Haunt Weekly

With the recent news in our industry, we've been thinking more about haunt reviews in general and the tense relationship between haunters and reviewers.The truth is we have a very unique culture when it comes to reviews. Many haunters seem to dislike haunt reviewers and even have open mistrust to them. The biggest complaints include reviewers wanting free admission, that reviews are easily influenced and that they don't drive any business.However, if we're going to evolve as an industry we need to have good reviews. That's going to mean not just changing the relationship between haunter and reviewer, but also improving the effectiveness of haunt reviews.So, in this episode we take a look at haunt reviews and try to understand why our industry is struggling in this area and what can be done to change it.This Episode Includes:Thank You For Your Help w/ Women in Haunting!Conference RemindersWhy Haunters Distrust Haunt ReviewsWhat We Dislike About Haunt ReviewsWhy Haunt Reviews Are ImportantEv

Yes everyone it's another multiple of four and that means it's time to do the news!This time, however, things are a little bit different. We start off this week talking about the recent controversy involving Ohio Valley Haunts. While it's rough that we have some very hateful people in our community, it's been truly amazing to watch how Haunters Against Hate have risen up to shout down the bigotry. We also have news of a major expansion of our industry as Dubai gets its first haunted attraction and Universal Studios Hollywood gets a new year-round attraction.We also have news of two haunted houses overcoming neighborhood objections to secure their 2016 season, a vandalsm at another attraction putting its opening in jeopardy and how one town is planning on moving trick-or-treating to the 29th so not to have it on a Monday.All of that and much, much more on this episode of Haunt Weekly!Conference RemindersWe Support Haunters Against HateExtreme Fear Builds Dubai's First Haunted Attractio

Every haunt that has a backstory has a process for coming up with it. This week, we wanted to share ours and take a long look at how we come up with the story and how it ties into the construction of our haunt.So how do we come up with a new back story every year and weave it into the fabric of our haunt? Should the backstory follow the haunt or the haunt follow the story? We don't claim to have all of the answers but we know what's worked for us over the past decade.So take a seat, grab your brainstorming notebook and let the ideas flow. We're talking about our process this week and maybe, just maybe, passing a few ideas along the way.Here's a look at what's on tap this week:Conference RemindersHaunters Against Hate (Further Update Next Week)Our StyleHow We Choose Our StoriesFleshing Out the DetailsWriting the Actual StoryWhat We Do When Things Go WrongConclusionsNote: We made repeated references to an old story of ours, Cain's Collection, which you can read in its entirety here

This week on Haunt Weekly, we're doing things a little bit differently. Normally we find a topic and take a deep 50-minute dive into it but we've had a lot of things we've wanted to discuss but haven't really been able to figure out a way to talk about it for nearly an hour.So, we're taking a bunch of those topics and putting them into one episode for your listening pleasure. We're calling it Rapid Fire Questions and we're going to make this a semi-regular feature if it goes over well. If not, then we'll just casually drop the #1 and pretend like this never happened.On that note though, here's a look at what's in this week's episode!Conference RemindersShould Cities/Counties Move Halloween for Bad Weather?How Old Should Kids Be for Haunted Attractions?How Large Should a Group Be in a Haunted Attraction?Is There a Time/Cost Rule for Haunts?How Long Should a Haunt Be?Where Should Haunts Stick Their Worst Actors?All in all, this is one jam-packed episode tha

Following up on our previous conversation about the need for kid-friendly horror, we take a look at look at one medium that's been giving the younger generation a good fright for decades: Music videosBut these videos aren't just a way to introduce kids and teens to horror (perhaps helping spread the haunting bug), they're important lessons for haunters about storytelling, scene setting and more.The restrictions of a music video are legion. They have to tell a story in 3-5 minutes using primarily just imagery. While sounds can be included, they can't detract from the music, meaning you aren't going to have much dialog.  That's a tough challenge and the videos that do it well can teach us a lot about storytelling in haunting.So sit back and relax as we go through some of our favorite horror music videos and what lessons we, as haunters, can glean from them.This week's episode includes:Conference RemindersThe Importance of Horror in Music VideosLessons Haunters Can LearnAtmosph

