Haunt Weekly

Send us Fan Mail

Haunt consolidation has been a big topic in the haunt community lately. With 13th Floor making major moves to acquire haunts all over the country, many are wondering what these purchases and further consolidation mean for the industry.

However, consolidation in the industry goes well beyond the purchase of a few dozen large huants. There's other typeps consolidations to consider, especially considering their impact on customers.

So, are we becoming too consolidated and is this trend counter to our creative spirit? We explore that and much more in this episode!

This Week's Episode Includes:

IntroConference RemindersThree Types of ConsolidationAdvantages of ConsolidationDisadvantages of ConsolidationHow Consolidated Are We?What'ss Driving the Consolidation?Should We Be Worried?

All in all, if you're interested in the business side of the haunt industry, this is one episode you do not want to miss. 

Get in Touch and Follow Us!

Facebook: @HauntWeekly
Twitter: @HauntWeekly
YouTube: @HauntWeekly
Email: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

This week on Haunt Weekly, it's another episode divisible by four and that means it's time to do the news!

It's a surprisingly busy month for haunted attraction news, lots of legal cases going on and some general fallout from Transworld to discuss.

On top of that you can watch our (previously recorded) appearance on Haunt Chat Live and we have the usual spate of conference reminders and other information.

So, strap yourselves in, this one is a doozy!

This Week's Episode Includes: 

IntroCheck us out on Haunt Chat LiveConference RemindersEven the Press is Talking About the Pennywise PropSecond Trial in Death of Constable Ends in Hung JurySchool District Must Pay Haunted Hoorah $229,000 for the PropertySharing of Haunt Footage Used as Evidence of DescriminationUniversal Studios Announces Stranger Things Attraction for HHNFormer Knott's Scary Farm Head Opens Spooky Bar/Restaurant in CaliforniaQueen Mary Renting Out 'Most Haunted' Room for $499 per NightIndiana Teen Builds Amazing Dragons, Seeks to Open Pro HauntAlabama High School Holds Annual Horror FX Competition

All in all, this is one jam-packed episode and definitely one you do not want to miss!

Get in Touch and Follow Us!

Facebook: @HauntWeekly
Twitter: @HauntWeekly
YouTube: @HauntWeekly
Email: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

How did this episode not happen before now? Just... how?

My (Jonathan) day job is working in copyright and plagiarism matters. I run the site Plagiarism Today, I run a consulting firm at CopyByte. This is my non-haunt life. So how is it that we are 123 episodes in and we have not done this topic?

Regardless, we're writing that wrong this week and going over the basics of copyright and haunting. Specifically, we're going to use the copyright-related slides from my talk Copyright & Trademark for Haunters that I've done at HAuNTcon as well as Halloween and Hauntfest. 

So, strap yourselves in and see what we have to say on this issue, it's been a long time coming.

This Week's Episode Includes:

IntroConference RemindersBasics of CopyrightHow Copyright Applies to Haunters

All in all, it's' an episode you definitely do not want to miss, even though we obviously did...

Get in Touch and Follow Us!

Facebook: @HauntWeekly
Twitter: @HauntWeekly
YouTube: @HauntWeekly
Email: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

This week on Haunt Weekly it's a two for one sale as you're getting two guests for the price of one!

This week we have Mike Ross, the owner/operator of Sinister Sidney and The Gravedigger Reverend Michael, the host of Sinister Sidney and the host of Haunt Chat Live. It's two very different people who are very much of the same mind.

So, in this episode we not only get to talk a great deal with Ross about the challenges of operating a rural trail haunt but we get to talk to the Reverend Michael about his duties there and his work with Haunt Chat Live.

Speaking of which, we are going to be on Haunt Chat Live this coming Saturday at 9 PM Eastern, 8 PM Central. I hope you're able to show up as we are looking forward to answering both yours and the Reverend's questions.

In the meantime, come spend an hour with us as we flip the micorphone on these two and talk to them about their projects and efforts.

Get in Touch and Follow Us!

Facebook: @HauntWeekly
Twitter: @HauntWeekly
YouTube: @HauntWeekly
Email: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

Easter is almost upon us and, as we've been doing what we've been doing for other holidays, we're taking a look at traditions around the world and seeing which may work well in a haunted attraction.

That's only understandable as more and more haunts are working to open year-round, either to cash in on various holidiays throught the year or simply to escape the limited six-week season most haunts work under.

So, is Easter a good day for haunting? Probably not the best. But that doesn't mean that there aren't a few traditions that aren't worthy of discussion and a few things that haunts can play off of. That, in turn, is just what we discuss in this episode.

This Week's Episode Includes:

IntroHaunt Chat Live Promo (Check it out here)Conference RemindersThis History of Some Common U.S. TraditionsInternational Traditions (Including the Terrifying Butter Lambs)Final Thoughts on Easter and Haunting

All in all, if you're thinking about opening for Easter, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss!

Get in Touch and Follow Us!

Facebook: @HauntWeekly
Twitter: @HauntWeekly
YouTube: @HauntWeekly
Email: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

This week on Haunt Weekly, it's an episode divisible by four and that means it's time to do THE NEWS!

However, we have to be honest, this is one heavy and sad news episode. There's just a lot of bad news to go around. If haunt closings to community closings were not sad enough, the community has also lost one of its greatest members to cancer.

