Haunt Weekly

This week on Haunt Weekly it's all about Computer Assisted Design (or Computer Aided Drafting if you're the older crowd).While many think of CAD as a highly-technical skill only achievable by those that have studied it for years, that's only really true for the upper echelon of CAD. There are plenty of CAD tools that are perfectly usable by anyone capable of clicking a mouse and those tools can be very useful in laying out a haunt.Best of all, many of those tools are FREE (or extremely low cost).There's literally no reason to not jump in. But, if you need convincing, that's what this episode is for!This Week's Episode Includes:IntroConference RemindersUpdates About Our HauntMore Info on the Halloween and Costume AssociationWhat is CAD?How Does CAD Help?When to B ring CAD Into the ProcessTrimble Sketchup (https://www.sketchup.com)TinkerCAD (https://www.tinkercad.com)Sweet Home 3D (http://www.sweethome3d.com)Advice for Making CAD Work for YouConclusionsNo matter how tech savvy you

This week on Haunt Weekly, we're doing the news and what a news episode it is!We have an update on our 2019 season and a possible danger to it happening. We also have the latest on the rather stupid petition to try and move Halloween (or at least Trick or Treating) to the last Saturday of month.In less annoying news, we have lots of great stories about haunt openings and a major announcement from a haunt that many thought had closed permanently. This Week's Episode Includes:IntroConference RemindersUpdate on Our HauntAsinine Petition Seeks to Move Halloween (https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/ct-life-saturday-halloween-petition-tt-0731-20190731-lxff6bdzmfgvjammt4mrxfd7gq-story.html)Bane Haunted House Leaves New Jersey (https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2019/08/top-rated-haunted-house-gets-the-hell-outta-nj-after-10-year-reign-of-terror.html)Blackout Haunted House Returns (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKYQPD90Rj0&app=desktop)Dark Horizon: Point of No Return to Open in Orlando (http://www

This week on Haunt Weekly, we're discussing year-round haunting and we're doing it by sitting down with Shelby Rodwell. Shelby runs both The Haunted Mayfield Manor and Pirates! Legends of the Gulf Coast (https://www.piratesandghosts.com) in Galveston. The first is a year-round haunted attraction and the second an equally year-round pirate museum.We're going to talk about the challenges and opportunities in running a year-round haunt including how they keep it going and what some of the biggest obstacles they face are. It's a jam-packed interview with lots of great info about running such a haunt and more than a little talk about pirates. This Week's Episode Includes:IntroGetting to Know ShelbyThe Biggest Challenges in Running a Year-Round HauntThe History of The Haunted Mayfield ManorDiscussion of Being a Woman in HauntingConclusionsAll in all, whether you're thinking about expanding to more days or looking to get started year-round haunting, this is an episode that you do NOT wa

Pretty much every haunted house has a merch booth or a gift shop. There's almost no reason not to. It's a fairly straightforward way to make extra money from your haunt and, in many cases, do some great self-promotion. However, as an industry, our merch game is often times pretty weak. Many places offer t-shirts and hats and not a lot more. There's a lot of room for many haunts to elevate their merch and gift shop game and that's what this episode is about. Finding ways to make more money by selling more stuff.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroConference RemindersInformation on Upcoming Galveston TripHat Tip to Roberta McCllenPrevious Episodes to Check OutDifference Between a Gift Shop and a Merch Booth6 Rules for a Successful Gift ShopDiscussion on MerchElevating it to a Gift ShopAdditional AdviceExamples of Good Haunt Gift ShopsConclusionsWhether you already have a gift shop or are looking to set one up, this is an episode you do NOT want to miss! Get in Touch and Follow Us!Faceboo

When Midwest Haunters Convention left Ohio to head to Chicago, the Ohio Haunters Association (https://ohiohaunters.com) found themselves without a conference in their backyard. So, they had a crazy idea, why not create one.Thus the Ohio Halloween & Haunters Convention was born!So how did a team of great haunt activists and organizers become a crack team of event planners and conference hosts? Well, that's exactly what we're talking with Maximus Bryant about on this week's episode of Haunt Weekly.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroBackground on MaximusHow the Convention Got StartedChallenges and Process of Putting it TogetherOvercoming Unforeseen DifficultiesAdvice for OthersConclusionsWhether you're planning a conference or just planning on attending one, this is an episode you do NOT want to miss! Special Guest: Maximus Christian Bryant.Get in Touch and Follow Us!Facebook: @HauntWeeklyTwitter: @HauntWeeklyYouTube: @HauntWeeklyEmail: info@hauntweekly.com

