FF Moving In-House in 2010

[Ilovthevu']

Couldn't they (Six Flags) just hire that mayor again because it's like Fright Fest's mascot?

[slk8189]

^ I heard that Six Flags has the rights to the name "Mayor Slayer", but not sure if JPM has any claim over the actors that play the characters. So I am sure Six Flags will just find a replacement or someone that looks similar.

[Necropolis]

SO what does this mean? Will Frightfest be better than last year or previous years or worse than last year or previous years? Last year was my first frightfest and i went twice. Both times werent that great, compared to what everyone talks about. I also heard that they were under staffed this year. Is that right? Can anyone confirm this?

[slk8189]

^Well no one really knows anything until Fright Fest is actually here. It is way too early in the season to tell anything at this point.

[Director_Guy]

^ I heard that Six Flags has the rights to the name "Mayor Slayer", but not sure if JPM has any claim over the actors that play the characters. So I am sure Six Flags will just find a replacement or someone that looks similar.

I don't know about you, but I wouldn't really like a faux Mayor Slayor roaming around,

[Jackluver18]

^ I agree

[Dave!]

Couldn't they (Six Flags) just hire that mayor again because it's like Fright Fest's mascot?

There is only one Mayor Slayer, and Fright Fest will never be the same without him.

Someone did bring up a good point about Six Flags hiring Mayor Slayer to come back independently. I have no idea what type of contract the Mayor has with JPM, but if that is possible I would be very happy. Unfortunately, I'm guessing the Mayor works for JPM and thus won't be available for Great America to hire, along with the evil clowns, the trolls, etc.

I know money's tight right now, but if there's anyway to bring the actors back I think it would be the best thing for Great America to do. If not, Fright Fest will have to work to find an all-new identity, or it'll just be a colder version of the regular season.

[david]

It's possible SF wants to take a totally new look to FF. We may see something totally unexpected. Only time will tell.

[MForce4ever]

Go to Horror Nights instead.

Agreed, best post in this topic

[frightfestkid]

Just hire a few of us, we could probably make FF better than JPM did.

[Jcoaster95]

or it'll just be a colder version of the regular season.

With incredibly longer lines.

[sixflagsgirl2006]

All I can say is that Fright Fest '10 will be completely awful. Six Flags hasn't done fright fest for 20 years. They have nothing; no makeup artists, costumers or costumes for that matter, actors, or anything at all really. I'v been checking the JPM site and I know that those actors cannot work for the park for Fright Fest, so Six Flags has nothing. I almost feel bad for the park because it is going to be terrible. They can't even have Mayor Slayer, and I am pretty sure people will notice when it's a different person and a different costume too. I know I am still going to go but only because I have a season pass, and I want to see how bad Fright Fest will be when it is under the parks control. I'm really going to miss all the characters who have been there for years, such as Mayor, school girl Mary Catherine, the nanny, the twins, the clowns we know and love. I might have to make the trip down to Florida for Halloween Horror Nights to get some good halloween fix. Again I am soooo sad and upset

[david]

Was this a corporate, or park decision?

[sixflagsgirl2006]

It was corporate's decision and from what I heard the park did not like it, but of course had no choice. I understand corporate is trying to cut costs because they have no money but this is going to make them lose money in the long run.

[david]

I wouldn't like the decision either, it means the park needs to manage even more people, and it will be far more hectic. I wonder if they'll be wearing park uniforms under the costume. lol

[reebok38]

The actor that portrays Mayor Slayer is also an actor at Bristol Ren Faire. I honestly have no idea if JPM has anything to do with the Faire itself or if the actor is just that, a full time actor. If thats the case, I would bet that he's back for FF portraying the character that is making him famous.

[forddude1416]

Hey here's an idea, why dont we actually wait until fright fest to see if it sucks or not before proclaiming it the worst thing ever

[monsterfan99]

^It's the internet, that against the rules.

