Below is the list of classes being offered at the Academy. This list does not include the DIY Expo classes being developed by RJ and the DLA team, which will mean that this year's Academy will host more educational opportunity than ANY holiday event. Ever!
If you have not already, please help RJ and his team determine class placement by visiting this thread and indicating your top 5 choices of the DIY Expo offerings: You are not allowed to view links.
Register or
Login. When you look at the list below AND the list on that thread you have to admit that you won't find this level of holiday education ANYWHERE else!
Please remember that things can change but you can 99% count on these courses being offered. The schedule is to be posted on April 15th (a full month earlier than our traditional announcement date) which will allow you to start agonizing over which classes you'll have to choose from. We know that's the tough part!
CHRISTMAS CLASSICS:
Interactive Displays (Clyde Dearing):
How do you handle traffic? The media? A throng of people? Kids running into the display? What kind of skits and/or props can you use to make visitors feel like a part of things? This course will be facilitated by none other than Clyde Dearing of “Invasion of the Christmas Lights 2†and a long-time decorator of LARGE (both in scope and visitors!) residential displays (he was also the first Lone Star Holidays President until the people finally spoke up! ). Clyde will bring his unique experiences and laid back teaching style to this class and help you figure some of those interactive aspects out.
Design and Uses of Coro (Anthony Vetrano):
We ran this course for two years (and at two workgroups) but it’s back by popular demand in 2012. Coro continues to be a fantastic way to incorporate an easy-to-work-with material into your display. The versatility and cost of coro allow holiday fanatics to utilize it regardless of experience level. From signs, to shapes to 10 foot tall Nutcrackers, the possibilities of working with coro are endless!
Polar Express: Trains in Your Display (Jack Huitt):
Mechanical movers continue to be a popular element in displays across the country but where do you start with such a technical project? Jack Huitt, a long-time train builder, will be helping you understand the nuances of building and incorporating trains into your display. There won’t be any trips to the North Pole or Tom Hanks portraying the conductor but you can be sure you’ll leave this session with a basic understanding of train building, resources to help you find your materials, and the inspiration to get to work on your own train!
Getting the Media Spotlight Shining on Your Display (Michael Simmons):
How do you drive more traffic to your display? What exactly is a press release? How do you go about collecting donations and working with charities? These questions and many more will be answered by Michael A. Simmons (You are not allowed to view links.
Register or
Login). Within just a few years, his animated residential Christmas display raised tens of thousands of dollars for charity and, in 2010, was selected from thousands of entries by The Early Show on CBS as “Best Christmas Lights Display in America.†Michael will share his unique experience in dealing with charities and local and national media outlets. After completing this course, you’ll have a better understanding of how to get free publicity for your display and increase your traffic overnight!
JUMP in HD & ColorMotions (Walter & Jackie Monkhouse):
Walter and Jackie Monkhouse have taught previously on their most famous creation- the JUMP (Jack Up Mega Pole). But they don't want to show you the same old same old! They want to share something NEW with you. How about a new HD JUMP?? Not high-definition; this HD stands for heavy duty, as in waaay more weight being able to be added and the capability to go up to THIRTY EIGHT feet high! But that’s not all! We will also be learning about their innovative ColorMotions tree. These two pieces- the HD JUMP and the ColorMotions Tree- are truly amazing ways to add to your displays and the Monkhouses will be right there to share that knowledge with you.
ZAP! Incorporating Lasers In Your Display (Rodney McNeel):
Lasers can seem like something beyond your reach but don’t be scared! This session will cover general laser knowledge, basics of how they work, and resources to buy from. The course will include some video, photos, and in-room demos. Rodney McNeel , who is a part of the TEXLEM laser enthusiasts, will guide you through the details and then some in-person demos of what lasers can do. Prepare to be zapped!
Photograph & Video Your Display (Larry McGough):
“I want good pictures and video of my house but I don’t have the fanciest equipment and I don’t know how to make it look good!†We’ve heard that time and time again and we’re going to do something about it. Larry McGough of Slamco will be on hand to guide you through the basics of capturing your display. Types of equipment, settings, tips and tricks to help you get the best results possible will all be a part of this session.
