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Last year was a very rough year for us. Due to some serious road work taking place, we were forced to cancel our 2019 season.Now, due to COVID-19, many haunts are finding that their 2020 season is hanging into balance. However, if you do have to cancel your season, it's important to cancel it right.A bad cancellation can make it impossible to recover. A good one can let you keep your audience, your cast and your crew together through the storm.With that in mind, here are seven lessons we learned from our cancelled season.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroCOVID-19 ResourcesQuestion of the WeekVendor Spotlight (LED Haunt Lights)Housekeeping NotesRecap of our 2019 CancellationLesson 1: The RunupLesson 2: When to Pull the TriggerLesson 3: How to CancelLesson 4: After the CancellationLesson 5: Keep Working on Your HauntLesson 6: Do Something for Your Cast & CrewLesson 7: Keep Halloween Alive However You CanRevisit 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 it's time to do the news and what a rough week of news it is. We have cancellations both left and right, but we also have some happier stories as more haunts try to find a path through the pandemic.However, it's not all COVID news as we hear about a copyright story with potential haunt impacts and one queue line actor that was recently cleared by the police.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroCOVID-19 ResourcesQuestion of the WeekHousekeeping NotesHalloween Horror Nights Cancelled for 2020Disneyland Cancels Oogie Boogie Bash Due to CoronavirusFreakling Bros. Cancels 2020 Halloween Shows, Haunted Houses in Las VegasSpringfield Haunted Attraction Closes PermanentlySouthern Door's Haunted Mansion Cancelled by Coronavirus FearsTwisted Crypt Haunted House Suspends 2020 Season Due to COVID-19Louisville Halloween Announces Cancellations and OpeningsLegendary Haunt Tour is CancelledLet the Spirits be your Guide as Winchester Mystery House ReopensScarehouse Breathes New Life into the Dead with Redesign of Kennywood’s Classic Old MillForsyth County’s Haunted House is Getting a Reboot this FallDismissed Farmaggedon Actor Cleared by Police Says 'I'm Innocent'10th Circuit Revives Copyright Claim on Skeleton Model from Colorado ArtistNew Drive-thru Halloween Attraction Coming to OrlandoTerror on the Coast Holding AuditionsDent School House Also Holding AuditionsDon't Be a Monster Frank's Fun RunReturn to the Weekly QuestionConclusionsAll in all, this is one depressing but wild episode you do NOT want to miss!

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Pretty much every haunted attraction has a Facebook page. However, is there more that you could be doing with your social media presence?The answer is yes. Social media is a powerful tool for haunt promotion and, thanks to COVID-19, it's about to get even MORE important in 2020. Even if you can't open, social media can help you stay connected with your customers and make the 2021 seas that much better. So, this week we take a deep dive into social media, how haunts should be using it and what you should be doing to get the most out of it. This Week's Episode Includes:IntroCOVID-19 Resource PageQuestion of the WeekHouse Keeping NoteQuick News UpdateUpdate on the Mask EpisodeIntro to Social MediaWhat Platforms You Should Be OnKeys to Social MediaHow to Create Effective PostsAdvertising on Social MediaRevisit Question of the WeekConclusionsAll in all, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss!

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The haunts that are planning on opening up for 2020 are most likely starting to really think about their promotion and part of that is getting good images of your scenes and actors. Whether you need them for your fliers, social media, commercials or all three, you need high-quality photos.Getting them, however, can be difficult. How do you find a photographer that can take good photos of a haunted house? How do you hire them and work with them? What kind of contracts do you need? Luckily, we have a photographer in the room that can help!So kick back and relax while we explain the ins and outs of working photographers and help you get the most for your photography money!This Week's Episode Includes:IntroCOVID-19 ResourcesAnnouncing Last Week's WinnerQuestion of the WeekFinding a PhotographerPlanning the ShootExpectaitons for PaymentThe Photographer's ContractModel ReleasesCreating a Shoot ListThe Day of the ShootCaution on Using Friends/FamilyReturn to the Weekly QuestionConclusionsAll in all, this is one picture-perfect episode you do NOT want to miss!

