of these DVDs you will be able to take your very own Bert home with you! Bert is also the owner and creator of minispotlight.com
