Scare For A Cure

SCARE for a CURE makes $15,000 donation to charity

2009-12-30T12:32:00.000-06:00

In 2009, SCARE for a CURE volunteers overcame numerous logistical and weather-related challenges to produce a haunt that broke all previous records. On December 5, the organization presented a check for $15,000 to its charity partner, the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas (BCRC). Phyllis Rose, Director of Volunteers & Physician Communication for BCRC, sent the following message to SCARE for a CURE's all-volunteer crew:

Happy Holidays to all the amazing Scare for a Cure volunteers!!!!

We want to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for your tireless efforts this year in making Scare for a Cure such an incredible success!! We know you faced such challenges what with the last minute move, the rain and more! That you all worked together to pull off this daunting feat with such overwhelming success is a real tribute to the heart and soul of Scare for a Cure!! We are so grateful to each of you who worked such long, hard hours, day after day, week after week. We are amazed by what you accomplished and so honored to be the beneficiary of your generosity, support and hard work!!

Because of you all, we are able to help over 5000 women, men and their loved ones affected by breast cancer this year alone!! We are able to be there for so many whose lives are changed forever by the words “you have breast cancer.” We are able to help women who are facing this challenge without insurance. We are able to help women needing mammograms who can’t afford them, we are able to help women get services they so desperately need because of you. We are able to help the woman who called us facing the horrible decision of either paying her electric bill or buying medications she needed for treatment, we are able to help those women who don’t have transportation to get to their doctor’s appointments, we are able to help women who have no one to be with them at their appointments to understand what the doctor is telling them and we are there to make some sense of it all. We are able to reach out to newly diagnosed women with the comforting totes we provide to give them a lifeline of support through us. We are able to provide the bare necessities of life that so many aren’t able to afford during treatment because of your support. We are able to be there with women undergoing biopsies to provide physical and emotional support. Our Certified Patient Navigators are able to continue to expand their education and knowledge about all things concerning breast cancer to provide the best support possible to our clients because of your help. There are countless ways in which we are able to help those affected by breast cancer because of your support and it would be impossible without amazing volunteer angels like you!!

You all have touched the lives of thousands in your community that you’ve never even met!! You’ve provided that lifeline of support they so desperately needed with your hard work and dedication and we can’t thank you enough!!! Congratulations to each of you for a fantastic success!! Here’s to an even better and blessed 2010!!!

Have a joyous holiday and an abundant and happy new year!!

Indeed, Phyllis, we are delighted to be counted among your "volunteer angels" and to support BCRC’s important work!

SCARE volunteers turn out for Yule Fest fun

2009-12-17T18:19:00.036-06:00

SCARE for a CURE volunteers are not just skilled at creating illusions—they're also extremely generous with their time. So when SCARE sponsor Richard Garriott asked for help in providing a winter wonderland at Zilker Park, they were ready. Garriott donated the use of his “BF SnowMaker 5000” for the City of Austin’s Yule Festival, held at Zilker Park on December 16. SCARE volunteers helped the crew from Custom Creations and Reddy Ice turn 80,000 pounds of ice into “Frosty Fields” for a rare winter treat!

MANDA DEE

HELEN INGHAM

YVONNE DAILEY

MANDA DEE

YVONNE DAILEY

SOLD OUT! And one more chance...

2009-10-31T14:17:00.010-05:00

What a year! SCARE for a CURE presents: BLOOD RITUAL is completely SOLD OUT! We are thrilled at the wonderful turnout to support SCARE for a CURE and the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas. Many thanks to our wonderful guests, and we're very sorry if you weren't able to get tickets. Please give our volunteers time to catch up on their sleep, then visit our web site again for stories, photos, and more from the haunt. And watch for us again next year, when we'll be doing our level best to make SCARE for a CURE's haunt even bigger and better!

If you were sorely disappointed to miss the haunt this year, and you're feeling very brave and energetic, there is one last unique opportunity for you to get an insider's view of the haunt. For the first time ever, we're sold out on Halloween night—but this is also historically an evening when we are short on extras, technicians, and other support volunteers. Volunteers with special skills—belly dancers, musicians, and other similar skills can also join our gypsy camp to help entertain guests waiting in our ticket area. If you're an energetic worker who can put in long hours fueled only by screams, sugar, and a worthy cause, come to the haunt site between 5 and 6 p.m. tonight and we'll find a job for you! But first, a word of warning from our director: "If they show up, we will put them to work. If they rubber-neck, we dunk them in bloody slime then leave them in the cold!"

Come out and play with us—we dare you!

Tips for Volunteers

Wear your oldest, grungiest clothes and good work shoes.
It might be cold. Really cold. Dress in layers!
Watch for parking attendants, and park where they direct you.
We'll provide snacks and drinks, but if you work best with special fuel (e.g. coffee, energy drinks, your favorite candy bar, etc.) then feel free to bring your own.
A small flashlight always comes in handy.
Be sure you sign a volunteer waiver before you get started. Someone will have these available near the costume and makeup trailers.
Be prepared to work late—we'll be at our places from 7 p.m. until the last group is out of the house.

