FEC Masterminds Podcast

How do you stand out in a brutally crowded market of nineteen competing adventure parks? You throw out the corporate playbook, buy a drop-fog machine, and lean heavily into aggressive guerrilla marketing.

In this episode of the FEC Masterminds Podcast, Clint Novak and Erik Stottlemyer sit down with fellow mastermind member Ed, who is fresh off closing on his third family entertainment venue in Minnesota.

Ed takes us behind the scenes of his 36-year journey in the amusement industry—starting from his early days as a roller rink DJ (where he was once fired and rehired by a different manager) to managing a rapid expansion across three vastly different venues: Zero Gravity (an indoor adventure park), Summerland (a seasonal 9-acre outdoor park), and his newest acquisition, The Fun Lab (a full-scale FEC).

Key Takeaways From This Episode:

• The Turnaround Playbook: Why Ed views his venues as "reclamation projects" and the hard sacrifices required to pull off a successful business turnaround.

• The "Bring Your Own Food" Birthday Model: How cutting out pizza delivery pain points and letting parents bring in their own Costco or Little Caesars food allowed Zero Gravity to boost party capacity by 30% to 40%.

• WrestleMania-Style Birthdays: How Ed built an interactive Northern Lights party room with custom printed wall graphics and a ceiling-mounted down-shooting fog machine for under $4,000.

• The Pixel Floor Phenomenon: Ed’s experience as an early adopter of the operator-free Pixel Game Floor (by Laser Force), why it instantly paid for itself, and why he’s ripping out VR to install another one at his new location.

• Cross-Pollinating 100+ Employees: How Ed structures management and teams across a 75-mile geographical spread.

• The Radius Marketing Wave: How Ed and other mastermind members are achieving 6x to 8x ad spend returns on Meta and Google Ads using Radius.

Plus, we talk about why roller rink operators make some of the best guerrilla marketers, the absolute power of close-knit mastermind networks, and the reality of living on "weenie water soup and ramen noodles" during a major business growth phase.

Novak Amusement Solutions (Clint Novak):https://www.novakamusementsolutions.com/

Adventure Park USA (Erik Stottlemyer):https://adventureparkusa.com/

Zero Gravity Adventure Park (Ed):https://www.zerogravitymn.com/

The Fun Lab (Ed):https://thefunlabmn.com/

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqjhH0o01j-QOfYaL_4xrxA

Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/2klCyxlYbcGKFxdOQx15DV

Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fec-masterminds-podcast/id1895404878

Are you an FEC owner looking to step up your operations, swap "gold nuggets" with other operators, and scale your business? Apply to join our off-the-air Mastermind calls by visiting Novak Amusement Solutions today!

Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes when the cameras are off? This week, Clint and Eric take a break from their usual guest format to swap stories from the trenches of the FEC world. From Eric’s 45-day stint living at the park (and his battle with a broken tractor at home!) to Clint’s dramatic border crossing struggles and deep dives into the Niagara Falls attraction scene, this episode is all about the real-life, chaotic, and hilarious side of being an operator.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Spring Chaos: How to handle thousands of kids, staffing scrambles, and the "controlled chaos" of a busy season.

• The Wildcat Origin Story: A legendary tale of roller coaster acquisition that involves a Goodfellas-style cash deal, sandblasting in a parking lot, and the "worth-it" moments that make it all happen.

• Attraction Realities: The highs and lows of installing rides, from city ordinance battles and engineering mishaps to pivot points that saved the day.

• Operator Community: Why swapping stories is the heartbeat of this industry, and how you can join the conversation.

Whether you’re currently facing your own operational hurdles or just love a good industry tale, grab a seat and join us.

Want to share your own FEC story?We want to hear it! Email Clint at [email protected] to get your story on the show. And if you’re looking to join a group of operators who meet monthly to solve industry problems, check out the Novak Network at novakamusementsolutions.com.

Is it possible to take a backyard Nerf battle and scale it into a massive, highly profitable 15,000-square-foot Family Entertainment Center?

In this episode of the FEC Masterminds Podcast, Clint and Eric sit down with Richard from Dart'em Up in Austin, Texas to pull back the curtain on running a wildly successful, highly unique indoor Nerf battle arena.

With nearly a decade in business—navigating a global pandemic and out-positioning massive regional competitors—Richard shares his exact blueprint for community marketing, building a bulletproof staff culture, and transitioning his brand into a franchise model.

👉 Turning a Passion into a Process: How Richard used his 30+ years of corporate retail and wireless communications experience to build a powerhouse FEC from the ground up.👉 The "Chick-fil-A" of Birthday Parties: The exact framework Dart'em Up uses to execute a jaw-dropping average of 115 birthday parties every single month.👉 Flipping the Script on Spirit Nights: Why giving away 50% of weekday admission back to local PTAs is actually the ultimate marketing engine for weekend party bookings.👉 Incorporating the "Fans First" Mentality: How implementing ideas from the Savannah Bananas (like choreographing floor-staff dances and using interactive window signs) completely revolutionized their guest experience.👉 The Journey to Franchising: What it actually takes to document your operations manual and scale a mid-sized FEC past your single market.

