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Last week we paid a visit to St. Louis, our first trip since the start of the pandemic. Though most of the trip was about family, we decided to take a day to visit the legendary City Museum. Though City Museum may not be a haunted attraction in and of itself, it has a lot in common with one. To that end, there's a lot that the museum gets right when it comes to being an attraction and a few things it could improve.However, in both cases, there's a lot that haunters can learn about how to improve their attractions and, hopefully get more money from even happier customers.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroHousekeeping NotesQuick Non-HW Housekeeping NoteQuestion of the WeekHistory of City MuseumWhat is City MuseumPositive LessonsNegative LessonsWrap UpConclusionsAll in all, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss!

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This week on Haunt Weekly, we're looking at a different Halloween tradition, trick-or-treating.Trick-or-Treating may seem like something that doesn't have a lot to do with haunting, but the truth is that it is where many young haunt lovers get their start, and it's a potential way to expand your audience and reach a younger crowd.So, whether you're a first-time haunter hoping to give away some candy or a pro haunt looking to expand their business, we're talking ways that you can encourage and even profit from trick-or-treating.This Week's Episode Includes:Intro HousekeepingQuestion of the Week4: HistoryStarting Out at HomeGeneral Trick-or-Treating TipsHome HauntersPro HauntersConclusionsAll in all, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss!

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Two episodes ago, we talked about event planning for haunts and harped on the importance of communication. Now we're exploring that topic more fully. So take a seat and let's discuss some ways that you can improve communication in your haunt, and ensure that everyone knows what they need to know.We will look at everything from communication with the core staff to your entire actor team.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroHousekeepingQuestion of the WeekBackground on the TopicGeneral Rules for Good CommunicationCommunication Year-RoundCommunication During SeasonCommunication While OpenRevisit Question of the WeekConclusionsAll in all, this is one episode you dod NOT want to miss!

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This week on Haunt Weekly, we're spending the Fourth of July with you (you can probably hear the fireworks in the background) and working hard to bring you the best and biggest stories in haunted attraction news. And it is a very busy news cycle this go around as we have one haunted prop builder pleading guilty to tax evasion, another haunt destroyed by a flood and new scholarships made possible by a haunted attraction.It's not the longest episode ever, but it is a jam packed one with tons of great news and information:This Week's Episode Includes:IntroQuestion of the WeekHaunt Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Crime (https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/pr/owner-haunted-house-equipment-supplier-pleads-guilty-tax-crime)Eldon Fire Department Haunt Devastated by Flood (https://ktvo.com/news/local/eldon-firefighters-haunted-house-devastated-by-flooding)Midwest Haunters Convention Comes to Milwaukee (https://shepherdexpress.com/news/happening-now/midwest-haunters-convention-comes-to-milwaukee/#/questions/)Lumber Futures Drop 40% (https://apple.news/ApHtGuf4WTR2Ukm_Rwk9jIQ)House of Horrors and Haunted Catacombs Closes (https://www.wivb.com/news/web-extras/house-of-horrors-and-haunted-catacombs-is-having-one-final-scare-this-friday-and-saturday/)Universal to Expand Halloween Horror Nights (https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2021/06/30/as-haunted-house-competition-heats-up-universal-looks-to-grow-halloween-horror-nights)Ohio Haunt Grants New Scholarships (https://www.reviewonline.com/news/local-news/2021/06/t-s-t-f-scholarship/)Hells Gate Featured in Video About Lockport (https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/943353?fbclid=IwAR0bZZ-M4mppBqh37y8la1sKobzsGazWtXaL25pcSLnP3FQla1H5GcpsU)Haunt Owner Opens New Kayaking Business (https://www.thenews-messenger.com/story/money/companies/locally-in-business/2021/06/05/ghoul-runnings-haunted-hydro-co-owner-opens-kayaking-company/7541016002/)Early Signs Point to Haunted Mansion Holiday Return (https://insidethemagic.net/2021/07/possible-return-of-haunted-mansion-holiday-ks1/)Revisit Question of the WeekConclusionsAll in all this is one episode you do NOT want to miss!

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Running a haunt is about more than building it and staffing. A haunt is an event, and it needs to be planned like it.But, while event planning is very much about setting up the best event possible, it's also about preparing for the worst and developing alternatives and backups for just about everything.So, that's what we're teaching this week, the rules and techniques to follow to make sure that your show goes off with the minimal problems and that you can enjoy your haunt to its fullest.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroQuestion of the WeekOur Background on the TopicWhen to Start PlanningHow to Perform a Pre-MortemKeys to CommunicationHow to Properly BudgetThe Power of Gantt ChartsThe Importance of Backup PlansThe Need for Quick ThinkingPlanning for MeltDealing with CustomersPerforming a PostmortemConclusionsAll in all, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss!

