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This week on Haunt Weekly, we're doing things a bit different.

Rather than just talking about the haunted attraction industry, we wanted to do something special in honor of the holiday season. So we (and by we I mean Crystal) did a lot of research into various Christmas demons and other horror fables.

So whether you're looking for a way to horror-ify your holiday festivities or seeking a great way to bring some Christmas into your haunt, we have some great horror demons, both well-known and obscure, for you to take a gander at.

Happy Holidays and Good Scaring!

Conference RemindersA Bit of Background on These DemonsKrampus - The Iconic OneZwarte Pete - The Offensive OneGryla - The Child-Eating GiantFrau Perchta - The DisembowlerHans Trapp - The Real PersonPere Fouttard - Saint Nick's AssistantThe Kallikantzaros - The Malevolent Goblins

All of that an much more on this, a very special episode of Haunt Weekly!

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Handicap accessibility is one of the hot-button issues on pretty much every haunted attraction forum or group. Wheelchair access, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, the list of concerns and even complaints goes on.

However, the ADA is the law and most haunts have to comply. Fortunately though, compliance isn't as big of an issue as many make it out to be, even if it may limit some of the scares and elements you can easily put into your haunt.

But what about other types of disabilities? How can those with hearing impairment enjoy your haunt? What about the blind? 

We take a look at those questions and many more in this can't-miss episode of Haunt Weekly!

This week's episode includes:

Conference REmindersThe Importance of Handicap AcessibilityWheelchair AccessibilityAccessiblity for the Hearing ImpairedAccessibility for the VIsually ImpairedOther Potential IssuesSuggestiosn and Advice for Helping the Disabled

All in all, this is one packed episode that you do not want to miss!

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With the one year anniversary out of the way, we can return to the business of putting out a weekly podcast and we have a doozy of an episode this week as we jump into the wild, exciting world of PARKING!

Ok, maybe it's not the most exciting topic but it's one that came up after an event we attended was ruined (in part) by crappy parking (and one terrible bathroom experience). We've watched as nearly every haunt we've been to struggled with this issue. 

Parking is our first impression and with so many haunts doing it poorly, it's amazing customers feel safe leaving their cars or walking to the haunt itself.

So, we're turning our attention to the fields and lots that are adjascent to our haunts and seeing if we can find ways to make haunt parking better and, with it, improve the entire haunt experience!

This week's episode includes: 

Conference RemindersNews About the Mysterious Mansion in GatlinburgNews About New York Haunter Killed Rescuing Animals from a FireThe Reason for the Episode (Blame Jonathan)The Problem with ParkingOur Haunt Parking Experiences5 Questions About ParkingRemember, Parking is a Your First ImpressionWhy Parking Can't Always Be FixedVIP Parking?

So strap yourself in and park yourself in front of your favorite podcast player as we go for a non-ride through parking!

PS: Sorry that this episode is a bit late, we literally had a transformer blow up outside our house and the day went a bit sideways!)

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HAPPY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

That's right, we've now been doing this crazy podcast for a full year and what better way to celebrate it than by doing what we do best: The News.

Unfortunately, it's kind of a sad news episode as we wrap up the haunt season news and cover some of the happenings from November. There are injuries and alleged assaults, but we also have some happy news as we discuss some proposals (including one that went comically awry) and a haunt-themed wedding.

So pull up a stool, bend ear to a fool and let's get going on this week's episode!

This week's episode includes:

Conference RemindersHaunt Visitor Hit by SUVActor Accused of Assault, Faced TrialHaunt Employee Charged with Disorderly ConductBacardi Creates Haunted Attraction for PromotionHome Haunt to Open Year AroundModesto Home Haunt Closed Before OpeningHaunt Offers Behind the Scenes Tours After SeasonActor's Wedding Proposal Goes AwryTwo Other Actors Get Married on Halloween

All of this and much, much more makes this one episode you do not want to miss!

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This week on Haunt Weekly, we are reflecting a bit. The season is over, the haunts are closed, cleanup has started and we're taking a bit of a breather to look back on the season that was.

For us, that means remembering the haunts we went to and thinking about the trends and changes that we noticed this year.

Bear in mind, we can only speak to our region (about 100 miles around New Orleans) but we have a lot of thoughts about marketing and haunt trends in our area. 

Some of these trends we have covered more thoroughly in previous episodes, including Artisanal Haunts and Interactive Haunts, but some of the other trends we noticed have hardly been mentioned at all. 

Also, if you want full reviews of all the haunts we mention, we have video reviews on our Garbage Horror YouTube channel. You can see those here. 

On that note, saddle up and let's get reflective as we look back at the 2016 haunt season!

This week's episode includes:

Conference RemindersAbout our Season WrapupReflections on Marketing and WebsitesHow the Large Haunts DidSmall Haunt Wrap UpFinal Thoughts

All in all, this is one episode you do not want to miss!