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It's becoming more and more clear that, if haunts are able to open at all this year, it's going to be with a good deal of restrictions and limitations. Those limitations will likely include masks for actors and customers alike.While getting customers to mask up will be challenging enough, there's also the issue of masking up actors. How do you create masks that work well for a haunt? What types of mask work at stopping COVID-19? How can we ensure that masks are worn and used properly? That's exactly what we're taking a look at this week as we pour through CDC/WHO guidelines and find ways to apply them in a haunted attraction setting. It's a simple idea but one that took a surprising amount of time to pour through.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroCOVID-19 ResourcesLast Week's WinnerQuestion of the WeekHaunt Season 2020 is Going to Be a MessQuick DisclaimerHow Masks WorkWhat Kinds of Masks WorkWhat About Latex/Silicone Masks?How to Incorporate PPE Masks Into the HauntSuggestions for Affixing Masks to Makeup or Other MasksClean Your MasksFake ADA CardsReturn to the Weekly QuestionConclusionsAll in all, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss!

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This week on Haunt Weekly we're doing the news and what a rough news episodes it is. We slog our way through the first round of haunt closures due to COVID-19. However, we work hard to bring you a great deal of good news too, including at least one story that may bring a tear to your eye.So definitely buckle up with this one. It's going to be a rough ride but, if you stick with it, we hope to send you home happy.This Week's Epsiode Includes:IntroConference RemindersQuestion for the AudienceMickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2020 Canceled (https://www.wesh.com/article/cancelled-mickeys-not-so-scary-halloween-party/32911147) Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor and Dark Horizon Point of No Return Cancel 2020 Season (https://attractionsmagazine.com/queen-marys-dark-harbor-dark-horizon-events-canceled-2020/)Kennywood Park Cancels Fall Events (https://www.post-gazette.com/life/recreation/2020/06/23/Kennywood-Park-cancels-fall-events/stories/202006230083)Terror Behind the Walls Canceled for 2020 (https://www.phillymag.com/news/2020/06/18/terror-behind-the-walls/)Asylum Haunted Scream Park Closed for Good (https://www.facebook.com/196728840350914/posts/3449727705050995/?d=n)Scout Island Scream Park Also Cancelled for 2020 (https://scoutislandscreampark.com/)Midwest Haunters Convention Cancelled (https://www.midwesthauntersconvention.com/)Scream Hollow Wicked Halloween Park Opens for Summer Monster Bash (https://austin.culturemap.com/eventdetail/scream-hollow-wicked-halloween-park-summer-monster/)Spirit Halloween is Hiring (https://www.facebook.com/spirithalloween/photos/a.125046255399/10159033826140400/)Drive-In Style Haunted Houses Are a Huge Hit in Japan (https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/331176/drive-in-style-haunted-houses-are-a-huge-hit-in-japan/)Erebus to Open Oddities and Curiosities Museum (https://www.theoaklandpress.com/news/local/erebus-haunted-attraction-plans-new-oddities-curiosities-museum-for-downtown-pontiac/article_86c4d1f2-ba30-11ea-bd22-ef6230918f6f.html)Hollywood Set Designer Helps Elevate Clear Lake Haunt (https://globegazette.com/news/local/hollywood-set-designer-helps-elevate-popular-halloween-attraction-in-clear-lake/article_ce6b0a52-ad73-50ed-9fa9-fbdf409fba83.html)Creepy Clowns Help 4-Year-Old Fan Celebrate End of His Cancer Treatment (https://sports.yahoo.com/creepy-clowns-throw-car-parade-ring-bell-boy-survived-cancer-212928859.html)Return to the Weekly Question ConclusionsAll in all, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss!

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No matter what happens between now and haunt season, the haunted attraction industry is facing an extremely challenging year. Even the best predictions call for smaller crowds, shortened seasons and limited capacity.In 2005, the city of New Orleans and the surrounding area was facing a challenge of its own: Hurricane Katrina.The disaster impacted the city in countless ways, including closing the area's haunts. However, the haunts were able to reopen and were able to enjoy at least a few more seasons of success. In this episode, we look at the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the New Orleans haunt community and what lessons may apply to the COVID-19 pandemic.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroCOVID-19 ResourcesQuestion for the AudienceInfo About Hurricane KatrinaDifferences Between the DisastersThe NOLA Haunt Industry Pre-KatrinaWhat Happened After the StormLessons That Were LearnedAnswering the Question of the WeekConclusionsAll in all, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss!