Video Editing (Chris Sims):
You have your photos and video and they look great. You took video from several angles so you could represent your display in the best way. Now what? Developing an attractive video package to share with your family and friends isn’t easy and Chris Sims will help you with some best practices to help you get a finished video you can be proud of.
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark- Repairing Lights (Dennis Cherry):
Dennis Cherry, a long-time Lone Star Holidays member and the inventor of the new LED Keeper, will be on hand to cover all of the aspects of repairing your lights. Whether incandescent or LED, Dennis will show you the tools, gadgets and tips to keep those lights on the house and out of the trash bin.
An “Off†Evening: Floods/Bubblers/Snow Machines):
We have done the LSH Bubble Off in the past but this year we’re stepping it up for An “Off†Evening. David Moore and Steve Gase will be coordinating the first ever “Flood Off†where we will be comparing the many different types of flood lights available. We will also have several bubble machines on hand for the “2nd Bubble Offâ€. Finally, Jeff Trykoski will be demoing two different styles of snow machines in the first ever “Blizzard Offâ€. Come and see these pieces up close in this all-demo, all-questions session.
SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS:
What You Need to Buy: Light-O-Rama Hardware (Don Teague):
Light-O-Rama continues to be the hardware option of choice for many, many decorators and we would be remiss to not cover the hardware aspects associated with it. If you’re new to the game and considering Light-O-Rama, this is the place to start. One of the veteran LOR Partners, Don Teague of Synchronized Christmas, will cover all of the available options from a hardware standpoint: Pros and cons, ideas for usage, and real-world stories of integration that will help you make an informed decision on your future purchases.
Light-O-Rama BS (Johnny Poore):
No, not that kind of BS! We’re talking about the LOR suite beyond sequencing. With all of the software options available for sequencing, Light-O-Rama is still one of the top selling and highly regarded options around. This session will cover those pieces that everyone seems to juggle with at the last minute. Creating a show, making a schedule, and various other aspects of LOR you need to handle after your sequences are complete.
Auto Sequencing with SuperStar Lights (Brian Bruderer):
The creator of the SuperStar Light software suite, Brian Bruderer will be showcasing the new S3 SuperStar Sequencer for the first time at the Academy. In addition to CCRs, the software now supports sequencing all of your lights: If you have a visualization file for your lights, you can import that file and sequence all of your lights. You can also use the Instant Sequence feature on all of your lights; an amazing feature that is sure to make your display sequencing more efficient and rewarding.
What is the Madrix? (Drew Hickman):
For the first time at the Academy (or anywhere that we know of) we will be hosting a special class on one of the most exciting new software solutions available: Madrix! Drew Hickman of Holiday Technologies, a vendor who sells and trains on Madrix, will be hosting a session on Friday evening following the dinner break to introduce you to the intricacies of this software suite and helping you determine how this can help develop your display.
The Sounds of Music: Audio Editing with Audacity (Joe Rogers):
Back by popular demand, Joe Rogers will be on hand providing the knowledge he has acquired from years in the recording industry and residential display building. Using Audacity, Joe will help you understand the program, learn the fundamentals of audio editing, and offer you some real-world best practices on making the music you choose unique to your display.
Zara 101 (Chris Backus)
Zara 201 (Chris Backus)
Heeee’s baaaack! Chris Backus returns to the Academy to take you through the intricacies of one of the hottest software pieces available to enhance your display: Zara Radio. In 2011 Chris taught one course on this to a standing-room only crowd so it was obvious we had to ask him back in 2012. His only request was that we make sure he has twice as much time and a larger space to cover it all! Want to make your display into a truly comprehensive home radio station? This is the place to start.
Please note that you do not need to attend both sessions. As with all Academy classes (except the S3 Experience), there are no pre-requisites or limitations on what you see. You should attend those that you think will benefit you and your displays the most.
SCARE SESSIONS:
The Psychology of Haunting (Joe Rogers):
What does it mean to have a really good haunt? Lots of blood and guts? Screams and flashes of light? Gore galore? Maybe yes to some of these, maybe no. Determining your haunt is the starting point, before you get to any of these other considerations. Your motivation, your audience, your goals… these are the first items you need to determine before moving forward. This course will help you define your haunting goals and move towards them.
Mechanical Halloween Props (Eric Kristiansen):
Eric Kristiansen, the founder of the Dallas/Fort Worth Friends of Halloween, will be at the Academy showing some exciting mechanical props for use in a home haunt. Whether you are mechanically inclined or you just want to get some inspiration, this is a class that will help take your haunt to the next level.
Animating Your Haunt Using Your Computer Control (Jim Hall):
You have your current computer control that you use for your Christmas display. How about using it for Halloween? Many people use Halloween as a “dress rehearsal†for the Christmas season while other go all out for the spookiest time of the year. Regardless of what computer control system you use, this session will help you come up with some ideas of how to use it for your haunt.
Ghouls, Ghosts, Corpses & Creatures (Eric Kristiansen):
Prosthetics, fake blood, actors and animated figures… these all combine to create some of the best (and scariest!) effects. This session will focus on the many ways you can incorporate these types of items into your haunt. You will get to see some things up close and discover new methods of adding detail to your Halloween display.
Lighting Your Haunt (Panel):
Light can be a powerful resource in a haunt IF you know how to use it correctly. Sometimes the simplest items, used subtlety, are a big success in a haunt. These courses will move you through the simplest spot lights, to black lighting, and finally to using animated lighting control to create some amazing results. You never knew what that single light bulb in the garage could do for your haunt!
Basic Make-Up Supplies and Application Tips:
This session will show you how to use some of the very basic materials and concepts to learn about make up for your Halloween experience. You’d be amazed how simple this can be achieved with simple items, some of which you may already have around the house.
Using Servos for Halloween (Steve Hughes):
Servos are what make things move and Steve Hughes will be on hand with his 3-axis skulls to show you the basics of working with servos. The possibilities are endless as you come up with ideas to use the knowledge and ideas Steve will share with you during this class.
Adding a Sense of Humor to Your Haunt (Mike Carr):
Haunting isn’t supposed to be funny, is it? It’s supposed to scare people, sometimes outright terrify them! Isn’t that the point? Yes… and sometimes no. In any situation, haunts included, there needs to be some down time. It creates a sense of security that then is broken when the next scary piece of your haunt comes along. Humor can be a big part of your haunt and help to manage the ebbs and flows of the horror aspects. Come and learn how to make a smile, however short-lived, during a haunt!
The Haunt Fair:
Because of the schedule and number of classes it is difficult to do actual builds at the Academy. Mike Carr and Eric Kristiansen are coordinating show and tell and prop specific demos during the first Haunt Fair. You’ll see everything from stationary objects like walls to the more complex animated figures. There will be lots of items on hand for you to see up close and ask questions about. Move from section to section and see some of the unique display props for your Halloween haunt.
BEYOND LIGHTING:
Becoming Santa: History and Basics, The Magic Suit, Wigs/Beards/Mustaches (Ryan Johnson):
Where do you start when you want to become Santa Claus? The best place to start is always at the beginning. We’ll kick things off by learning who Santa Claus is, where the legend came from, and what it means to become the most photographed celebrity in the world. We will cover best practices for dealing with kids (and their parents!). In addition, tips for taking great Santa Photos will be covered during this class. The basics of being Santa start right here.
Santa 201: Deaing w/ Kids & Photo Tips Accessories to Enhance Santa (Ryan Johnson):
Our Claus Curriculum takes the next step in Santa 201. We will cover best practices for dealing with kids (and their parents!). In addition, tips for taking great Santa Photos will be covered during this class. Finally we will show you some of the best accessories for making your Santa experience magical for your audience.
BOOM! Pyro Workshop (Johnny Poore):
Past Lone Star Academy events have covered some Basic Firework classes, from history to safety to legalities to types of fireworks. We took a year off from this in 2011 but we’re back in 2012 with Johnny Poore, a member of the National Fireworks Association (NFA) running the show. Johnny is here just in time for the 2012 July 4th holiday to show you how to build your fireworks display, fuse it up, and some tips on how to keep things safe and exciting when show time arrives!
