This year we’re taking October Oddness on the road and into the Indianapolis community.

As a quick overview, back in 2006 Jeff Stanger & Brian Groce recorded a Halloween themed podcast episode for Trolley Dodgers and in the years since then we’ve recorded Halloween themed podcast episodes for Utter Oddcast and Blue Shotgun Radio.  In order to pull that all together in one place, October Oddness was created in 2009.

Now, to 2010…

Host an October Oddness 2010 Live Event

We’re seeking restaurants, businesses, festivals, events, haunted houses, etc., located in and around Indy to host October Oddness events throughout the month of October.

In short, at October Oddness events we will involve podcasting, recording video, taking photos, giving away prizes and playing it by ear on an event-by-event basis.  In the past we’ve held a “Guess that Slyder” taste test & have judged Halloween costumes.

What we’re specifically looking for is either to be part of what you already have going on in October or to have a place set aside to hold a Tweetup to mingle with guests for a few hours.

Open Dates

Here are the open dates we’re currently seeking to schedule.

• Monday, October 4, 2010 – Open date, evening
• Tuesday, October 5, 2010 – Open date, evening
• Thursday, October 7, 2010
  Apple Fest on Monument Circle: 10am-2pm
  Open date, evening
• Friday, October 8, 2010 – Open date, evening
• Sunday, October 10, 2010
  Indy ScreamPark (Anderson): Doors open at 7pm
• Monday, October 11, 2010 – Open date, evening
• Tuesday, October 12, 2010 – Open date, evening
• Saturday, October 16, 2010
  Non-hosted Road Trip: Kings Island (Cincinnati, Ohio)
  
• Monday, October 18, 2010 – Open date, evening
• Thursday, October 21, 2010 – Tentative event
• Saturday, October 23, 2010 – Tentative event
  
• Sunday, October 24, 2010 – Open date, evening
• Monday, October 25, 2010 – Open date, evening
• Tuesday, October 26, 2010 – Open date, evening
• Thursday, October 28, 2010 – Open date, evening
• Friday, October 29, 2010 – Open date, evening

Key: X=Unavailable date, O=Open date, F=Filled date, FO=At least one event scheduled, but an open spot remains & T=A potential host is interested in that day.

Hosting Requirements

We will need the following things.

• The venue/meeting space.
• Accessible electricity.
• A table & chairs for us & our equipment.
• If tickets are necessary, we will need to be provided tickets for our mobile crew.

Hosting Bonuses

The following items are not required, but would be greatly appreciated.

• Free WiFi.
• Giveaway items.
• Munchies/Halloween Candy.

If you are interested in hosting an October Oddness event, please contact Naptown Buzz to ask any questions and to make arrangements.

(more information on event hosting)

Sponsorship

Do you want to sponsor the October Oddness 2010 Live events?

The following opportunities are available:

• Contest or door prizes – provide items to give away at the October Oddness 2010 Live events and/or website.
• Event sponsorship – sponsor the October Oddness 2010 Live tour & have your company logo printed on the back of the October Oddness Halloween T-Shirts which will be sold and given away at the events.
• Website sponsorship – sponsor the website. 125×125 & 300×200 (or 300 x 250) banner ads are available.

(more information on event sponsorship)

The new October Oddness t-shirts will be printed in a few weeks and we are currently taking pre-orders.  So order your October Oddness Halloween T-shirt today featuring the Headless Cowman.

• Small, Medium, Large & XL are $18.00.
• XXL & XXXL are $20.00.
• Pre-order by September 12, 2010 & and $3.00 will be automatically be taken off your order PLUS get FREE shipping!

Color:	Black	Size:	Small Medium Large XL XXL XXXL

All preorders should be shipped by late September 2010.

The October Oddness Mailing List is now online.  You can subscribe for both email and snail mail October Oddness updates all year long.  The updates will include a listing of new stories, new podcasts, contests, giveaways and anything else that may pop up.  Sign up today.

Via the AP:

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Animal control officers in Sioux City, Iowa, say someone dressed a dead deer in a clown suit and wig and put it on a family’s porch. Officers suspect it was a prank, considering Halloween is approaching, but they say it’s not funny, safe or acceptable.

I’ll agree that this is pretty sick and I wouldn’t be happy if I found Bozo the Deer on my front porch.  But you must admit it’s a little unique & I doubt it’d be as big of a deal if the deer was stuffed.  If you guys do this again I’d suggest going that route as it’s really not healthy to have a deer carcass hanging around…the idea is humor with making people physically ill.

It’s October 1st and that can only mean that October Oddness 2009 is here.  We will begin rolling out podcasts and blog posts throughout the month and are adding Halloween theme Haiku’s, costume ideas and a listing of haunted houses. We’ll also be importing previous years’ podcasts in order to provide a one stop location to listen to everything.

With that said, we need interaction from you, our readers and listeners.  We are looking for the following:

• Your local haunted houses
• Your local October Fall Festivals
• Costume ideas
• Ghost Stories (original, urban legends, etc)
• Original Halloween themed poems, Haiku or otherwise
• Original creepy music (indie, not commercial/major label)
• Original artwork
• EVP’s (ghost hunter groups, get in touch!)
• Your favorite Halloween candy
• Your favorite Halloween/spooky movies & TV shows
• Your favorite Halloween memories, traditions, tips, etc.
• Anything else you can think of that fits into the category

Again, we need your interaction, so send us a note, leave us a voice mail message (317-565-4250) or drop something in the mail (October Oddness / c/o Surge Bucket Media, LLC / P.O. Box 78306 / Indianapolis, Indiana 46268) today!

Episodes

• #1 – Blue Shotgun Radio #44 (October 2, 2009)
• #2 – Blue Shotgun Radio #46 (October 8, 2009)