Cleaning tips for SCARE guests

2009-10-26T12:16:00.003-05:00

PHOTO: ROBIN McSHAFFRY

Red groups, this is for you! If you came out of BLOOD RITUAL covered with stage blood and slime—and we hope you did!—our resident Mad Scientist has provided some helpful hints for cleanup.

Blood Stains

Skin: Stage blood stains can be removed from skin but it may take some scrubbing. Apply cold cream, makeup remover, or olive oil and rub out the stain, then wash with soap and warm water.

Fabric: We suggest washing your clothing as soon as possible in hot water and your regular laundry detergent. Stains can be removed from suede or leather using leather cleaner or GoJo hand cleaner, but don't rub too hard or you'll pill up the finish.

Slime

A mild acid—like white vinegar or lemon juice—will remove slime from skin, hair, clothing, etc.

And to new guests... may we remind you not to wear your good clothes to BLOOD RITUAL? Adventuring is very dirty work!

Logistical notes for BLOOD RITUAL guests

2009-10-25T15:40:00.007-05:00

SCARE for a CURE is thrilled with the amazing turnout for our event, BLOOD RITUAL! We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has bought tickets, and hope you're having a great time at the haunt. If you've already attended, we'd love to hear what you think!

We've been SO successful that we need to give you a few logistical tips—these will help us be more efficient, minimize your wait time, and help any wait you do have go by faster!

Buy your tickets online! We don't want anyone to be disappointed at the door and many time slots are selling out so space for walk-ups is quite limited. To make sure you get a ticket and to keep your wait time down, we strongly encourage you to reserve your slot ahead of time.
If you buy tickets after 3 p.m. on the day of your reservation, please print out your Paypal receipt or confirmation email and bring it with you to the Will Call window.
Plan to arrive 15-30 minutes early to allow time for parking and sign-in, but please don't arrive more then 30 minutes early. Parking space is limited and we have to get the guests ahead of you out of the parking lot to keep things moving.
We'll do our best to keep things moving, but we are an extreme haunt and occasionally circumstances beyond our control cause delays. Please be patient and we'll get you in as soon as we can. In the meantime, kick back, relax, and have some fun while you wait. We apologize for keeping you waiting and appreciate your understanding!
Once you've signed in, there are plenty of ways to have fun in the waiting area. We've got awesome SCARE for a CURE: BLOOD RITUAL t-shirts for sale, along with buttons, stickers, and other merchandise. There's also a concessions stand where you can purchase drinks and snacks, as well as vendors with hand-crafted products. Most nights we'll have face-painting and chair massage available too. (A word to the wise, though—the vendors take cash only!) So get comfortable and warm up by the fire, interact with some of the characters in our gypsy camp, wisit with your fellow adventurers, and check out what the vendors have to offer while you wait.

Thanks again for supporting our event and helping us raise funds for our wonderful charity partner, the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas!

Did you survive opening night?

2009-10-24T10:44:00.000-05:00

SCARE for a CURE presents: BLOOD RITUAL got off to a great start Friday night! We're grateful to everyone who came out to enjoy the haunt, and we especially appreciate your patience as we got off to a bit of a late start. The show set a high bar for subsequent performances, and it will get even tighter and better with every run so if you haven't got your tickets now is the time to do so. Tickets are available online, and they're selling fast so reserve your slot!

SCARE for a CURE is a non-profit organization, built entirely with volunteer labor, and proceeds from ticket and merchandise sales go directly to the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas. When you come to our haunt and throw yourself into your role, you'll not only have a great time but you'll also help raise funds for this wonderful organization.

Your kind words as you waited for your ride back to the entrance after the event were music to our ears and we made sure to pass them along to the actors! Our all-volunteer cast and crew work very hard to make SCARE a success, so if you enjoyed your adventure please let us know in the comments!

Announcing Eeyore's and Batfest Raffle Winners!

2009-10-22T15:49:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Sam Operton Jr. and Gene Coranado! These two very lucky SCARE for a CURE supporters have each won a pair of tickets to SCARE for a CURE presents: BLOOD RITUAL.

To help raise funds for our 2009 production, we raffled off tickets at Eeyore’s Birthday Party and BatFest. If you didn't win tickets, you’ve still got a chance to see the fruits of our labors—tickets are available online for the evenings of October 23-25 and October 28-31. You’ll have a frightfully good time and help raise money for the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas!