This week on Haunt Weekly, we're doing the news and, despite it being in the doldrums of summer we have a surprisingly large amount of news to go through.We have updates about new haunts, new escape rooms, a haunt getting a beer license and a triple update on Halloween Horror Nights.So while the temperatures are rising outside, why don't you cool off for the next 45 minutes or so with us and catch up on all the goings on in the haunt industry.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroConference RemindersMysic Manor Opens at OWA in Alabama (https://www.al.com/life/2019/06/mystic-mansion-ride-opens-friday-at-owa-in-foley.html)Erebus Opens New Escape Game (https://www.theoaklandpress.com/news/local/art-of-the-escape-erebus-opens-new-detective-adventure/article_63043590-976e-11e9-b00c-5b572d8c9bda.html)Wisconsin Haunt Gets a Beer License (https://journaltimes.com/news/local/abandoned-haunted-house-gets-beer-license/article_c636ad13-af7f-5c8b-ba22-343715446753.html)Iowa Haunt Opens for Midsummer Event (http

Last week, we talked about what we wished we'd known when we started haunting, this week, we're looking at it as customers and talking about things that big haunts forget to do.However, we're not really focusing on things IN the haunt itself. Instead, we're talking about the things that impact the customer experience around the haunt and help keep the haunt safe. All of these things are simple, easy-to-execute elements that make your haunt experience better for customers but that often get left out by haunts. Luckily, they're all super easy to fix.So if you're looking for some fast and easy way to improve your customers' experience, this is the episode for you!This Week's Episode Includes:IntroConference RemindersApologies and HousekeepingThe Rules of the EpisodeBathrooms and Trash CansSignageOther Things To DoClear RulesNon-Costumed EmployeesAdequate Security CamerasFeedback and Customer CaptureConclusionsAll in all, this is one episode no haunter will want to miss! Ge

Haunting is a learning process and, no matter how much you know, there's always more to learn. However, there are still some things that we really wish we had known before we got started. We made some major blunders simply because we didn't know what we were walking into.So what do we wish we had known? There's a lot but here are just seven things to get you started.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroConference RemindersUpdate on The RoofHow to Build a Proper Panel/Don't Cheap Out on MaterialsDon't Cheap Out on ToolsHow Scared People GetHow to Properly StaffHow to Build a Haunt FamilyHow Horrible People Can BeHow Amazing People Can BeConclusionsAll in all, whether you're a new haunter or a grizzled veteran, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss! Get in Touch and Follow Us!Facebook: @HauntWeeklyTwitter: @HauntWeeklyYouTube: @HauntWeeklyEmail: info@hauntweekly.com

Haunters and often avid games and there's not a genre of games haunters love more than horror games. But can horror games help make us better haunters? What lessons can we learn from them?Well, we're going to list ten horror games that definitely have lessons haunters can learn. Even if they're not all the best horror games ever, they're great educational experiences.So sit back, relax and let's talk about some horror video games!This Week's Episode Includes:IntroConference RemindersRules of the TopicAmnesia: The Dark Descent (https://store.steampowered.com/app/57300/Amnesia_The_Dark_Descent/)Five Nights at Freddy's (https://store.steampowered.com/app/319510/Five_Nights_at_Freddys/)Condemned: Criminal Origins (https://store.steampowered.com/app/4720/Condemned_Criminal_Origins/)Dead Space (https://store.steampowered.com/app/17470/Dead_Space/)Slender: The Eight Pages (https://www.indiedb.com/games/slender-the-eight-pages)Silent Hill (https://www.amazon.com/Silent-Hill-playstat

It's an episode that's divisible by four and that means it's time to do the news!And we have a doozy of a podcast for you as it has been a very active week for haunted attraction news. We have a tale of one haunt being spared by flooding, another that was badly damaged, another story about an arsonist and much more.We also have our seasonal drip feed of Halloween Horror Nights news and one lady who is tried to pass of her racist yard display as Halloween decorations.Yeah, it's a pretty busy episode so you definitely want to get started now!This Week's Episode Includes:IntroConference Reminders13th Gate Spared in Flooding (https://www.facebook.com/1058316556/posts/10215687569476436?s=1010130222&sfns=mo)Psycho Path (OK) Hit by Flooding (https://www.facebook.com/psychopathhaunt/posts/2417458591639863?__xts__[0]=68.ARCqqm4BwIZH0x_xB3v4b6lBqAo0nKYcZG4Hu83AZDICPA9lUoMpG5hA5QxHA69zTN08gpjYffaLw3WFJcstY2espfkDjIHJtSemZvRxSmsa_EWsWKXWlfpqO06IEEiXxgvGn31OJnY3RePPhRugIwynhl3vInEM4jkyWTBs84H