It's a number four episode and that means it's time to do the news!And to think, we were worried we wouldn't have enough to do a monthly news show. This week we have a lot of news about haunts, opening/closing/moving etc. as we enter permit season, including one haunt that's making a small move into a much bigger location.However, we also have a lot of other key industry news as one of the most famous "haunted" attractions, the Amityville Horror House, goes back on the market and a new trailer looks at The Blackout, now one of the most infamous haunts in the country.To wrap it up, we take a look at a topic dear to our hears, kid-friendly horror, and see if there's anything the haunted attraction industry can do to ensure that the next generation loves being scared as much as we do.All of that and much, much more in this episode of Haunt Weekly!Conference RemindersAmityville Horror House Back on the MarketDementedFX Move to a Bigger LocationDisturbia in the Park to Return Thi

This week on Haunt Weekly, we have something very special for you. We brought in a good friend of ours, Dawn, to talk about her experiences with Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios in Orlando.Dawn is a 10 year veteran of Universal Studios and has helped not only with a decade's worth of Halloween Horror Nights but also providing technical assistance to various stage shows throughout the year. Whether it's Bettlejuice or Barney, she's worked with them all.Crystal and I have never been to Halloween Horror Nights so, through Dawn, we're going to get a lot of great insights into how the event it run, some of the challenges they face and some of her favorite moments. We're also going to learn about the history of it and what some of the best themes Universal has put on.Also note, we aren't doing conference reminders this week (we had a lot to get through with Dawn), but we will post those shortly to our Facebook Page so feel free to like us there and, while you're liking

When people start thinking about opening a haunt, there's one decision that they usually make almost subconsciously: Whether the haunt will be indoor or outdoor.Very few haunts, it seem, seriously consider changing their path in this regard. Most people start out knowing if they want to have a haunted trail, a hay ride or an indoor haunted attraction and don't look back.However, it's a decision that more may want to consider. The reason is that there are significant advantages and disadvantages to both types of haunts and, while you can make a great haunt either way, you need to take steps to accent your strengths and reinforce your weaknesses. And then there are hybrid haunts, haunts with either significant indoor and outdoor portions or haunts that have indoor and outdoor attractions. What can they do to maximize their benefit?All of that and much more on this week's episode of Haunt Weekly!This week's episode includes:Conference RemindersA Quick Correction/ClarificationIndoor vs. O

Pretty much every haunt has had to kick out a drunk and belligerent customer. It's a part of the industry that few like to talk about but everyone is familiar with.This is part of why the haunt industry's relationship with alcohol is so strained. Being drunk in a haunt is just plain dangerous and having to kick out drunk customers is unpleasant and disruptive.Yet, some haunts have made their peace with booze, opening up bars and alcohol-serving restaurants on their premise in a bid to get more cash from customers and to be able to better control their customer's drinking habits.So what approach is right and what should you do if you're considering selling alcohol at your haunt? We have some thoughts for you in this very sobering episode.This week's episode includes: Conference RemindersWhy Most Haunts Ban AlcoholThe Alternative Approach: Sell AlcoholThe Problems with That ApproachComparing the House of Shock and The MortuaryHow to Sell Alcohol At Your HauntMost Still Ban, But Trend is

This time on Haunt Weekly, it's all about the news! That's right, it's an episode that's divisible by four and that means we're taking a look at all of the latest and greatest news in the haunted attraction/entertainment industry. And boy do we have a lot this week. We start off with some coverage of "Halfoween" that showcases just how big the Halloween and haunted attraction industry has grown and then we shift our focus to this week's big story and a battle over the trademark for the term "Haunted House" as it applies to video games.We then have a pair of theme park updates as we learn the fate of the iconic "Tower of Terror" at Disneyland and the next attraction coming to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Orlando.We then have a couple of special engages as McKamey Manor hosts a one-day event in New Jersey and the New York Metropolitan Art Gallery has a special exhibit featuring a recreation of the house from "Psycho".We then w