VOLUNTEER CALL: Crunch time for build and need help on Run Nights

2009-10-20T20:47:00.001-05:00

We are down to the last few days of building out the most fabulous interactive adventure for SCARE for a CURE, benefiting a special organization Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas (BCRC). I don't know about you, but I'm REALLY excited!! Here's what still needs to happen:

WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY/FRIDAY
The move/rain/illness has everyone working down to the wire, and we really need your HELP! Folks are onsite now building, painting, getting sets together 24/7. The build managers including Jarrett, Edwin, Matt, Paige, et al. are exhausted. We need folks to come out between 10 am and 10 pm to help—even just a couple hours will get us further to our goal of having the BEST interactive haunted adventure in Austin!

Dress comfortably in clothes that can get dirty, closed toes shoes, and bring a refillable water bottle. We have snacks and drinks available, and lunch and dinner are provided as well. Location 7400 Coldwater Canyon Drive is the location, and here is the MAP http://scareforacure.org/haunt/map.php

RUN NIGHTS start FRIDAY (includes Dress Rehearsal this Thursday)
We need TECHS to help with boo scares and very special effects, parking, comfort assistance, and other miscellaneous tasks. There is something for everyone. Recommended that you arrive by 6 pm for dinner and assignments. If you have a particular skill or area you'd like to work, please email volunteer@scareforacure.org

MAKEUP AND COSTUME VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION
If you have requested to help in this area, all makeup and costume volunteers are invited to come to the Bunker on Wednesday at 6 pm for an orientation and tour.

FUNDRAISING EVENTS
We need 2-3 volunteers to help with facepainting fundraiser and SXSW swag bag raffle this SATURDAY, 10/24 from 12 - 6 pm at the Ginger Man Austin's Oktoberfest Celebration at 301 Lavaca. You will be provided with food and drink (bring ID if over 21). Please contact our volunteer coordinator at volunteer@scareforacure.org if you can help, even if only for 3 hours.

HELP SELL TICKETS by telling all your friends, family, and co-workers about SCARE for a CURE Blood Ritual.

Thank you everyone for your time and support!

Thriller Dance record-breaking attempt to benefit SCARE for a CURE

2009-10-20T11:51:00.004-05:00

On Saturday, October 24, participants in Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s Thrillerfest 2009 will attempt to set a new record for the most people dancing the Thriller choreography at the same time in the same location. We at SCARE for a CURE are also THRILLED to say that the event will benefit SCARE for a CURE in our own attempt to raise funds for Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas!

THRILLERFEST 2009: Thrill the World at Seaholm!
Saturday, October 24 at Seaholm Power Plant
Dance Lesson at 5pm
Dance Performance at 7:30pm
Dance Party after that!

Tickets are on sale now for just $15, and Thriller dance lessons are already underway in north and south Austin locations. For more details, check out the event page.

Last year's event set a new record when 881 people gathered for the Thrill the World celebration at the Long Center. But last month a new bar was set by the citizens of Mexico City, who shattered our record by having more than 13,000 people dancing in unison! Now 13,000 is going to be a tough number to beat, and Austin can't compete with Mexico City in terms of sheer population. But that doesn't mean we aren't going to give it our all this year!. Even if we don't set a new record, we'll still be dancing in unison with other Thrill the World participants in more than 50 countries across the globe, and we'll set a new World Record for that dance no matter what!

Please plan to come out for a GREAT time Saturday to support SCARE for a CURE and the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas. And while you're in the mood, why not buy tickets for SCARE for a CURE presents: BLOOD RITUAL that evening and make a THRILLING night of it?

On your mark, get set, SCREAM!

2009-10-19T17:19:00.006-05:00

Opening night is October 23!

Our favorite time of the year is almost here, and eager volunteers have been scurrying to put the finishing touches on SCARE for a CURE's 2009 haunt, SCARE for a CURE presents: BLOOD RITUAL. You'll want to make a trip through BLOOD RITUAL part of your Halloween season—get your haunted house fix and help the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas at the same time!

BLOOD RITUAL is Austin's only extreme, full contact, interactive haunted house adventure—guaranteed to chill you to the depths of your soul! SCARE for a CURE is an Austin-based non-profit organization, and all net proceeds from this event will be donated to our charity partner. Get your scare on while supporting an organization that assists local women and their families navigate their way from a breast cancer diagnosis, through treatment and beyond.

Imagine a theater performance that takes place across 26 stages in 3-minute acts and includes audience participation, built entirely by volunteers and benefitting cancer charities. Put it all together and you have more than a haunted house—you have a fear-filled adventure worthy of its Britannia Manor and Haunted Trails roots! To learn more about our unique haunt, which this year returns to its roots in a new location right down the road from the original Britannia Manor, please visit our web site.

Remember, we're only running October 23-25 and October 28-31! Tickets are available online or at the door, but tickets are going fast. Don't take a chance on missing it#8212;get your tickets online right now!

Tickets available now for SCARE for a CURE’s 2009 Production of “Blood Ritual”

2009-10-12T11:57:00.002-05:00

Tickets are now available for SCARE for a CURE’s Blood Ritual, a thrilling interactive haunt in Texas. Join a team of paranormal researchers and explore the mysteries and horrors of Dunstan Castle. Experience a twisted tale of demons, blood-lust, and a vampire's quest for world domination. Who has the courage and wits to save humanity?