But, bear with us. If you get through the sad news we promise you some uplifiting news at the end. 

Also, in this episode, we have a major announcement about our upcoming appearance on Haunt Chat Live. 

So sit down, grab a drink and let's get through this together.

This Week's Episode Includes:

IntroHaunt Chat Live Announcement (Check Out the YouTube Video)Conference RemindersJim "JT Talent of Dream Reapers Passes AwayGarage of Evil is Closing Its DoorsVault of Souls Also ClosingDr. Slaughters Closing After 18 YearsRuss McKamey Back Up and Running"Camp Crystal Lake" Overs Overnight StaysRapid City Haunt Does First Show on Valentine's DayThousand Oaks, CA Haunted House Raises Money for Fire Victims

All in all, this is one heavy episode but one you definitely do not want to miss. 

Get in Touch and Follow Us!

Facebook: @HauntWeekly
Twitter: @HauntWeekly
YouTube: @HauntWeekly
Email: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

Benjamin Selecky, along with his partner Alexis Abare, are already staples of the haunt community. 

As co-owners and co-CEOs of Haunted Farms of America, they've carved out a much-needed niche helping farms launch, operate and grow their haunted attractions. They've become highly sought after experts in agritainment and have assesmbled a broad number of outside experts (including myself) to help farm-based haunted attractions grow.

But not content to rest on their laurels, the duo have made a recent expansion, purchasing the popular online store Vampfangs and expanding it. Best known in the haunt community for providing contact lenses and custom fangs, the site also features FX makeup, accessories and apparel. 

Best of all, if you see something you like, we've got a special coupon code for 50% off. Just use the code "hauntweekly" to get your deal. 

So, in this episode we sit down with Benjamin to discuss his efforts both with HFA and Vampfangs and what the future holds for their efforts.

This Week's Episode Includes:

IntroUnderstanding Haunted Farms of AmericaThe Purchase of VampFangsDiscussion of Contact Lenses and FangsA Look Ahead

All in all, this is an episode you do NOT want to miss!

Get in Touch and Follow Us!

Facebook: @HauntWeekly
Twitter: @HauntWeekly
YouTube: @HauntWeekly
Email: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

Here at Haunt Weekly we're always looking for ways to improve our podcast. So we finally figured out the best thing we can do is bring on some better podcasteers.

And that's exactly whatt we're doing this week as we're joined by Brian Forman and Darryl Plunkie of HaunTopic Radio, Haunters's Toolbox and, most recently, ScareIt Badges.

They spend the hour with us as we discuss their history in the business, all of the projects that they run and, most important, the huge abundance of free time that the two have.

So strap yourselves in and get ready for the tour de force that is the minds behind HaunTopic Radio and so much more!

This Week's Episode Includes:

IntroThe History of the Two MenThe Launch of HaunTopic RadioThe Beginnings of Haunter's ToolboxThe Launch of the Professional SiteScareIt Badges and the Kickstarter CampaignConclusions

In the end, if you love haunted attraction podcasts (which hopefully you do if you're listening to us) this is one episode that you do not want to miss!

Get in Touch and Follow Us!

Facebook: @HauntWeekly
Twitter: @HauntWeekly
YouTube: @HauntWeekly
Email: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

Haunt flyers. Every attraction has them. Most of the suck.

However, it doesn't have to be this way. Haunted attractions can and should strive to do better here and, by doing better, we mean doing less.

So, in this episode we put both of oour degrees to good use as we sit down to discuss the ins and outs of flyer design so you can get working on your next season's flyer and maybe jump on some of the juicy deals that will probably be coming up soon.

So, on that note, let's sit down and dive right into the topic of haunt flyers.

This Week's Episode Includes:

IntroConference RemindersReasons for the TopicSize of the FlyerThickness and ColorDesignTools to Aid DesignWhere to Get Them PrintedWhere to Put Them Out

All in all, if your haunt has a flyer, which it probably does, this is an episode you do not want to miss!

Get in Touch and Follow Us!

Facebook: @HauntWeekly
Twitter: @HauntWeekly
YouTube: @HauntWeekly
Email: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

This week on Haunt Weekly, it's another episode divisible by four so that means it's' time to do the news! 

It's a bit of a slow news cycle for us. We're in that strange time of year where there's not much post season going on but we're not yet ramping up for the new season. It's a time for conferences and planning, not for making news.

But, that didn't stop several haunts from trying. So, without further ado, here's a look at what's going on in the haunted attraction indusutry this month!

This Week's Episode Includes:

IntroConference RemindersMany Haunts Open for Valentine's DayJoilet Prison to Become a Haunted HousePlano City Council Debates Restrictions on HauntsMark Cuban-Backed Haunt Sued Over InjuriesAmerican Horror Story Murder House Buyers Sue Previous OwnersMeow Wolf in New Mexico Provides Unique ExperienceSupport the Awesome People at Haunters Toolbox!Download Dead Space for Free (TURN VSYNC OFF!)

All in all, there's a lot going on in this episode and this is one podcast you do not want to miss!

Get in Touch and Follow Us!

Facebook: @HauntWeekly
Twitter: @HauntWeekly
YouTube: @HauntWeekly
Email: [email protected]