This week on Haunt Weekly, we're wrapping up our room trilogy as we discuss the best room in your haunt. We've done the first room, we've done the last room and now we're doing the best room.But the best room is more important than some people realize. Your customers, when they walk away from your haunt, will likely only remember one or two things. Having a room that stands out and gets attention, ensures that not only do your customers remember you positively, but that they remember you well enough to come back.So we're diving into it, how to create your best room and make something that will truly be memorable!This Week's Episode Includes:IntroConference RemindersHousekeeping ItemsWhat is The Best RoomPrevious Episodes to Check OutApproach 1: SpectacleApproach 2: A Unique ScareApproach 3: The Plot PayoffApproach 4: Break Expectations/RulesApproach 5: InteractivityWhere to Place the RoomWhy You Want ItConclusionsAll in all, no matter what kind of haunt you run, this is an episod

Last week, we discussed the importance of the first room, the approaches to it and the purposes it can serve. This week, we're doing the bookend and talking about the last room, and the importance of it.The last room, however, is somewhat unique among haunts in that it's the only room (or haunt element) that has a de facto standard. We've grown to expect that haunts will end with chainsaws the same way we expect a concert to end with the greatest hit by the band. That said, should it? We take a look at that and much more as we examine the last room, it's function and what can be done with it. So, with that in mind, here's a look at the last room and all the things that can be done with it.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroConference RemindersThe Importance of the Last RoomWhy That Importance is Sometimes OverblownApproach 1: The ChainsawApproach 2: The MazeApproach 3: A Climatic SceneApproach 4: Just Another RoomApproach 5: The Real False EndingApproach 6: Transition to Another A

The common logic when it comes to building a haunted house is that you put most of your energy, detail and work into the first room and the last room. The idea is that these are the rooms that will be the most memorable to your customers.But is that really true? In thinking about first rooms we've seen we struggled to remember many. That said though, the first room does play a key role in a haunt and you definitely need to put some time and energy in finding the approach that's right for you.On that note, we're taking a deep dive into that first room (or scene) and examining what it takes to make a great first room.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroConference RemindersThe Myth of Hyper ImportanceApproach 1: The Rules RoomApproach 2: Interactive RoomApproach 3: SpectacleApproach 4: A ShowApproach 5: Dead SpaceApproach 6: Just a RoomWhich Approach is BestConclusionsAll in all, this is one jam packed episode that you do NOT want to miss! Get in Touch and Follow Us!Facebook: @HauntWeeklyTwitte

This week on Haunt Weekly we're doing the news and boy do we have a surprisingly stacked show for an episode that's as far away from Halloween as we can get. We have two announcements from Universal Studios, two more from Disney and a slew of local haunt news across the country.It's one busy episode with a few fun items at the end so stick around as we go through all the haunt news that's fit to print, or talk about rather.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroConference RemindersPosters Stolen from Charity Haunt (https://www.kpvi.com/news/local_news/police-posters-stolen-from-idaho-falls-d-a-r-e/article_e7cb0434-669a-11e9-8933-d39e0d5226ac.html)Canadian Haunt May Be Closed (https://www.richmond-news.com/community/richmond-haunted-house-could-be-about-to-disappear-1.23799585)West Virginia Town Approves Variances for Haunt (http://www.theintelligencer.net/news/community/2019/04/zoning-board-approves-variances-for-haunted-house-two-houses/)Virginia Haunt Wins Tourism Awards (https://loudoun

It's the time of year when haunts are either ramping up their recruitment or are thinking about doing so. It's also the time of the year newbie actors are considering if they want to come on board and, if so, what haunt they want to work.So we've reached out to our resident actor expert, Japes Palles, to tell newbie actors what they can expect and to help haunt owners figure out how to make the process suck less. So prepare yourself for a jam-packed hour of talking about actor recruitment and actor onboarding.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroIntroduction to JapesAuditions mentioned on Haunted Attractions Network (http://hauntedattractionnetwork.com/auditions-and-how-to-survive-them/) and Haunters' Hangout (https://www.facebook.com/groups/hauntershangout/permalink/1255337504634207)How Actors Can Prepare For Their First AuditionTips for Choosing Which Haunt to Apply AtHow Can Haunt Owners Make Actor Intake BetterHow to Find Out What Actors' Strengths AreConclusionsAll in all, this