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It might seem unusual for a podcast named Haunt Weekly. After all, pretty much everyone who listens to this podcast has probably visited a haunt or 10,000. However, you know someone who has never gone and, if so, this episode is for them.Here, we take a look back at the dark times before we became haunters and talk about our first visit to haunts and the things we wish we knew before we walked in the door.That said, we have ten suggestions that should help you, or someone you know, make the most of their first haunt experience and, hopefully, set them on the path of becoming haunt fans.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroConference RemindersHousekeeping NotesQuestion for the Audience10 Tips for First Time Haunt GoersRevisit Question of the WeekConclusionsAll in all, this is one show that you do NOT want to miss!

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This week on Haunt Weekly we're taking a look at outdoor haunts and the unique opportunities they have to make revenue from their property all year long.Whether you have an empty field, a wooded forest or something in between, there are ways that you can turn your haunt into a year-round source of income. Best of all, a lot of these approaches do NOT require a large investment and can even be done for free or for just a few thousand dollars. This Week's Episode Includes: Intro New Pride Merch Available (https://hauntweeklystore.com) Question of the Week Story of Dark Woods Visit Intro to the Topic Axe Throwing Nature Walks 8. CampingOutdoor TheaterScavenger Hunts Biking/Hiking Trails Sculpture Garden Holiday Activities Zipline Mini GolfLazy RiverRevisit Question of the Week Conclusions All in all, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss!

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This week on Haunt Weekly we are doing the news, and it's a jam-packed news episode with haunts, opening, closing, being sold, being demolished and even a restaurant.Safe to say, this is not your typical early-summer news month, that much is for certain!This Week's Episode Includes:IntroHousekeeping NotesQuestion of the WeekWaco Haunted Houses up for Sale (https://www.newsweek.com/authors/utkarsha-laharia)Lakeville Charity Haunt Set for Demolition (https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/lifestyle/family/2021/05/04/haunted-house-attraction-lakeville-set-demolition-town-meeting-vote/4922340001/)Predictions for a Record-Breaking Season (https://sithon.io/blog/prepare-for-record-turnout-for-2021-haunt-season/?fbclid=IwAR1j91TWfUAgM9t4LSAV82FZeVu84M415IU5Ipbr0H5zzjJsR2PGIxLzjSc)Busch Gardens Gives Howl-o-Scream Updates (https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2021/06/02/busch-gardens-tampa-bay-reveals-more-info-about-this-years-howl-o-scream-event/)SeaWorld Announces New Howl-O-Scream Event (https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2021/06/04/seaworld-announces-their-own-edition-of-howl-o-scream)Salem Haunted Happenings Returning in October (https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/salem-haunted-happenings-returning-in-october-2021/2394881/)Screambulance Delivers Horror in Tokyo (https://www.autoevolution.com/news/screambulance-delivers-horror-on-the-go-as-worlds-first-mobile-haunted-house-161859.html)LA Theater Attempts Digital Haunted Attraction Experience (https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2021-05-03/geffen-playhouse-someone-elses-house-jared-mezzocchi)Wells Township Haunt Claimst to Be Really Haunted (https://www.wtrf.com/jefferson-county/is-wells-township-haunted-house-actually-haunted/)Haunted Attraction Association Appoints New President, Announces 3-Year PlanHaunted House Restaurant Opening in Cleveland (https://www.wkyc.com/article/entertainment/dining/haunted-house-restaurant-melt/95-25e43fa4-538f-407a-ab51-ce3f477a2dba)Revisit Question of the WeekConclusionsAll in all, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss!

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This week on Haunt Weekly we're talking about prop-based layout! What is prop-based layout? It's a way to save on lumber costs, give customers a more varied experience and create some new scares along the way.However, there are drawbacks and concerns with a prop-based layout so we're going to, well, lay it all out for you in this episode of Haunt Weekly.The good, the bad and the ugly of prop-based layout.This week's Episode Includes: IntroHousekeeping NotesFollow Up on Last Week's QuestionQuestion of the WeekIntro to the TopicFundamentals of Haunt LayoutThe Normal WayThe Basics of Prop-Based LayoutAdvantages of This ApproachDisadvantages and ConcernsThe Best ApproachExamplesRevisit Question of the WeekConclusionsAll in all, this is one episode that you do NOT want to miss!

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The prices of lumber are insane and keep getting worse. This is forcing many haunts, especially those with lower budgets, to start rethinking their build.For those haunts, we are here to help. We've got six different build types that can help you reduce the amount of lumber you need, save you money and give customers a truly unique experience.However, there's no such thing as a free lunch so, of course, we'll be talking about the drawbacks of each so you can make an informed decision.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroHousekeepingQuestion of the Week Update on Lumber PricesProp Based LayoutDrywallScrap & PalletsThe Non-BuildPVC FramesAlternative WallsGeneral Tips for Reducing Lumber CostsRevisit Question of the WeekConclusionsAll in all, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss!

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