Pogo: Well like I said worked with them (Legion) from 1992-1996, then with The Nightmare Society (now defunct group) from 1997-1998. Legion Of Terror had many good points and many bad at the same time. When I started at Bloodview I was given the option to join right away, I was only 14 at the time if I remember correctly. But they were out of membership forms and said to hit them up next year. Over the summer they changed their by-laws to where you could not join unless you were 18. And if you were not a member, you didnt get any "special privileges" such as carrying hand props, and acting anywhere other than a closed setting room within it's boudaries. So I stayed on until I was 18 and could join, Then I learned of their "heirarchy" system in which there were ranks you had

to be voted through. Everyone started as a student, meaning you were either under 18, or without any rank or privileges. From there you joined and became a Yoeman, this was their ground level position.
HS: Ground Level, meaning?
Pogo: Basically the same as a student, only a member of the group. Then you were eligible to be taken on and mentored by a "Knight" which is one of the highest ranks. Once you started this process you were promoted to a Squire...(basic King Arthur type rankings)
Once a Squire you had tasks to complete in a year and at the end of the year it was put to a vote whether you were to become a Knight. Now to even be considered for this you had a certain percentage of off season meetings you had to attend, so many nights of acting, so many approved makeup jobs, and approved nights of acting.
HS: Personally, this whole "heirarchy" system, sounds a little bit deterring. I think that you should be able to audition for a group, and if you're accepted you should be a member then. Your thoughts?
Pogo: Yes I agree, it creates too much political tension, and problems within. If you are not in the higher ranks or in with the people that vote for you, there is a chance you will not amount to your potential or feel just belittled. I know so many people that quit doing it alltogether just for that reason...like my friend Tim who I worked with my first night and season ever
HS: My thoughts exactly, it would deter me from the group personally, if I had to go through all that trouble just to act in a haunted attraction.
Pogo: I mean you could act no problem, but you had no choice over what you did if you werent a member. Members got first picks on everything before anyone else
HS: I believe that if you are new, you may have to work a spot that nobody else wants, it's just part of the game when starting at a haunted attraction, but eventually, through your dedication, you should be given more control. Not through being 'voted in' through some "political" system.
Pogo: I agree that you have to have an order to things...you cant just let someone come in that has never done it before, give them a sharp weapon/hand prop, and not expect something bad to happen...but there is a point where you can have "too much" organization and not enough just having fun.
HS: Is the "heirarchy" system why you left the Legion and created DOD?
Pogo: DOD was created around the mistakes we learned from other groups, with different views on an acting group.
HS: Now I've heard some comparisons between your group, and the Legion, but I've also heard that your group is less political and a little crazier. Is this true?
Pogo: In some ways...less political definitely. Crazier...depends how you look at it. I have seen the Legion do some really crazy stuff. I would say at times we take a lot more chances.
HS: How So?
Pogo: Using a lot more props that they would most likely not let their members use, using things like meat, animal parts....going farther using things like firebreathing and fire effects right in with the customer, stilts, etc... Nothing is too taboo for us.
Sometimes that lets some of our members get a little too carried away...but usually nothing we cant handle.
HS: Have you ever gotten hurt attempting these stunts?
Pogo: Me personally? Not too many honestly, I can attest for all my haunt related scars, and most were actually construction related. I've never really hurt myself too seriously at a haunt...the more you put yourself in danger the more it puts the customer in danger....I practice everything thoroughly before trying something dangerous in front of a customer.
But accidents can and will happen...anyone that knows anything about fire stunts knows that you are in danger at any time, even to the point of where one wrong move and you could end up dead. Thats why practice is necessary for anything like that.
HS: Let's talk about your makeup a little bit. How long have you been practicing your makeup techniques?
Pogo: since day one...over 10 years now.
HS: Is there any particular type of makeup, or brand of makeup that you prefer?
Pogo: There are a lot of brands I prefer for certain things...but I can use almost any.
HS: With the development of your makeup skills, also comes the birth of "characters". How did the 'Pogo' character come about, and what other characters do you like to perform besides 'Pogo'?
Pogo: I kind of just wanted to have a clown character, and wanted to do something original, so the original idea was a clown with horns that was scalped....Id never seen that before...
I only have about 10 characters that I repeat, I try new things every year, but when I'm stuck for an idea I might repeat a good one. My best have been Pogo, The Coal Miner (more of a comedy act than anything), Mr. Zombie (A game show host spoofed off of Rob Zombie), Skinner ( A Cenobitesque character), My own version of Death including a real sicle, Crispy ( a burn victim) among others.
HS: And Pogo has seen many makeovers throught the years. Is there any 'variation' of the character that you particularly like best?
Pogo: Pogo is just a morphing character I think....I think I have just not done a version I have been 100% happy with, it takes a lot for me to please myself with an act and/or makeup job I do....they always say you are your own worst critic.
HS: Personally, my 2 favorite versions of Pogo were the long hair version, and, of course, the acid-burned version.
Pogo: the burned one actually was never meant to be Pogo when I started the makeup....Actually was done over top a different makeup I had done.
HS: it Demons Of Darkness, how many members do you currently have?
Pogo: 10 solid members....15 total, we have lost a lot do to all the bad luck the last couple years.
HS: When mentioning bad luck, you're of course talking about the Carnival Of Horrors burning down, among other things.With your 'home' haunt being gone, what are you planning on doing for this season?
Pogo: Unless we decide on one of our many options for a "home" this year temporarily, we might just tour around and check out a few different places...some to act at, some just to see, and some both.
HS: Before you landed a permanent spot at the Carnival Of horrors, isn't touring is what your group did primarily?
Pogo: When we started, after our first bout of bad luck with a man named Pete Kolumchiuck....essentially we were touring looking for a home....did not plan to find one in our first year of touring.
HS: Would you like to comment on Pete, or would you rather not for the sake of reputation?
Pogo: Personally, I believe he has created his own reputation as one of the worst business people in the business. We were not the first, nor the last people that he "screwed over".
HS: What can guests expect if they go to an attraction where DOD is performing?
Pogo: One hell of a show!
HS: You guys aren't just a bunch of actors, hiding in a corner saying "boo!", give us a brief description of what kind of madness one can expect from a DOD performance.
Pogo: Getting into your head, ripping out your fears, and serving them on a plate for you to eat...and on the other end of the attraction making you laugh till you p*ss youself, and somewhere else making you so disgusted you will want to throw up that hot dog you just ate!
HS: One fear that alot of people have, is a phobia of clowns, how do you like to capitalize on their fears when they're scared of clowns?
Pogo: Those people are fun...makes my job a lot easier and more fun....you can be talking about the ingredients in pudding and they will still be frightened in tears.
HS: In wrapping up, where can we find out where DOD is going to be performing this year?
Pogo: Hopefully on our website, or in our Yahoo group "demons of darkness" [*]