This week on Haunt Weekly, we're about as far as Halloween as possible, the weather is getting warmer and it can pretty much not feel less like Halloween.Luckily, we're haunters and we have a lot of great ways to keep Halloween alive 365. However, there's always room to improve so that's why we're sharing 31 ways that we keep the Halloween and haunter spirit alive, no matter what the season outside is doing.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroConference RemindersWhy We're Talking About It31 Ways to Keep Halloween AliveConclusionsAll in all, whether you're down in the dumps about Halloween or just wanting a little bit iof extra spark, this is an episode you do NOT want to miss! Get in Touch and Follow Us!Facebook: @HauntWeeklyTwitter: @HauntWeeklyYouTube: @HauntWeeklyEmail: info@hauntweekly.com

Last week, we were late because we paid a visit to the Paranormal Cirque, this week, we're recounting that visit but with a haunter's eye as we look at some lessons that other (non-traveling) haunted attractions can learn.Please bear in mind that, though we try to keep this spoiler-free, someone it may be considered spoiler-ish. We tried to keep big surprises hidden but some of you are better at figuring out clues than others.With that aside, there's a lot to go through on this episode so here's a look at what's inside.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroConference RemindersPromotion/MarketingPre-Pre-Show ExperienceThe Haunted AttractionThe Acts ThemselvesAdvice if You GoLessons for HauntersConclusionsAll in all, this is a jam-packed episode that you do NOT want to miss! Get in Touch and Follow Us!Facebook: @HauntWeeklyTwitter: @HauntWeeklyYouTube: @HauntWeeklyEmail: info@hauntweekly.com

This week on Haunt Weekly it's time to do the news!And what a month of news we have for you with stories from all over the world, including new attractions, attractions reopening and one that had an unexpected closing. We also have two Halloween Horror Nights announcements and a couple of great new ways to make money from your haunt year-round.In short, this is one jam-packed news month so let's dive right in!This Week's Episode Includes:IntroConference RemindersSeveral Haunts Opening for Spring BreakDisneyland Paris' Phantom Manor to Reopen (https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2019/04/12/disneyland-paris-phantom-manor-will-reopen-may-3/)5. Legoland Haunted House Ride Closes Less Than a Day After Opening (https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/772044/Legoland-Windsor-resort-theme-park-Haunted-House-Monster-Party-closed-opening-hours)Japanese Theme Park Introduces New Horror Ride (https://soranews24.com/2019/03/25/japanese-amusement-parks-new-horror-attraction-involves-handcuffing-vi

Last week's episode was something of a downer. Luckily, this week we get to be a bit more optimistic as we talk about all of the signs that show the haunt industry's future is looking bright.Admittedly, this episode was a bit more difficult to research than I had planned but there are some very clear signs that the haunt industry, in spite of its challenges, is doing well and will likely still be doing well in the future.What are those signs? Well, here's a few just to get us started...This Week's Episode Includes:IntroConference RemindersThank You for Being AwesomeInternational ExpansionHaunts as PromotionsSafety RecordGrowth of Halloween and HorrorImproving Racial DemographicsGrowing Desire for "Real" ExperiencesMore Haunts Than EverYear to Year GrowthConclusionsAll in all, this is an episode you do NOT want to miss, especially if you got a bit bummed by the last one... Get in Touch and Follow Us!Facebook: @HauntWeeklyTwitter: @HauntWeeklyYouTube: @HauntWeeklyEmail: info@hauntw

Depending on how you look at it, the haunt industry is either set to rocket to the moon or it's doomed to crash and burn.As small business people, we think a lot about the future of the haunt industry and have talked a great deal about it on the podcast over the past three years. The truth is, whether you're a doomsayer or a terminal optimist, you can find a lot of data to support your view.So, over these next two episodes, we're going to do just that and we're going to start by putting on our doomsayer hat. So get ready for a bumpy ride!This Week's Episode Includes:IntroConference RemindersHousekeepingReason 1: ConsolidationReason 2: Top Heavy IndustryReason 3: Higher Costs of OperationReason 4: A Very Small IndustryReason 5: Rising Ticket PricesReason 6: Still Almost Entirely SeasonalReason 7: Increasing Competition From OutsideReason 8: DemographicsConclusionsSure, this one is a depressing one, but believe me that this is an episode you do NOT want to miss. Get in Touch and Follow