Haunt Weekly

To put it mildly, 2020 has been a rough year and the haunt industry is no different. We're all struggling mentally, physically and financially. However, as haunt season 2020 kicks off, the signs have not been good. Despite well-written COVID plans and what appears to be good intentions, the haunt industry is beset by crushing queue lines, multiple shootings and haunts being forced to close after opening. This has had an impact around here. We canceled this season and are dealing with the depression from that. However, the blues this year go deeper than that as we're reflecting on not just our fate, but the industry as a whole. Yes, this is a depressing episode, but likely an important one. This Week's Episode Includes: Intro Winner From Last Week Question of the Week Intro Into the Topic How the Current Haunt Season is GoingOur Recent Haunt visit Why We're Going to No More Haunts in 2020 What We ARE Doing Revisit Quesation of the Week Conclusions All in all, this is a heavy but likely impo

This week on Haunt Weekly we are doing the news and wow do we have a doozy for you this week. COVID news, three shootings at haunts and we aren't even into October! This will clearly be a season like no other and the only episode likely to beat it will be the next news episode in four weeks. So, with that in mind, buckle up and get ready as this is one long and, at times, difficult episode to listen to. This Week's Episode Includes: IntroQuestion of the Week Housekeeping What We're Doing with Our HauntHaunts Opening with COVID RestrictionsCDC Releases Halloween Guidelines (https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/09/22/915689646/cdcs-halloween-guidelines-warn-against-typical-trick-or-treating-boo)Haunts Ordered to Close in Los Angeles County (https://deadline.com/2020/09/halloween-cancelled-coronoavirus-los-angeles-county-public-health-1234573678/)Ohio Department of Health Recommends Haunts Close (https://www.wkyc.com/article/life/holidays/halloween/ohio-haunted-houses-covid-1

This week on Haunt Weekly we are expanding on a previous question of the week to look at things that haunters wish customers knew. Though the haunt industry has opened up a lot in recent decades, there's still a lot of things that we keep close to the vest. Unfortunately, keeping some of that from customers may actually be hurting us by making the experience worse for them and us. To that end, we're going to expand on those things and look at the various items of information we all wish customers knew (and would take to heart) and how we can educate them on it. This Week's Episode Includes: Intro Housekeeping Notes Last Week's Winner Question for the Audience 13 Things Every Haunter Wishes Customers Knew Return to the Question of the Week Conclusions All in all, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss! Get in Touch and Follow Us!Facebook: @HauntWeeklyTwitter: @HauntWeeklyYouTube: @HauntWeeklyEmail: info@hauntweekly.com

Last month, the TV sitcom Tacoma FD featured an episode where the firefighters respond to a fire alarm at a haunted attraction. That makes it one of the few times pop culture has looked at the relationship between haunts and fire safety. As such, we decided it was worth taking a look to see how well the show represented the industry and how accurate its portrayal is. Needless to say, as a sitcom, it isn't too interested grounding itself in reality but it still seems like a fun exercise. So sit back and relax as we go through the episode. This Week's Episode Includes: IntroCOVID-19 ResourcesPrevious Week's WinnerHousekeeping NotesQuestion of the WeekBasic Info About the EpisodeAbout Tacoma FD 8. Plot RecapWhat They Got Right What They Got Wrong Revisit Question of the Week ConclusionsAll in all, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss!Get in Touch and Follow Us!Facebook: @HauntWeeklyTwitter: @HauntWeeklyYouTube: @HauntWeeklyEmail: info@hauntweekly.com

This week on Haunt Weekly, we're continuing our women in haunting series as we sit down with Amanda Reevenge, a 12-year veteran of the industry that has worked at a variety of haunts as a roaming actor.This interview covers a wide variety of topics including her experiences as a woman in the industry, bullying in haunted houses and ways to make the industry more professional.So sit down, strap in and spend an hour with an amazing haunter.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroAnnounce Last Week's WinnerHousekeeping NotesInterview with Amanda ReevengeClosingAll in all, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss! Special Guest: Amanda Reevenge.Get in Touch and Follow Us!Facebook: @HauntWeeklyTwitter: @HauntWeeklyYouTube: @HauntWeeklyEmail: info@hauntweekly.com