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As the season winds down we turn our attention to one of the more bizarre but yet common traditions in our industry: Blackout or flashlight nights.

The idea is fairly straightforward, take a haunt that has had countless hours of time and attention to detail put into it and then turn off the lights (within reason) and have the customers experience it anew.

The business sense of this tradition is easy to see. It's a great way to extend the season, encourage repeat customers and it all comes at little to no costs. But are they really the best experience for customers?

We break down these and other questions on this episode of Haunt Weekly!

This week's episode includes:

Conference RemindersThe Tradition of Blackout NightsWhy Haunts Do ThemConcerns About Blackout NightsTips and Suggestions For ThemOur General Thoughts on Them

All of that makes this one episode you do not want to miss... unless you are afraid of the dark!

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As we wrap up the 2016 haunt season, we're taking a moment to reflect on one of our favorite trends that we saw in our area: Interactive haunts.While there's a lot of overlap between interactive and artisanal haunts, mainstream haunts are also getting in on the interactive trend, with Rise opening up one locally this season.Part haunted attraction and part escape room, interactive haunts may be just what some haunters are looking for, especially if they want to maximize their space and their actors. However, be warned, there are serious limitations that come with operating this style of haunt.So we'll dive into what interactive haunts are as well as their benefits and drawbacks on this episode of Haunt Weekly!This week's episode includes:

Conference RemindersA Look at the Current Typical Haunt ExperienceThe History of Interactive HauntingWhat Are Interactive HauntsAdvantages of Interactive HauntsDisadvantages of Interactive HauntsConclusions

All in all, this looks like a trend set to really grow in the industry, making this an episode you do not want to miss!

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HAPPY HALLOWEEN!Hope that your season has been going well and that both the screams and the dollars are flowing well this year. It's certainly been a busy one for us and we've been very fortunate to not only have a great run so far with our small haunt, but to also have been able to visit 10 other haunts in the region.Still, we have a podcast to do and, as luck would have it, we're doing the news this week! However, I have to admit that this one is a bit of a downer as news media tends not to cover when everything goes well at a haunt. So, if you don't want a bit of a downer for your Halloween day, don't listen to this right now and, instead watch (or re-watch) the David S. Pumpkins sketch from SNL. Not only is it a good laugh, but it's a master class in distract and startle.But more on David S. Pumpkins later. In the meantime, we have a lot of news to go through.This week's Episode Includes:

Conference RemindersHaunted House Featuring Scenes from Pulse Nightclub Shooting CancelledAccident at Haunted Attraction in Ireland Injures NineVisitor Says "Full Contact" Haunt Goes to FarThieves Hit Same Haunted Attraction TwiceVolunteers Rebuild After Vandals Destroy a Haunted TrailSt. Paul Home Haunt Cancelled After Dispute with the CitySan Jose Home Haunt Recreates the Hotel De AnzaHuman Bones Found in Casket at Haunted Attraction93-Year-Old Woman Acts inside a Haunted Attraction

Hope that you all have a Happy Halloween and we will see you guys next time!

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There's been a growing trend across the country, one that's only recently reached our neck of the woods, of small "artisanal" haunts popping up every Halloween season. Whether they're run by artist spaces, theater groups or circus performers, these haunts are built by non-haunters, are smaller, cheaper and have shorter runs than larger, mainstream attractions.However, these spaces can be very important for the industry. The lower risk environment allows them to experiment and try things larger haunts can't. They can also provide new experiences and draw new people into haunted attractions.But these haunts also come risks. Fire code and safety issues seem to be legion and many push the boundaries of what is a haunted attraction, possibly impacting audience expectations.So, in this episode we take a deep dive into these artisanal haunts and even explain why I can now spell "artisanal" right on every try.This week's episode includes:

Conference RemindersDefining Artisanal HauntsWhy Are They Becoming Popular?Advantages of Artisanal HauntsDisadvantages/Concerns of Artisanal HauntsOur Visits So FarWhy They Are Important

Regardless of the size of haunt you participate in, this is an episode you do not want to miss! 

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This week on Haunt Weekly, we're bringing back Japes Palles on the show to finish up his conversation about actors with a discussion about actor management. It's a crucial topic for a haunt of any size but doubly so for larger haunts.So how do you herd the cats on a haunted attraction? How do you make sure that the actors are doing their job? Most importantly, how does a small management team run dozens or hundreds of actors? Japes has the answers to those questions and many, many more!In addition to the interview, we also go over some of the news this week, including getting Japes' opinion on the "broken nose" incident in Minneapolis that has stirred controversy nationally as well as a discussion of opening weekend challenges at Hell's Gate.This week's episode includes: 

Revisiting the Incident in MinneapolisDiscussing the Challenges at Hell's GateHaunt HierarchyDefining RolesSetting ExpectationsContinuing Support Through the SeasonAssessing ActorsActor Communication

All in all, this is one jam-packed show with more than a few takeaways that may be able to help you finish out this season strong! Special Guest: Japes Palles.

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