Maze attractions are great. For many, nothing says Halloween more than a corn maze in the dead of a brisk October night.However, many haunted houses incorporate mazes into their attractions, rather than making them standalone. The idea is simple enough, people are afraid of being lost and a maze is a great way to get people confused. Throw in the fact they're simple to build, easy to staff and great for padding out walkthrough time, a maze can seem like an appealing tool.But mazes come with a slew of complications. Not only do they kill capacity, but they raise serious fire code and safety issues that, often times, can't be completely solved.So while maze attractions are great, when your customer isn't expecting to walk into one, the experience is very different and the impact it has on your haunt is, for the most part, not beneficial.If you don't believe us, at least hear out our arguments.This Week's Episode Includes:Conference Reminders and UpdatesWhy We Like Maze AttractionsWhy We

Many haunted attractions bill themselves as an interactive horror movie. Why should one simply watch a film when they can be a part of it?But on that front haunted attractions have some strong competition in the form of horror video games, which actually are interactive horror films.But whether you view video games as competition, inspiration or something in between, there's a great deal that haunts can learn from them. Simply put, video games have evolved a great deal over the past 30+ years in terms of the horror experience they provide and can teach us a lot about how to terrify our customers.So, in this episode of Haunt Weekly, we take a look at horror video games, their history and what we as haunters can take from them to improve our attractions.This week's episode includes:Housekeeping (Changing of Posting Day)Happy Half-O-Ween!Conference RemindersBackground to the "Interactive Horror Movie"The History of Horror Video GamesWhat Horror Video Games Do WellWhat Haunted Attractions Can

For all of the planning, building and other work that goes into a haunted attraction, haunts inevitably run on actors. It's the people in the haunt that make or break it.But recruiting and keeping good actors is no simple matter. Virtually every haunt struggles with this to some degree, making it one of the few things that truly unites all haunted attractions.So how do you recruit and keep actors. To be honest, we struggle ourselves with this but we have learned a few tricks over the years that might help others including where you can meet and recruit great actors and keep them coming back.Along the way, we'll discuss some of the bigger debates around haunt actors including whether to hold auditions and the issue of payment. All of that and a rundown of the upcoming haunted attraction conventions on this episode of Haunt Weekly!This week's episode includes:Conference Reminders and UpdatesWhere to Find ActorsShould You Hold Auditions?How to Train ActorsPaid vs. Unpaid ActorsHow to Retain Actors

Haunt Weekly fans it's time once again to do the news, this time for the fifth time.This week's episode starts on a bit of a down note as we get dueling reminders about the importance of safety when working on and acting in a haunted attractions. We then shift gears and talk about legal stuff as a long-running case against an Illinois haunted attraction is settled.From there, it's all about the Texas Chain Saw Massacre as we not only have news on an attraction themed after the movie as part of Universal's Halloween Horror Nights and news that the gas station featured in the film is being renovated into an attraction of its own.After that, we turn our attention to Disney and two items of haunted news from there and we wrap things up by looking at a small town in Kansas and whether the gates of Hell itself may be found in the plains of the state.All in all, this is one full episode that you do not want to miss!This week's stories include...Disneyland Paris Worker Killed in AccidentNew Z

Religion and haunted attractions have always been a strange mixture. Sure haunts have long had exorcism rooms and themes surrounding the devil, but typically haunts have avoided straying too far into to the religious.But while haunting has been reluctant to approach religion, religion has been very eager to approach haunting.Across the nation and the world hundreds of churches and church organizations set up "Hell Houses" every Halloween season. These haunts have a dual purpose of raising funds for the church and scaring patrons into becoming new believers.However, these haunts have not been without controversy. From graphic and intense scenes that play on recent tragedies to alleged hate speech against gays and other faiths, hell houses have routinely become a firestorm of controversy.So this episode we take a deep dive into the Hell House phenomenon, looking at what they are, what their history is and why they are so common and so controversial.This week's episode includes:What is a Hell Hous