The brave souls who dare enter may guarantee their admission by securely purchasing tickets online at www.scareforacure.org. Because of the limited number of tickets available along with the length and intensity of the experience, timed and dated tickets are recommended. Tickets are available at the web site with limited availability at the door of the haunt, which takes place at 7400 Coldwater Canyon Dr.

SCARE for a CURE offers three levels of scary experience for Blood Ritual: Regular admission, Red-level and Green-level tickets. SCARE for a CURE's haunted house is not recommended for children under 12. All performances (October 23-25 and 28-31) offer all experience levels for both the bravest and the faintest of heart.

Regular admission, priced at $20.00 per person provides amazing thrills and chills in a 30-40 minute fear-filled adventure. Guests are admitted in groups of 4-6 guests at a time, and should come prepared to crawl and get messy.

Red-level tickets, which are available for $25.00 per person, are for fearless individuals who wish to more actively participate in their haunted adventure. This intense experience is more physically challenging fun for individuals who want to be taken to the extreme. Red-level participants should dress appropriately and be prepared to crawl, run, and be “bloodied.”

For those not wanting the full-fledged SCARE adventure, Green-level status is available with regular admission at the gate. Green-level groups will have a static experience, similar to regular groups but toned down as much as possible, with less interaction and lower intensity. SCARE for a CURE is an Austin-based charitable organization benefitting local cancer-related charities, "one SCREAM at a time!" Each year we produce Austin's only extreme, full contact, interactive haunted adventure that is guaranteed to chill the depths of your soul. Guests can expect a full contact adventure as they are guided through. No two groups have the same experience, as the decisions and actions of each group affect the outcome. For more information, visit the SCARE for a CURE web site at www.scareforacure.org or contact media@scareforacure.org.

FX Quickie

2009-10-08T08:49:00.003-05:00

Guts material test:

Vortex Bridge test:

FX / Lab Rats have been busy... too busy for good updates...

Extended Work Hours: Your help needed NOW!!

2009-10-06T07:47:00.008-05:00

We only have 2 more weekends to get this thing built!!!

Due to the rain and ACL Fest we had a pretty low turnout this past weekend. Regardless, those that came out did an incredible job in getting things done.

If you are an actor or actress in this year’s Blood Ritual, we need you to come out and give us a few hours of labor or we will not be ready on Opening Night.

If you have been planning on coming out to help… this is the weekend to do it!

I can’t stress this enough… WE NEED HELP!

SCARE has always been a team effort and the team needs to come together. Please join us and become a part of the team.

Let’s not forget why we do this. The money we raise will directly help support hundreds of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer. The Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas needs our help. We benefit a worthy cause and have a lot of FUN in the process.

Work Hours (7 days a week!):
Monday – Thursday, 6pm – 9pm or later (contact Paul at p_sicard@earthlink.net)
Friday, 4pm – 9pm or later
Saturday, 9am – 6pm or later
Sunday, 10am – 6pm

Location: 7400 Coldwater Canyon (off City Park Rd.)

If you have an artistic flair, contact our Art Director, David at dbessenhoffer@gmail.com and we'll put you to work helping with props and set dressing.

If you can sew or want to help with fundraising, contact SCARE Vice-President, Norma at njcrippen@austin.rr.com

Please check out the Volunteer Page here, the FAQ page for details, or email volunteer@scareforacure.org.

No matter what your skill is… we need you!

Blood of the Bean: A thrilling afternoon of horror literature and bloody good coffee

2009-10-04T22:35:00.002-05:00

On October 17th several noted independent names in horror literature will gather in in the funky, dark confines of one of the coolest new coffee bars, Kick Butt Coffee, in Austin, Texas for an exciting afternoon of spine-tingling readings. From vampires and werewolves to demented serial killers, a cup of bloody wickedness will be provided to all who arrive.

From 2pm until 7pm, Gabrielle Faust, Steven E. Wedel, Lee Thomas, Byron Starr, Brian Moreland, Ethan Nahte, Kenneth M. Hoover and Joe McKinney will take the stage to read an assortment of work from short stories to excerpts from their published novels. All of the authors will also be on hand throughout the afternoon to sell and sign copies of their work.

In addition, SCARE for a CURE will be on hand with a few willing volunteers passing out information about Blood Ritual and how you can purchase tickets or volunteer at the event.

What better way to begin your spooky Halloween experience this year? If you are simply in search of a stellar cup of joe, Kick Butt Coffee has some of the best beans in the capital city and also offers a nicely stocked full bar if a martini is more your style. Kick Butt Coffee is located at 5775 Airport Blvd. For more information call 512.454.KICK.

Vampire Blood Drive—The life you save may be your own!