If you've ever wondered how to deeply embed your business into your local community or how to maximize a single-attraction footprint, this conversation is packed with actionable takeaways you can implement this week!

🎯 Learn more about Dart'em Up & Franchising:Website: https://dartemup.com/

💡 Birthday University (Frank Price): http://birthdayuniversity.com/💡 IAAPA FEC Committee: https://www.iaapa.org/

Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more weekly deep dives into the business of family entertainment!

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqjhH0o01j-QOfYaL_4xrxA🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2klCyxlYbcGKFxdOQx15DV🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fec-masterminds-podcast/id1895404878

What we cover in this episode:Industry Resources Mentioned:Listen to the FEC Masterminds Podcast on your favorite platform:

In this episode of The FEC Masterminds Podcast, we head to Longmont, Colorado, to sit down with Adam Schubert, the founder of Winner’s Circle. Adam shares his unique journey from a 21-year Air Force pilot career to becoming a first-time Family Entertainment Center owner.

We dive into how he and his wife, Leslie, transformed a 28,000-square-foot facility into a multi-faceted destination featuring everything from gamified mini-golf and digitally scored axe throwing to an aviation-themed hidden speakeasy known as "The Hanger."

Key topics include:

• The Power of Hidden Spaces: How turning underutilized storage into a revenue-generating speakeasy created a unique guest experience.

• Lessons in Ownership: Why buying their own equipment—rather than relying on revenue-share models—was critical to their success.

• Operational Challenges: Adam gets candid about the learning curve of the industry, including why they might reconsider gamified mini-golf in favor of expanding their high-performing arcade.

• Marketing & Community: Strategies for building awareness in a local market, including the "Summit Social" initiative and the importance of active outbound sales teams.

Welcome to Episode 5 of the FEC Masterminds Podcast! In this episode, Clint and Eric head down to the Kissimmee area of Orlando, Florida, to chat with Keith Smith from the Ice Factory.

Keith shares his unique journey from being a 90s figure skater and DJ to running a massive 21,000-square-foot single-sheet ice facility. Unlike traditional rinks that focus heavily on competitive hockey, Keith treats his facility like a true Family Entertainment Center (FEC), prioritizing public skating, interactive games, and an epic visual atmosphere. We also dive into the monumental operational challenges of maintaining ice in the Florida heat and how Keith developed a revolutionary marketing automation tool for the FEC industry.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• The entertaining appeal of curling and how it is the one Olympic sport where insurance allows you to drink beer.

• Enhancing the customer experience by having staff tie rental skates, which ensures a proper fit and saves money on equipment wear and tear.

• Bringing a 90s DJ background to the ice with spectacular warehouse-style lighting, fog machines, and even indoor snow.

• The massive logistics of running an ice rink in Florida, including pulling 250 pounds of moisture per hour from the air and managing $30,000 monthly utility bills.

• Managing a large staff of 92 employees for a single-sheet rink to heavily prioritize customer service and interactions.

• The rising popularity of adult figure skating and the potential for 21-and-up late-night skate events.

• How Keith created "FEC Playbook" to automate marketing, manage lead follow-ups, and utilize AI voice and chat agents for family entertainment centers.

🚜 EPISODE 4: Eddie Richardson (Arena 5/9)

In Episode 4 of The FEC Masterminds Podcast, Clint and Erik are joined by Eddie Richardson from Arena 5/9 Family Fun Zone. Arena 5/9 is known for hands-on, tactical, and interactive attractions, and they are gearing up to launch something entirely unique: 5/9 Excaventures.

This brand-new attraction is an indoor sand arena where kids operate heavy-duty RC construction equipment like diggers and dump trucks. We ask the hard operational questions: How do you manage a massive amount of sand indoors? How do you keep RC equipment from breaking under heavy use? And how do you manage the nightmare of battery charging cycles on a busy Saturday?

👇 In this episode, we cover:

• An introduction to Arena 5/9 and their unique style of attractions.

• The inspiration behind the new 5/9 Excaventures RC sand arena.

• The operational headaches and maintenance realities of having indoor sand.

• Strategies for preventing RC vehicle breakage and managing constant battery cycles.

🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every week: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqjhH0o01j-QOfYaL_4xrxA

🎧 Listen on the go:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2klCyxlYbcGKFxdOQx15DV

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fec-masterminds-podcast/id1895404878

🌐 Connect with us:

• Need help with your FEC operations? Check out our consulting services: https://www.novakamusementsolutions.com/

• Check out Arena 5/9: https://www.arena59.com/

• Follow Clint on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clint-novak-1b26b551/

• Follow Erik on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-stottlemyer-62ba9254/

#FECOperations #AmusementIndustry #ArcadeBusiness #FamilyEntertainmentCenter #FECMasterminds #UniqueAttractions

In Episode 3 of The FEC Masterminds Podcast, Clint and Erik sit down with Chris Camp from Fun Fore All in Cranberry Township, PA. Fun Fore All is a massive indoor/outdoor facility, but today we are focusing on one of their biggest capital investments: Boutique Bowling.