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The haunted attraction industry prides itself on being a welcoming space for anyone who loves scaring. However, as some recent events have shown, that's not always an ideal we live up to.The truth is that we have many of the same issues as any other industry but we often lack the tools and processes to address them adequately. So, that's where this week's conversation sits in as we sit down with the amazing Brooke Englehart from SvenPuss Productions (https://www.svenpuss.com) to discuss ways that the haunted attraction industry can become a safer and more welcoming place for everyone.This Week's Episode Includes:IntroIntroducing BrookeThe Genesis of the ConversationIdeas for Making the Industry SaferWhat Options Are There Now?What Can Owners Do to ImproveWhat Are Ways to Improve Inclusion?What About Conventions?Do Actors Need to Unionize?ConclusionsAll in all, this is one packed episode that you do NOT want to miss!

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No business is an island unto itself. You need connections and allies to survive and a haunt is no different.Luckily, a haunt has a lot of good opportunities to partner with other businesses and ways that they can add value to their attraction, improve their customers' experience and reduce their own costs.So, today, we're exploring exactly that and looking at 10 types of businesses that your haunt should look at partnering with today.This Week's Episode Includes: IntroCOVID-19 Resources UpdateQuestion for the AudienceDiscussion of the Fear Factory Contingency PlanIntro Into the TopicOther HauntsArea HotelsArea RestaurantsFun Parks and Family AttractionsOther Spooky AttractionsTelevision/Radio StationsLocal Theaters (Movie & Play)Burlesque/Circut TroupesLocal Bands & ArtistsAny Business You Currently UseRevisiting the Weekly QuestionConclusionsAll in all, this is one jam-packed episode you do NOT want to miss!

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It's another episode divisible by four and that means we're doing the news and what a news week we have. Has the nation and world begin the process of reopening, haunted attractions and similar locations are starting to open back up as well. As such, we have a lot of news about various attractions opening their doors for the first time in many months.But it's not just about that. We have some news about less-than-desirable members of our community getting the heave-ho as well as some details on new products that you may want to check out!All in all, this is one jam-packed news episode!This Week's Episode Includes:IntroCOVID-19 ResourcesHousekeeping ItemsQuestion of the WeekWilmington Haunted Hollow Ride Dismisses Nazi ActorFear Factory Open for One Night (https://hauntedattractionnetwork.com/fear-factory-haunted-house-successfully-reopens/)Disney World Sets Reopen Date (https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/27/media/disney-world-open-coronavirus/index.html)Japanese Theme Parks Open, Including Rules for Haunts (https://www.msn.com/en-nz/travel/news/no-screaming-no-high-fives-and-haunted-house-ghosts-will-scare-victims-from-a-safe-distance-japanese-funfairs-release-rules-for-the-coronavirus-era/ar-BB154LGb)Universal Orlando Reopens (https://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/universal-orlando/os-bz-universal-orlando-reopens-to-public-20200605-wjkqk2fnbng6rlelymavcupldu-story.html)Coachella 2020 Likely to Be Cancelled (https://www.vulture.com/2020/05/coachella-2020-coronavirus-cancelled-postponed-2021.html)Minnesota Theater Plans to Reopen as a Haunt (https://www.wiscnews.com/baraboonewsrepublic/news/local/al-ringling-theatre-in-baraboo-plans-to-reopen-as-haunted-house-in-october/article_eb48d40c-ab21-52a2-b360-b48868789dce.html)LEGO Unveils New Haunted Attraction Set (https://9to5toys.com/2020/05/13/lego-creator-expert-haunted-house/)Haunters Against Hate Announces Black Haunters Matter Book (https://www.facebook.com/1745057325779758/posts/2707972456154902/?d=n)Answering the Weekly QuestionConclusionsAll in all, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss!

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