Haunted Attraction Network

With 19 seasons under their belt, Fright Nights at the South Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach Florida is preparing for their 20th year this coming Halloween season. Today, we'll hear about their 2021 season and what they have planned for their 20th year. I recorded this interview on the closing night of the 2021 season and we've been holding onto it for a little bit. With Transworld looming next month, I figured it's the perfect time to release it. Follow Fright Nights (http://www.myfrightnights.com/). Subscribe to our newsletter: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

How do you manage your haunt’s team? Recently we’ve discussed team empowerment and incentive programs for your haunt, but nothing about management software. So today, Sarah and Matthew, co-owners of Haunt Scheduler, will walk us through specific examples of using software for your haunt’s personnel management. While there’s other scheduling software out there, this is the only product designed by and for haunters.
Matt began developing Haunt Scheduler in 2009 while working at a haunt, and it premiered in 2014 at Transworld. It started off as a simple text messaging system, but has grown to touch every aspect of personnel. Support for this episode comes from Gantom Lighting & Controls; See what you’re missing with a free demo (https://gantom.com/demo). Subscribe to our newsletter: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

If your customers have the same masks as your actors, does that change anything? CFX masks (https://www.compositeeffects.com/) started 17 years ago in haunted houses but have since expanded into other markets. And with that perspective, they’re noticing a few things. More people are aware of silicon masks now because of social media and, due to the expansion in eCommerce, they have access to the same materials as haunts. In fact, CFX is extending their annual Transworld sale this year online to give everyone access. Overall, that’s lowering the barriers for people to create characters. And they certainly are. But what does that mean for haunts? We’ll find out. This interview features Tabitha and Josh from CFX masks. Support for this episode comes from Gantom Lighting & Controls; See what you’re missing with a free demo (https://gantom.com/demo). Subscribe to our newsletter: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

Here is a summary of this week's news: California's Great America & ValleyFair are transitioning away from scary for Halloween into family-friendly events; Halloween Club's 9th Annual Spook Show returns to La Mirada, CA September 24th; ScareCon will take place May 9th - 11th at Thorpe Park Resort; Tickets are still available for TransWorld's Halloween & Attractions Show's City Museum Party and The Vampire Circus events; The next TransWorld Live takes place March 4th at 8:00 p.m. CST and features Distortions Unlimited, Midnight Mayhem, and Acme Solutions Group; This Thursday's 5:00 p.m. PST Fear Expo Haunt Master Class is a Vendor Spotlight with Emily Bloom of Bloom FX; Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre Group kicks off their 30th season March 11th - 13th with Blood Alley Haunt; Scream Dreams Haunted Attraction comes to Thomasville, NC for the 2022 Halloween season; Fear on the Farm hosted a successful Zombie Prom event; The creators of Hush Haunted Attraction are set to open "The Legendary Axe" axe throwing bar March 12th; Hall of Horrors' Valentine's Day haunt was featured on ABC Columbia news; Take a tour through the Wicker Manor home haunt via a 4K Youtube video; Hush Haunted Attraction discusses how they transform their haunt for Valentine's Day; Fear Overload and Ultimate Terror Scream Park differentiate themselves from other haunts in their respective markets; Immortal Masks will lauch 3 new product lines for TransWorld's Halloween & Attractions Show; Froggy's Fog offers free shipping with discount code; Pale Night Productions offers a limited-time discount on all Perma-Product orders with free pickup at TransWorld's Halloween & Attractions Show. Read more: https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/haunt-industry-news-feb-28

Coming up, why should you consider opening for an off-season event? Christmas, Valentine's Day, and even Halfway to Halloween – more and more haunts are opening outside of the traditional Halloween Season. We’ve heard plenty of examples here on the show. Today, Scott Swenson will walk us through his list of 4 reasons: additional revenue, utilizing assets, expanding your audience, and building loyalty. This is a preview of the first part of Scott’s upcoming seminar at Transworld “Turning the Page from Halloween to Christmas” (https://registration.haashow.com/events/show/hs17). Subscribe our newsletter: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

Today, we’re discussing ways the industry will change from the Russia Invasion, the Galactic Starcruiser, the Harry Potter Exhibition, Peppa the Pig, and the new Attack on Titan Exhibition. Subscribe our newsletter: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

From mini-golf props to animatronic characters, and special effects to roller coaster theming Creative Visions (https://creativevisionsonline.com/) has been providing theming to a wide range of clients for nearly 30 years. Coming up, Mark McDonough, President of Creative Visions, joins us to discuss two topics: ordering timelines under the current supply chain issues and the future of smaller entertainment facilities. Support for this episode comes from Gantom Lighting & Controls; See what you’re missing with a free demo (https://gantom.com/demo). Subscribe to our newsletter: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

Coming up, will latex cost more this season? Plus - Why creating icon characters might be worth the cost. Today, Joe Glenn owner of Zombie Skin FX (https://zombie-skin.com/) gives his take on trends in latex Makeup. Zombie-Skin is the only cosmetic-grade ammonia-free latex on the market. This is our vendor showcase series in partnership with the Haunted Attraction Association. Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

Started in 2005, Pale Night Productions (https://www.palenightproductions.com/) is a special effects studio serving the haunted attraction, amusement, and escape room industries. Pale Night is particularly known for their PERMA-Blood, which they’ve been perfecting since they opened. Coming up – we’ll hear about their new escape game product and the trend they see in haunts limiting their reliance on staff. This is our vendor showcase series in partnership with the Haunted Attraction Association. This interview features Pale Night President Kip Polley. Find Pale Night Productions at Transworld in booth 417 this year, and take advantage of their pre-sale on all Perma Products. Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

Haunters Against Hate is a nonprofit that donates to LGBT youth organizations across the country. They raise funds from the sale of merchandise, the Book of Haunters, and most recently – events. Coming up, we’ll learn more about the latest Book of Haunters and this year’s Haunters Against Hate the Event. This is our vendor showcase series, in partnership with the Haunted Attraction Association. This interview features Paul Lanner, the creator of Haunters Against Hate. Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork