One year I was red riding hood.... I collect RRH memorabilia and I went all out. I had a floor length red velvet hooded cape, white peasant blouse, black skirt, stripey stockings, button up boots, and a waist cincher ( a really expensive, nice custom job), and basket of goodies.... and some people still thought I was a vampire. I've been RRH a few times since, in different versions.
This happens to me all the time!! It is quite frustrating sometimes. I dressed up as Akasha (Queen of the Damned) last year, and only 1 person got the reference and that was because she was not only a fellow Anne Rice fan, but dressed up as Gabrielle De Lioncourt! lol No one else understood *sigh*
This year, I'm really hoping my costume will be completely obvious... I'm dressing up as The Corpse Bride, but I'm sure there will be a few people who think I'm a Smurf or something *rolls eyes* :P
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"Homer, we have to stop this - today Bart's drinking blood, tomorrow he could be smoking!"
I'm cringing at some of the great ideas here that have flown over people's heads. I have one to add, only I'm not surprised that no one got it: last year I decided to do a second costume keeping with the Phantom of the Opera theme, one that didn't require two hours of makeup. So I went as little Meg Giry, one of the ballet dancers. Her costume from the final scene in the musical is basically boy's knee length pants, waistcoat, shirt...she disguised herself as the boy to sneak to the Phantom's lair. I actually had that crap lying around so I went with it.
EVERYONE at the Hard Rock party thought I was some female version of Sam Adams. After five or so people came up and asked me, I just started saying I was his sister, Samantha. It was horrible, in a slightly funny way. On another note, this is particularly useful if you're looking for free beer.
I actually had brought a Phantom mask with me (like the final scene), but clearly I did not beat enough people over the head with it for them to notice.
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~Lindsey "Nothing proves just how dumb we are collectively as a people than candy corn." (Lewis Black)
well, I was the queen of the spiders, or spider mother, which ever you prefer, didn't go glammed up, cuz spiders sure aren't, had gray cloak type thing, silvery gray hair, and was full of spiders, and webs, , on the cloak, hair, every where, grayish make up, and while it was obvious to me, every one thought I was a witch, very annoying, I mean, I had SO many spiders on me, and was all webby, I didn't have a pointed hat, and they still didn't get it.
Well frustrated posters to this topic, I feel that if you were all working for me in my Haunted house in October and you all showed up in these various costumes , that I would LOve It!
Same-old, same-old creatures and monsters are so redundant as to not be entertaining or scary, especially if the average patron can easily identify who/what they are.
I operate in the regions of making the customer use their minds and possibly also creative thinking because then they are much easier to entertain and scare!
When something is not all laid out for them they have to ponder and think and sometimes I find out they are still doing this years later! All from a tour of my place!
Dare to be Different!
Those of us with active minds love the challenge!
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"My Insanity is well-respected, until they wiggle free and become a stringer for a tabloid"
Haha, some years back I did the 1922 version of Nosferatu...(skull cap, white makeup, dark circles under eyes, pointed ears, long fingers, etc.) unfortunately, it was the same year that "Powder" came out. Needless to say, not many people got it right even with the creepy long fingers too.
The fact that few people recognized Nosferatu really scares me. It reminds me of last year when I went to a pub costume party in full Phantom attire and someone had absolutely no idea what I was. I don't think I even said anything to him - just stared for a minute, completely dumbfounded.
This year I'll be doing Mustang Sally (like the song), so I'll be very interested to see if anyone gets it.
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~Lindsey "Nothing proves just how dumb we are collectively as a people than candy corn." (Lewis Black)
well, I was the queen of the spiders, or spider mother, which ever you prefer, didn't go glammed up, cuz spiders sure aren't, had gray cloak type thing, silvery gray hair, and was full of spiders, and webs, , on the cloak, hair, every where, grayish make up, and while it was obvious to me, every one thought I was a witch, very annoying, I mean, I had SO many spiders on me, and was all webby, I didn't have a pointed hat, and they still didn't get it.
when i did my black widow costume I made a pill box had with a black veil & or course spiders everwhere (even as jewellery) had spiderweb dress & tights - still had to tell people
my son went to my 40th last year as hunter j thopmson from 'fear & loathing in las vegas' as he had on a hawaii shirt & fishing hat everyone thought he was hawkeye from M*A*S*H! despite the fact that he stayed in character all night!
my friend was invited to a party in the local raf base once - she wore a wren's uniform - one ripped stocking one hanging down, make up & hair all over the place, blouse buttoned up wrong. nobody got that she was 'the officer's mess'!
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