A few days back, I was driving to work and heard one of those cheesy “Halloween Horror Nights” radio commercials for a haunted house at Universal Studios here in LA. Apparently, it appears the masses (much like myself) are no longer “horrified” by the “horror” conveyed with the customary “howling wolf,” “screeching bats,” “thunder,” “owl,” and “psycho laughing guy” sound effects (all complete with ridiculously splashy 80’s reverb). So, for 2011 Universal stepped it up. They paid Alice Cooper to be the spokesperson for this year’s house (because, you know, he makes things really scary). Thus, in this year’s radio spot, Alice is talking over all of the cliché background sounds about how this year is scarier than ever.
All of this got me thinking:
1 – “Who agreed that howling wolfs are scary?”
2 - “Who agreed that screeching bats are scary?”
3 - “Who agreed that reverb is scary?”
4 – So forth and so on.
[SIDEBAR: This is not radio-related, but why does every Halloween party flyer have a spider web in the top-right corner? Are those scary?]
As an Audio Producer, I am often asked to produce things for all sorts of radio and television commercials. Naturally, I began to think about what I am frightened by, just in case I am asked to create a “Halloween” radio spot for someone this month.
Even though I have been doing this stuff for years, I have no idea how to produce a radio spot that accurately illustrates:
1 - All drivers on the LA roads being women.
2 - All women having small boobs.
3 - Sarah Palin as President.
You’re welcome,
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