Haunt Weekly

This week on Haunt Weekly, we're mixing Jonathan's hobby with his day job and discussing not one, but two separate Supreme Court rulings that are going to have major impacts, including in the haunted attraction industry.Though one of the rulings deals with copyright and the other with trademark, the rulings both send the same message: It's getting more difficult to use exemptions under IP law.So, what did the rulings say, and how could they impact haunts? That's what this episode is all about. This Week's Episode Includes:1. Intro2. Question of the Week3. Primer on Intellectual Property4. The Copyright Decision5. The Trademark Decision6. Final Thoughts7. 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 doing the news and boy do we have a LOT of news to go over. There's the closure of two, if not three haunts, a new IT-themed escape room in Las Vegas and much, much more.So please, sit back and relax while we tell you all the haunted attraction news that is fit to print.This Week's Episode Includes:1. Intro2. Question of the Week3. Conference Reminders4. Fear Fair Closes After 22 Years - https://www.facebook.com/fearfair/posts/pfbid02u8rKpom5kZqW18QoYTCjaYubhMxmaNxSVvZYBukMaZ4XEKDydmgNFrcRaVkohvjTl5. West New York Haunt Struggles with Neighbors - https://wyrk.com/the-haunted-forests-neighbors/6. Shadows Edge in Nebraska to Close After Season - https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/popular-omaha-haunted-house-is-closing-after-the-2023-season7. Visiting the New IT-Themed Escape Room - https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/we-went-crazy-with-this-one-inside-the-it-themed-escape-room-2786327/8. Ghost Train Ride Opens in the UK - https://interpark.co.uk/lates

This week on Haunt Weekly, we're talking about the marketing, social media and other promotional elements that get us excited about visiting a haunt.We cove a little bit of everything, from marketing, word of mouth and some good business decisions.So sit down, relax and let's focus on the positive (for a change).This Week's Episode Includes:1. Intro2. Question of the Week3. Ten Things That Get Us Excited About a Haunt4. Things That Do Not Get Us Excited5. 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 letting you do our homework for us.You all had such a big response to our question of the week, we're making a whole episode about it. We asked you what made your eyes roll when going through a haunt and, well, there were no eyes left unrolled.So sit back and relax as we look at all the things that made your eyes go straight back...This Week's Episode Includes:1. Intro2. Question of the Week3. Housekeeping4. Intro to the Topic5. What Makes Your Eyes Roll When You Go Through a Haunt6. 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 are continuing our focus on storytelling by looking at some of the biggest clichés and tropes in haunted attraction storytelling. To be clear, we're not saying don't use these tropes, but definitely build off them and make them your own. They can be useful, but they aren't a story unto themselves.So, with that in mind, here's a look at some of the biggest tropes our industry leans on (perhaps a bit too much).This Week's Episode Includes:1. Intro2. Question of the Week3. Work We Did on Our Haunt4. Intro to the Topic5. 9 Common Tropes or Clichés in Haunting6. 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 doing the news! For a spring month, there sure is a lot. We have another haunt owner being arrested, several updates in the story about the Hotel of Terror (Update: The City Council decided to repeal the eminent domain) and much, much more.So sit back and relax as we cover all the haunted attraction news that's fit to print.This Week's Episode Includes:1. Intro2. Question of the Week3. Conference Reminders4. Work We Did on Our Haunt5. Former Haunt Manager Accused of Raping Teen Girl (https://wjactv.com/news/local/psp-former-manager-of-clearfield-haunted-house-accused-of-repeatedly-raping-teen-girl)6. A Review of the UK's Newest Dark Ride (https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/every-alton-towers-ride-reviewed-26636706)7. American McGee Abandons Alice (https://bloody-disgusting.com/video-games/3757659/alice-asylum-proposal-rejected-by-ea-american-mcgee-ends-project/)8. LA Museum of Death Reopens (https://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/the-muse

This week on Haunt Weekly, we're revisiting ChatGPT as we ask it to write us a series of potential backstories for haunted attractions.The results, to put it mildly, were mixed. A couple of stories were at least OK and a couple failed absolutely miserably. But hey, at least we can laugh at ChatGPT's failures without worrying about hurting its feelings.This Week's Episode Includes:1. Intro2. Question of the Week3. Work We Did on Our Haunt4. 5 AI-Generated Haunt Backstories5. 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 bringing on a very special guest: ChatGPTWe decided to sit down with the AI and ask it a slew of haunt-related questions. It did everything from telling us lines that actors should say to discussing the roles for women in haunting.So, how did the AI do, and what can we learn from it? That's what this week's episode is all about. 1. Intro2. Intro 23. Question of the Week4. Conference Reminders5. Basic Haunt Questions6. Difficult Haunt Questions7. The MOST Difficult Haunt Question8. ClosingAll in all, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss, unless you are a robot. Get in Touch and Follow Us!Facebook: @HauntWeeklyTwitter: @HauntWeeklyYouTube: @HauntWeeklyEmail: info@hauntweekly.com