2009-09-30T11:35:00.000-05:00

The Vampires of Blood Ritual and SCARE for a CURE will be collecting victims for a blood drive benefiting The Blood and Tissue Center of Central Texas.

Saturday, October 17th
10:00am-2:00pm
Alamo Draft House, 1120 S. Lamar
Opening weekend of "Where the Wild Things Are"

All donors will receive Blood Ritual neck-bite marks by one of our professional make up artists and will also be entered into a drawing to win a pair of tickets to Blood Ritual and a limited edition Blood Ritual t-shirt.

Make an appointment online at www.lonestardonor.com. Walk-ups welcome!

We'll find you and get your blood one way or another...

SCARE for a CURE and Austin Ghost Tours host: the Vampire Ghost Tour and Bar Crawl!

2009-09-30T11:27:00.006-05:00

Join an army of vampires on a tour through downtown Austin to hear ghastly tales of murder and betrayal and discover the ghosts and lost souls that lurk in the shadows of the Warehouse District and beer-soaked sidewalks of 6th street!

Thursday, Oct 8th
7:30 pm
Start at: Moonshine Patio Bar and Grill, 303 Red River
End at: Casino El Camino (see after party)
Participants are STRONGLY encouraged to dress as vampires!!

This tour is for ages 21+ with ID required. Ghosts won't be the only spirits you raise!

Tickets are $30 and all proceeds go to SCARE for a CURE. Reserve your spot on the tour at www.hauntedtexas.com. Space is limited, so get your tickets now!

Vampire Ghost Tour and Bar Crawl After Party!

Too scared to join the Ghost Tour? Well, put on your most fearless cape and sharpest fangs and join all the SCARE for the CURE Volunteers and Vampires of Blood Ritual for a night of hell raising spirits.

Bloody Drink Specials! Costume Contest! Raffle Prizes!
Thursday, Oct. 8th
8:30 pm until the sun turns us to dust
Casino El Camino, 517 E. 6th St.

This event is for is ages 21+ with ID required.

New events from some of SCARE for a CURE's scary friends

2009-09-25T13:18:00.009-05:00

If you love SCARE for a CURE, Halloween, and all things scary, you might want to check out these two upcoming productions by friends of SCARE.

Medieval Macabre
The Curtain Theater
Friday and Saturday evenings, 9 p.m.: September 25-26, October 2-3, and October 9

On a stormy night in mid 1600's England, we find two travelers caught away from home. They seek refuge at a country estate on their way to London, where they meet a gracious host who offers them shelter for the night. During the course of the evening, a challenge is issued between the men with a sum to be settled upon the victor. The wager: Can literature be frightening?

This fast paced play will take you on a visual trip through time, exploring plays, stories, poetry and music. Our goal is to entertain you, scare you, and show you that—although it might have been written by some old crusty dead guys who talk funny—it can still send a chill up your spine!

SCARE volunteers get 2 for 1 tickets at the door on October 3!

Tickets may be purchased on line via www.Austix.com or at the door (Cash Only)
Ticket Costs: General Admission $13, Students $9, Seniors over 65 $9, ACoT Members $9

For more information, visit www.thebaronsmen.org.

Pendarks Museum of the Macabre
Austin Drama Club, 1612 E. 7th Street
Saturdays and Sundays through October 25th, 9-10:30 pm

Richard Bateman presents a fun, interactive theater experience. See Pendark's collection of horrific artifacts, listen to tales of the macabre, explore the mysteries of the mind, and experience the magic and mysticism of Pendark. Featuring the delightful and edgy humor of his new assistant, acquired on his trip to England: Madge!

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/pendark.

Home stretch push! SCARE for a CURE needs YOU this weekend!

2009-09-25T01:46:00.019-05:00

Here's the details:

Work days will now take place at the NEW haunt site called The Bunker at 7400 Coldwater Canyon (take City Park Rd. to Bridge Point Parkway, turn left and then right onto Coldwater Canyon). [view map]

DEBBIE CERDA

Here is the schedule for this weekend:

Friday 9/25, 4 pm - 10 pm
Saturday 9/26, 9 am – 6 pm
Sunday 9/27, 10 am – 6pm

Please come out to help even if you can only work for a few hours. There will be plenty of things to do for ALL skill levels…you might even learn a skill or two.

Want to earn FREE tickets to Dress Rehearsal?

The first 25 volunteers to work 20 hours in the next two weeks will get 2 tickets to the Dress Rehearsal of Blood Ritual. Be the first to see this year's most extreme haunt! Come out and help!

Something that would be a big help would be to RSVP if you’re able. If you can’t RSVP we totally understand—please don’t let this prevent you from coming out at the last minute. It just helps us get a handle on food and work crews. RSVP at volunteer@scareforacure.org.

Thank you to everyone for your time and support in this fun event benefitting an important cause in our community!

FX Update—ZERG RUSH!