This week on Haunt Weekly we're doing the news and, unfortunately, that means covering a lot of COVID-19 related things including limited haunt openings, closings and more things in between.But that's not all we have this week, we also have a spate of new drive-thru haunts, haunts that are taking a different approach and a lot of other news from the haunt industry.So buckle up as this is going to be one long ride!This Week's Episode Includes:IntroCOVID-19 ResourcesVendor Spotlight - Svenpuss Productions (http://www.svenpuss.com/)Last Week's WinnerQuestion of the WeekHousekeeping NotesHaunt Openings AnnouncedHaunt Closings AnnouncedStranger Things Drive-Thru Haunt Announced (https://io9.gizmodo.com/stranger-things-is-getting-a-socially-distant-drive-thr-1844791854)Pirates of Emerson Planning Drive-Thru Experience (https://patch.com/california/pleasanton/pirates-emerson-plans-haunted-drive-thru-2020-pleasanton)New Mexico Haunt to Host Mile of Terror (https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-met

As bad as COVID-19 has been for haunts, it's been similarly bad for our sister industry: Escape rooms. However, many escape games have taken a different tact, launching virtual experiences that come in a wide variety of flavors.These include everything from simply playing existing escape rooms with a totem to new experiences that were built from the ground up to be virtual.So that's what we're looking at this week, the different approaches to virtual escape rooms and finding which, if any, are right for you.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroCOVID-19 ResourcesVendo SpotlightHurricane NoteQuestion of the WeekBackground on Virtual Escape RoomsA Return to the RootsThe Three Types of Virtual RoomsAdvantages/Disadvantages of Each TypeSome Considerations Regardless of TypeOur ExperiencesReturn to the Question of the WeekConclusionsAll in all, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss! Get in Touch and Follow Us!Facebook: @HauntWeeklyTwitter: @HauntWeeklyYouTube: @HauntWeeklyEmail: info@hauntwee

If you're a haunt in need of a good backstory, we have just the episode for you!Fairy tales have a reputation of being kid-friendly and sanitized but, if you go back to their roots, they are nothing of the like. Filled with gore and violence, fairy tales were scary stories before we had scary stories.So this week we're taking a look at some of the most popular fairy tales and looking at ways you can use them in your haunted attraction!This Week's Episode Includes:IntroCOVID-19 ResourcesLast Week's WinnerQuestion of the WeekVendor SpotlightHousekeeping NotesShout Out to Grim Trails Haunted AttractionOur Definition of Fairy TalesThe History of Fairy TalesOriginal Versions of Some ClassicsModern Day AdaptationsOur First Theme (Alice in Horrorland)Advantages of Using Fairy TalesHow To Use Them in Your HauntRevisit Question of the WeekConclusionsAll in all, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss! Get in Touch and Follow Us!Facebook: @HauntWeeklyTwitter: @HauntWeeklyYouTube: @HauntWeeklyEma

Last year was a very rough year for us. Due to some serious road work taking place, we were forced to cancel our 2019 season.Now, due to COVID-19, many haunts are finding that their 2020 season is hanging into balance. However, if you do have to cancel your season, it's important to cancel it right.A bad cancellation can make it impossible to recover. A good one can let you keep your audience, your cast and your crew together through the storm.With that in mind, here are seven lessons we learned from our cancelled season.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroCOVID-19 ResourcesQuestion of the WeekVendor Spotlight (LED Haunt Lights)Housekeeping NotesRecap of our 2019 CancellationLesson 1: The RunupLesson 2: When to Pull the TriggerLesson 3: How to CancelLesson 4: After the CancellationLesson 5: Keep Working on Your HauntLesson 6: Do Something for Your Cast & CrewLesson 7: Keep Halloween Alive However You CanRevisit Question of the WeekConclusionsAll in all, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss!

This week on Haunt Weekly it's time to do the news and what a rough week of news it is. We have cancellations both left and right, but we also have some happier stories as more haunts try to find a path through the pandemic.However, it's not all COVID news as we hear about a copyright story with potential haunt impacts and one queue line actor that was recently cleared by the police.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroCOVID-19 ResourcesQuestion of the WeekHousekeeping NotesHalloween Horror Nights Cancelled for 2020Disneyland Cancels Oogie Boogie Bash Due to CoronavirusFreakling Bros. Cancels 2020 Halloween Shows, Haunted Houses in Las VegasSpringfield Haunted Attraction Closes PermanentlySouthern Door's Haunted Mansion Cancelled by Coronavirus FearsTwisted Crypt Haunted House Suspends 2020 Season Due to COVID-19Louisville Halloween Announces Cancellations and OpeningsLegendary Haunt Tour is CancelledLet the Spirits be your Guide as Winchester Mystery House ReopensScarehouse Breathes New Life