This week on Haunt Weekly, we're looking at the dead ends that the haunt industry appears to be going down. To be clear, not all haunts are doing these things, but they are all trends that don't end anywhere good.So whether your haunt is investing in uninteresting technology, marketing tho long things or trying to expand in the wrong direction, this week's episode is for you.This Week's Episode Includes:1. Intro2. Housekeeping3. Question of the Week4. Intro to the Topic5. Escape Rooms6. Virtual Reality7. Holiday Events8. Extreme/Blackout Haunts9. Bigger and Bigger10. Bonus One from Crystal11. 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 are doing the news including the passing of a haunt legend, the closure of an iconic haunted attraction themed bar and an update on the Haunted Hotel.For a spring edition of the news, it sure is a busy one.So sit down, relax and enjoy as we bring to you all the haunted attraction news that's fit to not print.This Week's Episode Includes:1. Intro2. Question of the Week3. Conference Reminders4. Work We Did on Our Haunt5. Disney Legend Rolly Crump Passes Away https://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-daily-disney/os-et-rolly-crump-disney-legend-imagineer-dies-epcot-obituary-20230313-6ay5i2o43baqzoyqh6r4afofxu-story.html6. Jekyll & Hyde Pub Closes https://ny.eater.com/2023/4/4/23668339/jekyll-and-hyde-halloween-bar-nyc-closes?fbclid=IwAR3c3ifqLAh_RiRaIFGF36pnv5O6CgTMpNX5gkUPJdOijpoFL8AMr9DXT3A&mibextid=Zxz2cZ7. HOtel of Terror Submits Signatures to Prevent Demolition  https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/politics/2023/03/23/hotel-of-terror-owner-submit

This week on Haunt Weekly, we're going on an adventure!After living in the area for over 20 years, we're finally taking the trip to the Abita Mystery House. We're bringing back what we learned from the trip and, most importantly, what other haunts can glean from it.However, it was one packed weekend as we both went to a mystery comedy show and attended a toy and collectors convention. Both were educational and informative experiences.So sit back as we tell you about our craziest "normal" weekend in recent memory. This Week's Episode Includes:1. Intro2. Question of the Week3. Intro to the Topic4. The Mystery Comedy Show5. The Collector's Convention6. The Abita Mystery House7. Lessons for All Haunts8. Lessons for Our Haunt9. ConclusionsAll in all, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss!Episode Image: Stockstill, Tiffany, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia CommonsGet in Touch and Follow Us!Facebook: @HauntWeeklyTwitter: @Haun

This week on Haunt Weekly, we received a very special package: Our new mask from Shattered FX.So, this week we're going to talk about this mask including why the character uses a mask, how we got to this point, most importantly, the process of getting the mask itself.It's a very thorough look at one very large purchase.This Week's Episode Includes:1. Intro2. Question of the Week3. Conference Reminders4. Why a Mask5. The History of Bernie's Mask6. The Decision to Buy This One7. The Purchase8. The Wait9. How is the Mask?10. 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

You might remember we sat down with Japes a few times in the past. For example, Episode 59, Episode 46 and Episode 43 if you're curious. You might also remember that, on Episode 65, we discussed toxic actors and repeatedly said we wish we could have Japes on this subject. Well, our Japes prayers have been answered as the actor guru sat down with us to discuss toxic actors and everything we said wrong.To that end, he started with correcting the term "toxic actors" saying he prefers "cancerous actors" for reasons he explains very convincingly. We also went through several stories where he was forced to deal with toxic actors, including the infamous "Star Trek Nerd!!!!" incident.Really, this is just one episode you have to listen to believe, and it's definitely one that you do not want to miss!For more on Japes,  check out his Facebook page here, and definitely see about recruting him for your haunt!Special Guest: Japes Palles.Get in Touch and Follow Us!Facebook: @HauntWee