[sixflagsgirl2006]

Well just so u know he does work at ren faire and has another job also. But anyone who worked for JPM was a private contractor and signed a form that they couldnt work for six flags for the same event for at least three years, because it would be competeing with JPM business of doing fright fest. So when six flags decided to have the event in park they also decided they cannot have anyone who worked for JPM in the last three years work for them. Including Mayor Slayer, therefore he cannot work there this fright fest or for another three years unless JPM is asked back. If you look at the six flags website you can see they need everything, makeup artists, costume people, scare actors, etc. And since JPM got the best to work from them not just the best talently but also the most professional. Meaning six flags will probably get the people JPM wouldnt hire for one of those two reasons. Thus, six flags will probably have bad actors who aren't professional and don't know what there doing. I am actually excited to go to see how terrible this is going to be. No one can replace some of the actors that have been there for years, those are the people that not only were scaring to some, but entertained others. They were scary, funny, and really made FF what it was. Now that is all gone, and FF will not be the same, and not in a good way. If you look at the JPM website it mentioned a few of these things and also mentioned they are looking for another event space in the area. If they do find a new event space that would be a place where I would want to go rather than six flags.

[UWW-10]

^ You do realize that Great America was the only Six Flags park to outsource their actors for FF...every other park has done it in-house until now. While they had a good thing going, other parks that I've been to for FF have been just fine.

So they have to hire their own creatures and such....Entertainment already does it for their shows...and I'm pretty sure there aren't "park uniforms" under their costumes (towards whoever added that comment before).

And I also agree with the person above about waiting to see what happens....all that's really changing are the characters/creatures....everything else (props, decorations, haunted houses-?) were set-up by Six Flags and JPM supplied the people to go with what Six Flags came up with.

[jmfoxfire]

^It's the internet, that against the rules.

thats funny

[demon boy]

[quote="sixflagsgirl2006"]All I can say is that Fright Fest '10 will be completely awful. Six Flags hasn't done fright fest for 20 years. They have nothing; no makeup artists, costumers or costumes for that matter, actors, or anything at all really. I know I am still going to go but only because I have a season pass, and I want to see how bad Fright Fest will be when it is under the parks control. I'm really going to miss all the characters who have been there for years, such as Mayor, school girl Mary Catherine, the nanny, the twins, the clowns we know and love. [quote]

Let me address this in 2 parts. (First though, I want to say that I rarely make posts here anymore being an entertainment employee, along with being from ent. i'll try not to sound too biased... but you just bashed our department and I have to say something about it)

Okay, first of all, in case you dont know, Entertainment does next to EVERYTHING for Fright Fest..... we have for years. We take care of design, set up, tear down, oh and most importnatly the, uh, SHOWS aspect of it. Although we dont have the JPM make-up artists, we do still have makeup artists, costumers and costumes you claim we dont have. All of the makeup and such done for shows during the regular season and for FF is all done by entertainment. so your facts are off there.... we have the equipment for this.

Second, and nearly going along with the first, saying things like "I want to see how bad FF is when the park is in control" is again pretty much an un-true statement. The ONLY thing changing that I know of is that JPM will not be back. The only thing that means is that the JPM actors, makeup, and costumes wont be there.... everything else will and we'll get items we need to make up for JPMs absence.



Fright Fest isnt going to be that much different than in previous years. I cant say one way or the other what will or will not be happening but I can say that FF will be just as entertaining as it has been in previous years. If it kills you inside that JPM wont be back this year and you think FF will be horrible just because its in house (again, like it has ALWAYS been) then dont go... simple as that. And don't bash entertainment, you never know whose reading your posts.

[Director_Guy]

^ I find it disappointing that hundreds of (awesome) people are out of the job.

[demon boy]

^I wont comment how I feel about that aspect, Chris. All i was saying was that before someone goes and bashes the department I work in, they should have correct facts and think about who they may be offending.