Pretty much every haunted attraction has a Facebook page. However, is there more that you could be doing with your social media presence?The answer is yes. Social media is a powerful tool for haunt promotion and, thanks to COVID-19, it's about to get even MORE important in 2020. Even if you can't open, social media can help you stay connected with your customers and make the 2021 seas that much better. So, this week we take a deep dive into social media, how haunts should be using it and what you should be doing to get the most out of it. This Week's Episode Includes:IntroCOVID-19 Resource PageQuestion of the WeekHouse Keeping NoteQuick News UpdateUpdate on the Mask EpisodeIntro to Social MediaWhat Platforms You Should Be OnKeys to Social MediaHow to Create Effective PostsAdvertising on Social MediaRevisit Question of the WeekConclusionsAll in all, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss! Get in Touch and Follow Us!Facebook: @HauntWeeklyTwitter: @HauntWeeklyYouTube: @HauntWeeklyEmail: info@

The haunts that are planning on opening up for 2020 are most likely starting to really think about their promotion and part of that is getting good images of your scenes and actors. Whether you need them for your fliers, social media, commercials or all three, you need high-quality photos.Getting them, however, can be difficult. How do you find a photographer that can take good photos of a haunted house? How do you hire them and work with them? What kind of contracts do you need? Luckily, we have a photographer in the room that can help!So kick back and relax while we explain the ins and outs of working photographers and help you get the most for your photography money!This Week's Episode Includes:IntroCOVID-19 ResourcesAnnouncing Last Week's WinnerQuestion of the WeekFinding a PhotographerPlanning the ShootExpectaitons for PaymentThe Photographer's ContractModel ReleasesCreating a Shoot ListThe Day of the ShootCaution on Using Friends/FamilyReturn to the Weekly QuestionConclusionsAll in all, t

It's becoming more and more clear that, if haunts are able to open at all this year, it's going to be with a good deal of restrictions and limitations. Those limitations will likely include masks for actors and customers alike.While getting customers to mask up will be challenging enough, there's also the issue of masking up actors. How do you create masks that work well for a haunt? What types of mask work at stopping COVID-19? How can we ensure that masks are worn and used properly? That's exactly what we're taking a look at this week as we pour through CDC/WHO guidelines and find ways to apply them in a haunted attraction setting. It's a simple idea but one that took a surprising amount of time to pour through.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroCOVID-19 ResourcesLast Week's WinnerQuestion of the WeekHaunt Season 2020 is Going to Be a MessQuick DisclaimerHow Masks WorkWhat Kinds of Masks WorkWhat About Latex/Silicone Masks?How to Incorporate PPE Masks Into the HauntSug

This week on Haunt Weekly we're doing the news and what a rough news episodes it is. We slog our way through the first round of haunt closures due to COVID-19. However, we work hard to bring you a great deal of good news too, including at least one story that may bring a tear to your eye.So definitely buckle up with this one. It's going to be a rough ride but, if you stick with it, we hope to send you home happy.This Week's Epsiode Includes:IntroConference RemindersQuestion for the AudienceMickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2020 Canceled (https://www.wesh.com/article/cancelled-mickeys-not-so-scary-halloween-party/32911147) Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor and Dark Horizon Point of No Return Cancel 2020 Season (https://attractionsmagazine.com/queen-marys-dark-harbor-dark-horizon-events-canceled-2020/)Kennywood Park Cancels Fall Events (https://www.post-gazette.com/life/recreation/2020/06/23/Kennywood-Park-cancels-fall-events/stories/202006230083)Terror Behind the Walls Canceled for 2020 (https:/

No matter what happens between now and haunt season, the haunted attraction industry is facing an extremely challenging year. Even the best predictions call for smaller crowds, shortened seasons and limited capacity.In 2005, the city of New Orleans and the surrounding area was facing a challenge of its own: Hurricane Katrina.The disaster impacted the city in countless ways, including closing the area's haunts. However, the haunts were able to reopen and were able to enjoy at least a few more seasons of success. In this episode, we look at the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the New Orleans haunt community and what lessons may apply to the COVID-19 pandemic.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroCOVID-19 ResourcesQuestion for the AudienceInfo About Hurricane KatrinaDifferences Between the DisastersThe NOLA Haunt Industry Pre-KatrinaWhat Happened After the StormLessons That Were LearnedAnswering the Question of the WeekConclusionsAll in all, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss! Get in Touch and Foll

