Haunted Attraction Network

When you build and run a haunt, you buy a lot of things. Some of those purchases work out and become worth their weight in gold, others... not so much.

Even though we're overgrown home haunters, we've made a LOT of purchases in the past 15 years and, as we reflect on our buying choices, we see some savvy moves and some major mistakes. Today, we're going to tell you both kinds of stories.

So, on that note, get ready for some cringe and some good love stories!

This Week's Episode Includes:

Intro
Conference Reminders
A Quick Update About Our Haunt
Rules of the Episode
5 Haunt Purchase Regrets
5 Haunt Purchases We Love
Conclusions
No matter what role you plan in a haunt, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss!

A Dark Little Gift to my listeners. A rather twisted retelling of The Night Before Christmas!

It's the holiday season and that means presents, cold weather and trips to visit family and friends.

But just because this is the season where no work gets done doesn't mean that you can't do things to improve your haunt. Even better, there are things you can do no matter where you are. If you've got a laptop, or even a cell phone in some cases, there is much that you can to improve your haunt and make your 2020 season go easier.

To that end, here's our suggestions for ways you can work on your haunt, no matter where you are...

This Week's Episode Includes:

Intro
Conference Reminders
Quick Update on Our Haunt
About the Topic
Things We Assume You've Already Done
7 Things You Can Do for Your Haunt Now
Conclusions
All in all, whether you're staying home for the holidays or traveling many miles, this is an episode you do NOT want to miss!

Scott has assembled his recorded musings from the year's largest gathering of Theme Park professionals. The IAAPA Expo takes place in Orlando FL every year and draws visitors from around the world.

We've had a pretty serious few episodes so let's take a break shall we? We haunters are a strange, weird and borderline insane bunch. Best of all, we're proud of it.

Still, it's sometimes fun to take a step back and look at all of the ways we are decidedly not normal. I mean, working year-round to scare people a few nights of the year is crazy enough. But to throw in all of the things we do to get there and it becomes a cry for help.

So, with that in mind, here's a look at just 13 ways that we haunters are not normal. Are there more? Absolutely. Let us know yours and we may include them in a future episode!

This Week's Episode Includes:

Intro
Conference Reminders
A Quick Update on Our Haunt
Why We Wanted to Do This Episode
13 Things Haunters Have/Do That Aren't Normal
Conclusions
All in all, if you're a haunter and want some humor, this is an episode you do NOT want to miss!

What is HAuNTcon?
HAuNTcon will push your attraction business out of its comfort zone and introduce you to game-changing new products, ideas, and concepts. Improve your Haunted Attraction, start a new Haunt related business, or get ideas for next season. It’s more than a tradeshow, it’s an innovative experience where the haunt community creates the future of the industry.

The Haunted Attraction National Tradeshow and Convention (HAuNTcon) will be hosted once again in the historic city of New Orleans, Louisianna from January 17-19th, 2020. View their website here: HAuNTcon.com

What’s new at HAuNTcon for 2020?
The Haunted Attraction National Tradeshow and Convention (HAuNTcon) will be hosted once again in the historic city of New Orleans, Louisianna from January 17-19th, 2020.

NEW advanced educational seminars and workshops will help you prepare your Haunted Attraction or Home Haunt for success next season.

NEW Halloween and Haunted House vendors will be setting up booths so you can be the first one to see the hot new products for 2020.
If you’re one of the vendors, a new digital way of capturing your customer’s information is now in place. This also makes it easier for buyers as it streamlines the information you want straight to you.
NEW entertainment but the same fun and FREE drinks for the first 3 HOURS at the Brewing, Boos, & Booze Costume Party. One of the best costume parties in the Haunt Industry! Get Your Tickets Here.
NEW scares added to the 3 Mississippi Haunted Attractions (The Terror Test, Terror on the Coast, & Trail of Terror) that you’ll experience on the bus tour on Thursday. Lights on and Lights off.

A NEW Haunters to Watch award program that any Haunter can enter, or you can nominate another Haunter, for rising above and beyond in the industry. The prize package includes a paid 2-night stay in New Orleans, a FREE VIP ticket to HAuNTcon, and a bunch of recognition in the industry. Hosted by the Haunted Attraction Network.

A NEW Haunt Masters program, which is made up of a group of veteran Haunters who will help you navigate the show, help you focus on the right events, and be your mentor while you’re there.
And many NEW offers plus the Fashion Show, the Networking groups, the streamlined flow of the showroom floor, and lots more!

It's another episode that's divisible by four and that means its time to do the news! And what a week do we have for you guys. We have attempted arson, a haunted house run by a retirement community and one of the craziest haunt moves I've ever heard of.

Since this episode covers a bit of the end of the season and most of November, we get a good mix of in-season news and stories about upcoming holiday shows and haunt moves.

It's a jam-packed episode but we make at least a little bit of time to talk about the goings-on at our haunt, or more specifically our street, and a few other personal odds and ends.

This Week's Episode Includes:

Intro
Conference Reminders
Quick Update on Our Haunt (And Our Street)
Man Tries to Burn Down Haunt Three Times
Petition to Close McKamey Manor Reachers 133K Signatures
Slaughterhouse Moves to Downtown Des Moines 7. SC Haunt Damaged in Storm Before Halloween, Reopens Next Night
Knott's Scary Farm Sees Record Attendance Despite Galaxy's Edge
Snow White's Scary Adventure to Undergo Refurbishment
Cast of Broadway's Lion King Put on Haunt for Family & Friends
Fright Haven to Put On "Lights On" Night for Holidays
Article About Haunt Logistics Features Netherworld and Dent Schoolhouse
A Tour of Nightmare Walk Home Haunt
Seniors in Newfoundland Put on Haunted House for the Community
Closing
All in all, this is one packed episode that you do NOT want to miss!

Based on a suggestion from the "A Scott in the Dark" Facebook group, Scott uses his visit to ChristmasTown at Busch Gardens Tampa to discuss the similarities and changeover process between Halloween and Christmas Events. This episode was recorded on opening night of ChristmasTown 2019.

Last week, we discussed how to find what your pricing should be for your haunt. This week, we're looking at how to increase your prices if you decide you need more pert ticket and how you can make it more palatable to the customer.

The simple truth is this: Price increases suck. Nobody likes them. That said, there are ways that you can raise your prices and not lose your customers. In fact, you can help your customers feel like they got a better deal.

How do you do it? That's what this episode is about, finding ways to raise your prices and keep customers happy.

This Week's Episode Includes

Intro
Conference Reminders
Quick Update on Our Haunt
Follow Up on Last Week
The Problem with Raising Prices
Step 1: Survey and Analyze Your Potential Audience
Step 2: Seek Ways to Offer More at No/Low Cost
Step 3: Raise Your Prices the Smallest Amount You Can
Step 4: Double Down on Marketing
Step 5: Offer Discounts
Step 6: Take a Break
Conclusions
All in all, if you charge money for your haunt, this is an episode you do NOT want to miss!

Scott shares ideas to recognize and celebrate the cast between haunt seasons...let's keep the after dark family together!