2009-09-23T14:01:00.003-05:00

And what a rush it's been ... quite a few valiant haunters have made their way into the LAB in the last few weekends, and I believe that almost without fail I've had tasks to offer them. Even more amazing, these tasks were getting done!

Elmo has been finish-sculpted; laid up with water clay as a stand-in for the detail layer of the mold; had both sides of the mother mold made in plaster; and then popped open and de-clayed (one side at a time) so now we have a full silicone mold of the sculpt. And now the sculpt is no more; removed, to be re-used later for another monster at another time.

Maria's skulls have come to beautiful fruition and have been molded in silicone; next up, one or more positives, with the possibility of vacuum or other molding for finals to be put into use as decorations.

The vacuum former oven has been eluding perfection, but Corey did some valiant work on it and it's so almost there; I'm tempted, though, to just put a propane burner into it. Fire is something that is most reliably hot.

A bunch of people have poked at the cable-crimping task for the Vortex Tunnel (Maria's tag-alongs, Anna, Yvonne, and probably others) and we are now ready to do the final assembly on the vortex's spinning section.

Jean made the hoops for the inner cage, and I'm in the process of building the bridge. So close!

The roto molder is going through final experiments on belts to drive it, but since Baby Leroy is now fully molded (though I want to poke the mother mold shell a bit more) we can spin up a roto mold test any day now.

Becca (right?) and family, and Nora, and others, have been working on baby parts, which will have to find their way into production soon too. Kenny (I believe) has been doing amazing work in form to set up the shapes for larger body parts, too.

Eric has been rebuilding some fog machines (with built in chillers) that came from a donation, but were broken; he's cannibalizing lesser machines to bring these valuable devices to life, and with good success. He also built a Key of Gabriel sculpt and has put up the mold around it; next step, removing the mold, repairing it (I did mention mold release, I know I did), and then duplicating. Eric has also helped with Elmo, and other hands-on tasks.

Marina (with some help from Nora) did fabulous work on aging a bit of furniture and I can't wait to turn them loose on more things; Marina also donated her arm for a prop (half molded now, soon to be finished and duplicated), and has been helping in various aspects at the lab as well.

Decorative books are in progress via Marla.

Some of us now have a concrete plan for the stabbing (Eric, Marina, and I had a quiet moment somehow).

Goodness, Nora and other people whose names escape me did work on duplicating some ceramic insulators, to good effect. I now have a 15-gang mold to do the final duplicates!

Ben wired up the gore pump, and it works beautifully.

What else.... hmmmm....

I'm sure I missed a handful of names and projects but, as you can see, we have been busy. And there is still stuff to do, NOT TO MENTION, the need to work at the Bunker and install all of these wondrous things there... and more.

Not only are we making props for this year's haunt, we are making TOOLS and developing SKILLS to make later years even more exciting and dramatic. Thanks guys, y'all are great!

SCARE for a CURE Needs YOUR Help this Weekend!

2009-09-17T17:09:00.012-05:00

Here's the details:

The move to the new site and the rain has severely put us behind schedule but if we can have a great turnout this weekend we can put things back on track.

We have moved everything from our old site and additional storage location…it’s all at the NEW site.

ANTSNAX ON FLICKR

Work days will now take place at the NEW haunt site called The Bunker at 7400 Coldwater Canyon (take City Park Rd. to Bridge Point Parkway, turn left and then right onto Coldwater Canyon).

Here is the schedule for this weekend:

Friday 9/18, 4 pm - 10 pm
Saturday 9/19, 9 am – 6 pm
Sunday 9/20, 10 am – 6pm

Please come out to help even if you can only work for a few hours. There will be plenty of things to do for ALL skill levels…you might even learn a skill or two.

Something that would be a big help would be to RSVP if you’re able.

If you can’t RSVP we totally understand—please don’t let this prevent you from coming out at the last minute. It just helps us get a handle on food and work crews.

RSVP at volunteer@scareforacure.org.

Thank you to everyone for their time and support in this fun event benefitting an important cause in our community!

Tips for the Sharp-Minded Volunteer

2009-09-16T17:16:00.006-05:00

ANTSNAX ON FLICKR

Whether you’re working in “The Bunker” or “The Lab,” following this advice from our friendly neighborhood police detective will help us stay organized as well as keeping you safe! For information on volunteering, please email volunteer@scareforacure.org.

RSVP when you can (but don’t let that stop you from just showing up if you can’t).

Wear good shoes. No sandals!

Bring work gloves if you’ve got ’em. (We have plenty if you don’t.)

If you bring your own tools, label them! We have duct tape and markers on site.

Respect other people’s tools and equipment.

Don’t wander away from the work site or pass any “Do not cross” yellow tape.

If you don’t know, ASK.

Be sure to sign in when you get there and sign out before you leave.

I have not spotted any poison ivy yet so long pants are not mandatory, just suggested.

Bring a water bottle if you have one. Keep it filled.

Have FUN!