If you have ever considered adding bowling to your existing footprint, this is a masterclass in the operational realities. We dive into the physical challenges of the install, how it altered their guest flow, and the impact it had on their bottom line. Plus, we talk through the logistics of pulling off their massive holiday mini-golf overlay!

👇 In this episode, we cover:

* An overview of Fun Fore All's facility and attractions.

* The operational challenges and footprint requirements of adding boutique bowling.

* How new large-scale attractions impact overall facility revenue and guest flow.

* The logistics of executing a successful seasonal mini-golf overlay.

🔔 **Subscribe for new episodes every week:** https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqjhH0o01j-QOfYaL_4xrxA

🎧 **Listen on the go:**

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2klCyxlYbcGKFxdOQx15DV

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fec-masterminds-podcast/id1895404878

🌐 **Connect with us:**

Need help with your FEC operations? Check out our consulting services: https://www.novakamusementsolutions.com/

Check out Fun Fore All: https://www.funforeall.com/

Follow Clint on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clint-novak-1b26b551/

Follow Erik on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-stottlemyer-62ba9254/

#FECOperations #AmusementIndustry #ArcadeBusiness #FamilyEntertainmentCenter #FECMasterminds #BoutiqueBowling #MiniGolf

In Episode 2 of The FEC Masterminds Podcast, Clint and Erik sit down with Brent from Funopolis Family Fun Center in Commerce, GA. Funopolis is a massive indoor and outdoor facility, but today, we are diving deep into their most successful seasonal pivot: their incredible Halloween event.

We get into the operational weeds of what it takes to pull off a large-scale seasonal overlay. From the nightmare of staffing a haunted house to the logistics of running a massive Zombie Paintball attraction, Brent shares the real-world secrets to making Halloween your biggest revenue driver of the year.

👇 **In this episode, we cover:**

* An overview of Funopolis Family Fun Center's massive indoor/outdoor footprint.

* The operational logistics and hidden costs of running a Haunted House.

* How to successfully execute and maintain a Zombie Paintball attraction.

* Strategies for staffing large-scale seasonal events without burning out your core team.

🔔 **Subscribe for new episodes every week:** https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqjhH0o01j-QOfYaL_4xrxA

🎧 **Listen on the go:**

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2klCyxlYbcGKFxdOQx15DV

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fec-masterminds-podcast/id1895404878

🌐 **Connect with us:**

Need help with your FEC operations? Check out our consulting services: https://www.novakamusementsolutions.com/

Check out Funopolis: https://www.funopolisfamilyfuncenter.com/

Follow Clint on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clint-novak-1b26b551/

Follow Erik on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-stottlemyer-62ba9254/

#FECOperations #AmusementIndustry #ArcadeBusiness #FamilyEntertainmentCenter #FECMasterminds #HauntedAttractions #ZombiePaintball

Welcome to the very first episode of The FEC Masterminds Podcast! Before we start bringing in guests from across the country, your hosts Clint Novak (Owner of Planet Novak) and Eric Stottlemyer (Owner of Adventure Park USA) are taking the mic to share their own industry origin stories.

This is a podcast built by operators, for operators. We believe in sharing real numbers, trading the blueprints that actually work, and yes—stealing each other's best ideas to elevate the entire amusement industry.

In this episode, we break down:

• The Mission: How this show was born out of a real-world operator mastermind group dedicated to solving problems and growing revenue.

• Clint’s Journey: How tweeting a picture of a Tilt-a-Whirl in a parking lot turned a coaster enthusiast into a ride operator, and eventually the General Manager of Fun Land of Fredericksburg. Clint details the grueling turnaround of the park, the massive $1 million go-kart track expansion, and the chaotic media explosion from Elliot in the Morning that led to a record-breaking $6M year. He also touches on selling to Five Star Parks, consulting across 250 locations, and opening his own claw arcade, Planet Novak.

• Eric’s Journey: Growing up in the trenches of a 1980s Putt-Putt franchise in Maryland and learning business resilience firsthand. Eric shares his story of leaving a corporate Verizon career in 2003 to help his out-of-the-box-thinking father build Adventure Park USA from scratch. He opens up about the bank pulling their $2.5 million funding right before Christmas, fighting the county to build the Wildcat roller coaster, and the emotional micro-moments that make all the stress worth it.

Whether you run a massive multi-attraction park or a local family arcade, we are here to help you grow.

Hit subscribe, leave us a review, and we'll see you out on the midways!

We are looking forward to sharing our first episode with you soon!