This week on Haunt Weekly, we're doing the news! We have news of a new dark ride being built and another that is celebrating their 50th year.We also have news of a "Scream Break" event at six flags and a mysterious theater opening in the basement of another haunted attraction.All in all, this is one jam-packed news episode!This Week's Episode Includes:1. Intro2. Question of the Week3. Conference Reminders4. New Dark Ride Opens in Maine - https://www.intergameonline.com/coin-op/news/spooky-dark-ride-opens-in-maine-us5. Knoebels Celebrates 50 Years of its Haunted Mansion - https://www.dailyitem.com/business/knoebels-observing-50th-anniversary-of-haunted-mansion/article_8fd992d0-b390-11ed-ab05-c7eafe3487fb.html6. Scream Break to Debut at Six Flags - https://www.sixflags.com/magicmountain/events/scream-break7. Des Moines Haunt Features a Mystery Theater - https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2023/02/23/theater-desmoines-mysterious-slaughterhouse8. Reporter Visits Edinburgh's "Most

This week on Haunt Weekly, we're sitting down with Mike and Lisa from Rotting Orchards and Igor Box. We discuss everything from the challenges of home haunting in a gated community to how their new product could make haunting more accessible.The duo have been home haunters for over a decade. However, the duo have identified what they see as a missing element in the haunt industry and are hoping to, soon, help haunts large and small control their show easily and without any programming.Rotting Orchards: https://www.facebook.com/rottingorchards/Igor Box: https://www.igorbox.com/This Week's Episode Includes:1. Intro2. Interview with Mike and Lisa3. Introduction to Their Haunt4. Learning About the Igor Box5. 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 visited a rage room and are eager to tell you all about it. Rage rooms, also called Smash Rooms or Break Rooms, are a growing trend across the country but, should haunts be looking into joining the business? We will be sharing our experiences and our thoughts on that topic.This Week's Episode Includes:1. Intro2. Question of the Week3. Conference Reminders4. What is a Rage Room?5. Dangers of a Rage Room6. Our Experience7. Things We'd Like to See Improved8. Would We Go Again?9. Should Haunts Be Looking into Rage Rooms?10. 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 talking about Transworld again but, this time, we're discussing who is not in the room.While it's true that pretty much every company you can name in the haunted attraction industry was on the trade show floor, there were several types of companies that were not.So, to that end, we're examining the apparent gaps in our industry and offering suggestions for how entrepreneurs may be able to exploit those gaps.This Week's Episode Includes:1. Intro2. Question of the Week3. Work We Did on Our Haunt4. A Quick Word on Recent Drama5. Intro to the Topic6. 6 Types of Companies Not at Transworld7. 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 shaking off the Transworld hangover and doing the news! And, to that end, we have some heavy news this week including a lawsuit against Zombie Army over alleged pay violations, a historic haunt that's facing eviction and the latest on the CFX/AEW mask lawsuit.So, strap in folks as this is going to be a long, but important, episode of the news!This Week's Episode Includes: 1. Intro2. Question of the Week3. Conference Reminders4. Follow Ups on Last Week's Episode5. Work We Did on Our Haunt6. Former HellsGate, Statesville Worker Sues Over Pay - https://patch.com/illinois/homerglen-lockport/hellsgate-statesville-haunted-house-worker-suing-over-compensation7. Hotel of Terror in Springfield facing Emminent Domain - https://www.ky3.com/2023/02/06/hotel-terror-faces-condemnation/8. Trail of Terror Fails to Get Approval to Move - https://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/growth-development/what-residents-attraction-say-about-proposed-new-trail-terror-south-hall/9. Night

I'm going to be honest. There's not really show notes this week. We recorded this episode in a noisy hotel room, strung out from four full days of conferencing and several hours on the road. We're pretty sure that this is what a Bob Seger podcast would be like.Still, we wanted to get this out as close to on time as possible while the information was still fresh. So, here are two very tired people recapping Transworld 2023 in a rambling but hopefully entertaining way. This Week's Episode Includes:1. Intro2. A Rambling Recap of Transworld3. The Question of the Week (Yes, we Forgot in the Beginning)4. ClosingAll 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, something of a singularity for us as we have a lawsuit that involves alleged copyright infringement, the haunted attraction industry and professional wrestling.So strap in as we're going to cover the CFX/AEW lawsuit including the facts of the case, the basics of the law, what the likely outcomes are and how they could impact our industry.This Week's Episode Includes:1. Intro2. Question of the Week3. Conference Reminders4. Question of the Week5. Intro to the Topic6. Basics of the Case7. Basics of the Law8. Defenses AEW Could Have9. Likely Outcomes of the Case10. Impacts to the Haunt Industry11. 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