Finally…
The work day isn’t over until everything is cleaned up and put away! Please don’t just walk off leaving tools and materials lying around. It makes more work for those staying late.

Thanks and I hope to see you this weekend!!!

Relocation Complete!

2009-09-14T08:54:00.006-05:00

ANTSNAX ON FLICKR
Truckloads of flats ready for the move

ANTSNAX ON FLICKR
Over 40 volunteers helped relocate SCARE walls, materials, and props to the new location on the uncompleted Britannia Manor property

It was a rugged weekend of hauling, stacking, and tarping stuff in the rain and mud, but the relocation is officially complete—all of our flats, lumber, and other random bits of debris are at our new home.

We had three crews working over the weekend—in addition to me and the rest of the unruly shaven apes hauling flats and 2x4s around in trailers, Edwin presided over people working on various FX projects up at the Lab and we also had a team at the new site assembling floor grid, building shelves, organizing and stacking stuff, pulling nails and screws out of lumber, and generally doing the initial grunt work that's not very entertaining but is essential before we can get to the fun stuff. I cannot begin to express my thanks to all the volunteers who showed up to help us grind this work out.

Fun stuff starts now! Walls go up this week, then ceilings, then the interior finishing work can begin!

FX Update - Scary Blood

2009-09-14T08:18:00.003-05:00

I'm still stalling on doing a comprehensive update post (so of course it gets harder the more we get done before I post it)... but right now our Blood Supply is on my mind.

This year we are making our own blood from raw components—FD&C food colorings, water, thickener, opacifier, and a small amount of surfactant... all very safe and inexpensive ingredients, though not necessarily recommended for eating (the surfactant could give you the trots something fierce, I think).

I have come up with three basic formulas so far, that I've been getting feedback on and will be dialing in to a final recipe over the next week or two. There is the "Bright Blood" which looks the most like fresh blood (I know, we had Erik drip on a card for us after he poked his finger); there is "Dramatic Blood" which is darker and more menacing; and then there is "Dark Blood" which is nearly scab color and will be mixed up thick and gloopy.

The question that people always have about the blood is... will it wash off of my hands, and out of my clothes?

Being composed almost entirely of Red #40 (think: cherry cool-aid) you would expect it to stain like nobody's business, and at first blush this seems to be true.

My hands were covered in blood up to my wrists the other day and a first wash in the sink hardly touched the color at all—dry skin from sculpting in clay soaked up the pigment like a thirsty sponge. But when I showered after the lab that night, my hands were perfectly clean!

The trick, I think, is to sweat some, which helps push the pigment out of your pores and skin. Failing a good workout, you can prepare yourself to be blood-proof by moisturizing your skin before contact; or, to be more extreme, there is a product used by sculptors ("Gloves in a Bottle", I'm getting some from Armadillo Clay to test today) that my be even better.

To remove the stain from dry skin, I would recommend makeup remover, or even something like olive oil, which will leave you salad-fresh after! Olive oil, and then a gentle facial cleanser, is what I used when I did clowning, and it removes the makeup better than anything.

"Enough about skin—what about my fine linen suit? It's soaked in blood!"

First—don't wear your nice clothes to our haunt; we will not be kind to them, and even the Green Groups may brush up against something nasty by accident.

But if you do, the blood washes out, at least from cotton.

I soaked one of my SCARE for a CURE t-shirts in blood and let it sit for two days to set (note: don't do that; wash immediately). Then I put it in a small laundry load and washed it on cold... afterwards... stained! Oh no!

So I ran it again on hot and it came out as clean as it started, no hint of red, pink, or even fuchsia.

I suspect it may stain wool, and I need to test wash-ability on things like silk, rayon, wool, and so on still (any volunteers of white fabrics of different types?), but I suspect it will wash out of most anything (in hot water, it seems)—just like our last blood recipe!

I credit this success to the soap additive I use in the formula (it helps it flow and keeps it from beading, and makes the blood its own pre-wash!)—Synthropol, used by tie-dyers to help rinse out excess die from their garments.

I haven't done a scientific test of with and without the additive, so this is just my hunch, but I'm good with the voodoo for now.

Now, would anyone be interested in buying quarts of high-quality stage blood, custom made by and for SCARE for a CURE, for $10 a quart? All proceeds go to the haunt!

Lightning Strikes at La Zona Rosa 7 pm TONIGHT

2009-09-12T15:29:00.006-05:00

Special screening of SyFy Channel's Lightning Strikes starring Jarrett Crippen (and some guy named Kevin Sorbo)

Doors at 7 pm, show at 8 pm
La Zona Rosa, 612 W. 4th Street (at Rio Grande just west of Nueces)
$5 recommended donation (cash or check, no credit cards)

Highlights:

Autograph session with Jarrett Crippen (aka Deputy Johnson aka The Defuser)
The Defuser memorabilia for purchase
Raffle and silent auction items including guest appearance on Haunted Report's Ghost Hunting and Milkshakes, original artwork, gift certificate to Austin Ginger Man, massage session, and more!
Concessions: Hot Dogs, Frito Pies, Popcorn and Pizza

All proceeds from above benefit SCARE for a CURE.