The haunted attraction industry prides itself on being a welcoming space for anyone who loves scaring. However, as some recent events have shown, that's not always an ideal we live up to.The truth is that we have many of the same issues as any other industry but we often lack the tools and processes to address them adequately. So, that's where this week's conversation sits in as we sit down with the amazing Brooke Englehart from SvenPuss Productions (https://www.svenpuss.com) to discuss ways that the haunted attraction industry can become a safer and more welcoming place for everyone.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroIntroducing BrookeThe Genesis of the ConversationIdeas for Making the Industry SaferWhat Options Are There Now?What Can Owners Do to ImproveWhat Are Ways to Improve Inclusion?What About Conventions?Do Actors Need to Unionize?ConclusionsAll in all, this is one packed episode that you do NOT want to miss! Get in Touch and Follow Us!Facebook: @HauntWeeklyTwitter: @HauntWeeklyYouT

Send us a textNo business is an island unto itself. You need connections and allies to survive and a haunt is no different.Luckily, a haunt has a lot of good opportunities to partner with other businesses and ways that they can add value to their attraction, improve their customers' experience and reduce their own costs.So, today, we're exploring exactly that and looking at 10 types of businesses that your haunt should look at partnering with today.This Week's Episode Includes: IntroCOVID-19 Resources UpdateQuestion for the AudienceDiscussion of the Fear Factory Contingency PlanIntro Into the TopicOther HauntsArea HotelsArea RestaurantsFun Parks and Family AttractionsOther Spooky AttractionsTelevision/Radio StationsLocal Theaters (Movie & Play)Burlesque/Circut TroupesLocal Bands & ArtistsAny Business You Currently UseRevisiting the Weekly QuestionConclusionsAll in all, this is one jam-packed episode you do NOT want to miss! Get in Touch and Follow Us!Facebook: @HauntWeeklyTwitter: @Haun

It's another episode divisible by four and that means we're doing the news and what a news week we have. Has the nation and world begin the process of reopening, haunted attractions and similar locations are starting to open back up as well. As such, we have a lot of news about various attractions opening their doors for the first time in many months.But it's not just about that. We have some news about less-than-desirable members of our community getting the heave-ho as well as some details on new products that you may want to check out!All in all, this is one jam-packed news episode!This Week's Episode Includes:IntroCOVID-19 ResourcesHousekeeping ItemsQuestion of the WeekWilmington Haunted Hollow Ride Dismisses Nazi ActorFear Factory Open for One Night (https://hauntedattractionnetwork.com/fear-factory-haunted-house-successfully-reopens/)Disney World Sets Reopen Date (https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/27/media/disney-world-open-coronavirus/index.html)Japanese Theme Parks Open, Including Rules

Like it or not, the haunt industry is almost certainly heading into a period of great turmoil that is likely to be followed by a recession or even a depression. While that means some rough times are ahead, they are also an opportunity to change the way we work and prepare ourselves to grow.But what changes should we be eying? What adjustments can we make to elevate this whole industry? There are a lot of potential things we should look at, so we chose ten that seemed like ones we could all do right now.So what are they? Listen (or read the notes below) and find out!This Week's Episode Includes: IntroHousekeeping Items2 Quick News ItemsIntro to the TopicStop Consolidation/Save Middle-Class HauntsExpand to Other SeasonsExpand to Other MarketsContinue International ExpansionStop Stealing IPBecome Innovation LedInnovate New ExperiencesMake More Money DigitallyLobbyingUnderstand What Customers WantConclusionsAll in all, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss! Get in Touch and Follow Us!Facebook: @HauntWe

Right now is the time of year many haunts are starting to think about actor recruitment, retention and training. It's the time we touch base with our crews, start recruiting replacements and training everyone up.However, this year presents a special set of challenges. The days of 100+ person cattle calls are gone for right now and there are LOT of new things you need to think about training. So how do you fix this? Well, we know the man who can help the most: Actor manager/trainer extroidonaire Japes Palles. So, this week we sit down with Japes to talk about the challenges of actor management during these unusual times and hopefully get some things to think about as well as some tips and tricks to make your actors more effective.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroCheck Out Our New COVID-19 Page (https://www.hauntweekly.com/covid19)Remembering Mike Krohn "Car Mike" (https://www.facebook.com/japes.palles/posts/10158296551033158)Understandings and CaveatsActor Recruiting & RetentionPrepara