Hands On Learning Lab
FREE TO ATTENDEES
Take a break from the thrills and chills of the Midwest Haunters Convention and step into the Hands On Learning Lab—a vibrant gathering space at the heart of the show floor where inspiration and collaboration come alive. Designed for creators, builders, scare actors, and haunt enthusiasts, this is the perfect place to relax, recharge, and connect with your Halloween community. Whether you’re swapping stories, brainstorming new ideas, or simply kicking back with fellow haunters, the lounge offers a welcoming atmosphere for informal networking and creative exchange. Meet industry experts, chat with vendors, and dive into spontaneous mini-education sessions and impromptu demos happening throughout the day. And don’t miss your chance to get an exclusive sneak peek at what haunted house owners have in store for the upcoming Halloween season! With casual conversations, hands-on opportunities, and unexpected moments of inspiration, the Halloween Learning Lounge is more than just a break—it’s your hub for connection, creativity, and community.
2026 Schedule
Saturday, June 6th
11:00 am | Airbrush in Action: Fast Faces That Pop
Donna Novak| ProAiir / ShowOffs Body Art | 30 Min
Speed meets style in this fast-paced airbrush demo. Learn techniques for creating bold, eye-catching face designs quickly and efficiently, perfect for high-volume event nights without sacrificing quality.
1:00 pm | Bruise Control: The Art of Impact
Bobbie Weiner and Rebecca Pajcz | Bloody Mary Makeup | 30 Min
Learn the fast tricks behind realistic bruising, discoloration, and trauma effects that hold up under haunt lighting. Perfect for makeup artists, actors, and anyone looking to add believable detail without slowing down the makeup chair.
3:00 pm | What Pro Wrestling Can Teach Your Haunt Cast
Speaker: Japes Palles and Tom Koudelik | 60 Min
Live crowd. No script for every moment. One job: get a response. Whether you’re in the ring or in the fog, the fundamentals are the same.
Professional wrestling is live, interactive performance built on reading an audience and adjusting in real time to get the reaction you’re after. Sound familiar? In this session, we’ll dig into the parallels — and pull techniques directly from the wrestling world that translate immediately to your haunt.
We’ll cover the art of selling (committing hard enough that the audience buys in), getting over (earning the response you’re working for), and how to read a crowd that isn’t giving you what you expected. We’ll also look at how wrestlers build and promote their own personas — and what haunters can learn from that approach.
Expect hands-on exercises, video breakdowns of legendary wrestling promos, and real discussion led by a haunt industry veteran and an active professional wrestler who has done both.
After this class, you won’t be ready for the ring — but you’ll have a new perspective and some fresh ideas to add to your toolbox.
Japes Palles — Owner/operator of Lost Souls Chicago and 25-year haunted attraction veteran who has managed some of Chicagoland’s most respected haunts.
Tom Koudelik — Haunt acting veteran and professional wrestler currently performing at HellsGate Haunted House.
Sunday, June 7th
10:30 am | Fear in the Air: The Froggy’s Effects Playground
Scott “Tater” Lynd | Froggy’s Fog | 30 Min
Get hands-on with atmosphere effects and learn how to control them like a pro. Go beyond “turn it on and hope for the best” as you experiment with different fog effects, fluid types, machine setups, airflow, timing, and environmental conditions. This session breaks down practical techniques for creating layered atmosphere that enhances lighting, actors, and storytelling without wasting product or killing visibility.
1:00 pm | Ripped, Rotten & Ready: Interactive Distressing Lab
Dani Patrick | Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group | 30 Min
New costumes are great. Destroyed costumes are better. Learn hands-on techniques for aging, weathering, staining, and distressing clothing for haunted attractions and immersive characters. Bring your own item and leave with something convention-ready and creep-approved. Sponsored by Nightmare Forge