The Austin Cookie Lounge will have cookies for sale We will also have representatives from Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas to talk about their programs, as well as a few of their calendar models.

What better way to spend a rainy weekend night than with us! Bring your sleeping bag, picnic blankets, pillows, camp chairs for seating.

Most importantly spread the word and bring your friends!

Follow us on Twitter @SCAREforaCURE #SCARE

Volunteer Opportunities This Weekend

2009-09-12T09:57:00.001-05:00

There are several volunteer opportunities for SCARE for a CURE this weekend, so here's a brief summary:

9 am - 4 pm:
The bulk of people will be fetching and hauling materials from storage this morning, and that's vital and necessary work. Meet at Comfort Suites near 183 and Anderson Mill Rd. tomorrow at 9 AM rain or shine, to move Creepshow stuffout to the new site. Dress appropriately! How to find it - Address: 13681 N Highway 183, Austin, TX
‎

11 am From there moving on to the site to unload -Richard Garriott's new uncompleted Britannia Manor 7400 Coldwater Canyon Dr., just off 2222. You turn at City Park Rd. You can text Debbie at 512/785-6813 if you want to know where we folks are.

Lunch at 1 pm, be sure to stop for a restroom break before coming out to the build site.

10 am to 2 pm (or later) Open Lab Weekend -- Drop on by or give EDWIN a text message at 512.809-8918 to make sure he's at the lab.

7 pm Lightning Strikes Benefit at La Zona Rosa - We will need just a few extra folks to help with set up and manning the concessions table, so please contact Debbie at volunteer@scareforacure.org or text me (please include your name) at 512/785-6813.

Sunday:
10 am - 4 pm Build Site 7400 Coldwater Canyon Dr.
10 am to 2 pm (or later) Open Lab Weekend
11 am COSTUMES - Please come with your colored pencils, drawing paper, sewing machines, and any fabric, patterns, notions or ideas you want to donate. Please also bring any clothes or shoes you want to donate. We'll have a cast list, character list, measurements, and a bunch of clothes to start with, and we can begin designing the pieces we'll need to build or acquire. Anyone who can DRAW and SKETCH is needed and welcome! Contact Robin C. McShaffry for details and location.

Need more details? Contact the contact person listed, check the emails sent out to the Build GoogleGroup, or email me at volunteer@scareforacure.org. If you aren't on the Build group but would like to be, please send me an email. Keep in mind that it is a high traffic list, but there's some great ideas and projects shared.

Scare For A Cure

SCARE for a CURE makes $15,000 donation to charity

SCARE volunteers turn out for Yule Fest fun

SOLD OUT! And one more chance...

Tips for Volunteers

Cleaning tips for SCARE guests

Blood Stains

Slime

Logistical notes for BLOOD RITUAL guests

Did you survive opening night?

Announcing Eeyore's and Batfest Raffle Winners!

VOLUNTEER CALL: Crunch time for build and need help on Run Nights

Thriller Dance record-breaking attempt to benefit SCARE for a CURE

On your mark, get set, SCREAM!

Opening night is October 23!

Tickets available now for SCARE for a CURE’s 2009 Production of “Blood Ritual”

FX Quickie

Guts material test:

Vortex Bridge test:

Extended Work Hours: Your help needed NOW!!

I can’t stress this enough… WE NEED HELP!

No matter what your skill is… we need you!

Blood of the Bean: A thrilling afternoon of horror literature and bloody good coffee

Vampire Blood Drive—The life you save may be your own!

SCARE for a CURE and Austin Ghost Tours host: the Vampire Ghost Tour and Bar Crawl!

Vampire Ghost Tour and Bar Crawl After Party!

New events from some of SCARE for a CURE's scary friends

Medieval MacabreThe Curtain TheaterFriday and Saturday evenings, 9 p.m.: September 25-26, October 2-3, and October 9

Pendarks Museum of the MacabreAustin Drama Club, 1612 E. 7th StreetSaturdays and Sundays through October 25th, 9-10:30 pm

Home stretch push! SCARE for a CURE needs YOU this weekend!

Want to earn FREE tickets to Dress Rehearsal?

FX Update—ZERG RUSH!

SCARE for a CURE Needs YOUR Help this Weekend!

Tips for the Sharp-Minded Volunteer

Relocation Complete!

FX Update - Scary Blood

Lightning Strikes at La Zona Rosa 7 pm TONIGHT

Volunteer Opportunities This Weekend

Medieval Macabre
The Curtain Theater
Friday and Saturday evenings, 9 p.m.: September 25-26, October 2-3, and October 9

Pendarks Museum of the Macabre
Austin Drama Club, 1612 E. 7th Street
Saturdays and Sundays through October 25th, 9-10:30 pm