The two of us have been blessed with our haunt experiences, nearly every single time we've been through a haunt we have enjoyed ourselves or, at the very least, had something great to take away. We've been able to tour some of the greatest haunts in the world and have shaken hands with some of the best actors, builders and creators our region and our industry. You couldn't ask for more.However, not every haunt experience has been charming. A handful of haunts we went to were just cheap cash ins that lacked any love, vision or talent. Those left us feeling ripped off and angered, but not particularly devastated. Sure, the haunt wasn't great, but no dreams were crushed nor any talent wasted.However, of the bad haunts we've been to, one stands out. It was a small haunt that was only open for four nights that showed real talent and promise, but was hamstrung by what seems to be owner limitations. Between the non-existant marketing, limited schedule and far too much space with too little t

Haunters have always had a strange fascination with evil. We love using the fear of evil to build a mood and get scares in customers. Our attractions regularly feature grizzly murders, demonic creatures, inhuman villains and much, much more. We even advertise how "evil" we are in a bid to draw more customers.Basically, the haunt industry has long used evil to sell itself and customers have grown to expect nothing less.But sometimes the evil can get a bit too real. What happens when the evil we reference in the haunt has real-life victims in the outside world? What happens when the terror we put into visitors stops being fun and games? If haunting is supposed to be about having fun, why is it sometimes it's anything but?Needless to say that this is a heavy, but we think important episode about the ethics in haunting and when, sometimes, a haunt can go too far for a scare.This week's episode includes:Ethics in ThemesEthics Within the Haunt ItselfSexual ContentEthics in Marketing and PricingW

Rejoice Haunt Weekly lovers it is time for our fourth news episode as we get you caught up on all of the things going on in the haunted attraction industry. While it's true that the ides of march (or close to it) is far from peak season for haunt news, there is still a great deal going on including the announcement of a brand-new year-round Walking Dead-themed attraction opening this summer, more news surrounding The Darkness and its battles with the city of St. Louis and we have a bunch of Room Escape openings, proving just how fast that industry is growing.We also have an update on all of the ongoing and upcoming conferences as well as a news article about haunted attractions based on real-life serial killers and a video game that lets you open up a real haunted attraction (where you get to kill your customers).All in all, this is a bustling episode and we're happy to take you along for the ride!This week's stories include:St. Louis claims The Darkness Owes Back TaxesUniversal Studios Hollywo

Backstory. Not every haunt has one, not every haunt needs one, but if you're looking for a great, free way to improve your customer's experience and your marketing, it's a great place to start.However, not all backstories are created equal and even great backstories can be implemented poorly. So this raises the question: What makes a great backstory for a haunted attraction?We attempt to answer that question and many more in this episode as we take a look at the writing behind the haunted attraction and how you can write a backstory that drastically improves your haunt and gives your fans something new to talk about. This week's episode includes:A Quick Reminder About TransworldWhy a Backstory is ImportantWhat are the Components of a Good BackstoryThe Two Kinds of BackstoryThe Three Versions You Need to PrepareHow to Work a Backstory into Your HauntAll in all, this is one episode that you don't want to miss! Editor's Note: Crystal has asked me to apologize for the quality of seve

Though tech has become an important part of almost every industry, it's been playing a unique role in the haunt industry for nearly 50 years. What started off as parlor tricks meant to impress and woo crowds has slowly turned into an integral part of haunting. Whether tech is aiding or replacing actors, whether it's a central scare or taking a background role, tech in haunting is here to stay.And tech's importance in haunting is only growing. As haunts scramble to both comply with a laundry list of safety requirements and to streamline their operations, more and more haunts are turning to computer brains to run much of the operation.But to understand the future of tech in haunting, we first have to understand this past, thus prompting this whirlwind tour through the history of tech in the haunt industry and what some of the staples of the craft are today.The Origins of Tech in Haunting (Hint: Disney)2x4 Tech and the Early YearsThe Rise of Professional Haunts and AnimatronicsThe Computer Revolut