Haunted Attraction Network

This week on Haunt Weekly, we're wrapping up our room trilogy as we discuss the best room in your haunt. We've done the first room, we've done the last room and now we're doing the best room.

But the best room is more important than some people realize. Your customers, when they walk away from your haunt, will likely only remember one or two things. Having a room that stands out and gets attention, ensures that not only do your customers remember you positively, but that they remember you well enough to come back.

So we're diving into it, how to create your best room and make something that will truly be memorable!

This Week's Episode Includes:

Intro
Conference Reminders
Housekeeping Items
What is The Best Room
Previous Episodes to Check Out
Approach 1: Spectacle
Approach 2: A Unique Scare
Approach 3: The Plot Payoff
Approach 4: Break Expectations/Rules
Approach 5: Interactivity
Where to Place the Room
Why You Want It
Conclusions
All in all, no matter what kind of haunt you run, this is an episode you do NOT want to miss!

Last week, we discussed the importance of the first room, the approaches to it and the purposes it can serve. This week, we're doing the bookend and talking about the last room, and the importance of it.

The last room, however, is somewhat unique among haunts in that it's the only room (or haunt element) that has a de facto standard. We've grown to expect that haunts will end with chainsaws the same way we expect a concert to end with the greatest hit by the band. That said, should it? We take a look at that and much more as we examine the last room, it's function and what can be done with it.

So, with that in mind, here's a look at the last room and all the things that can be done with it.

This Week's Episode Includes:

Intro
Conference Reminders
The Importance of the Last Room
Why That Importance is Sometimes Overblown
Approach 1: The Chainsaw
Approach 2: The Maze
Approach 3: A Climatic Scene
Approach 4: Just Another Room
Approach 5: The Real False Ending
Approach 6: Transition to Another Attraction
Finding the Best Approach
Conclusions
All in all, this is one episode that you do not want to miss!

The common logic when it comes to building a haunted house is that you put most of your energy, detail and work into the first room and the last room. The idea is that these are the rooms that will be the most memorable to your customers.

But is that really true? In thinking about first rooms we've seen we struggled to remember many. That said though, the first room does play a key role in a haunt and you definitely need to put some time and energy in finding the approach that's right for you.

On that note, we're taking a deep dive into that first room (or scene) and examining what it takes to make a great first room.

This Week's Episode Includes:

Intro
Conference Reminders
The Myth of Hyper Importance
Approach 1: The Rules Room
Approach 2: Interactive Room
Approach 3: Spectacle
Approach 4: A Show
Approach 5: Dead Space
Approach 6: Just a Room
Which Approach is Best
Conclusions
All in all, this is one jam packed episode that you do NOT want to miss!

Content Marketing is one of the most misunderstood tactics, and we explain it all in this episode.

“Content marketing is a strategic marketing approach focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience — and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action.

In short, instead of pitching your products or services, you are delivering information that makes your buyer more intelligent. The essence of this content strategy is the belief that if we, as businesses, deliver consistent, ongoing valuable information to buyers, they ultimately reward us with their business and loyalty.”
-By Content Marketing Ins

Why do it?
Customer Information
Customer Retention

The History of Content Marketing: https://youtu.be/9OHgMMpGLzk
John Deere & The Furrow Magazine: https://youtu.be/rbKvoKeu4vc
Getting Started Guide: https://contentmarketinginstitute.com/getting-started/

Examples:
PC Gamer/Razer “The Complete Guide to PC Gaming”: https://www.pcgamer.com/introducing-the-complete-guide-to-pc-gaming/
Ideas of Order Magazine made by Redbird for California Closets: https://www.ideasoforder.com/
OK Go - The One Moment - made by Morton Salt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvW61K2s0tA
MasterThis made by Liberty Mutual: http://www.jackmorton.com/work/building-content-driven-customer-loyalty-breakthrough-liberty-mutual/
2018 Oscar winner animation short film | dear basketball: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziUc0OCDmoU

Consult QD by Cleveland Clinic: https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/

Restaurant and Attraction Magazines in hotel rooms are usually created by tourism boards

AirBNB Magazine and Trip Guides
https://www.airbnb.com/things-to-do
https://www.airbnb.com/magazine

Measuring Content Marketing
How do you find our if your target market is learning something from your content?
Content and Website Views
Brand Searches
Search Engine Ranking
Email Sign Ups
Purchases by remarketing.

End of Show
Zest Enlight Marketing App - https://zest.is/enlight
Seasonal Entertainment Source: https://haunted.typeform.com/to/k9CEOz

This week on Haunt Weekly we're doing the news and boy do we have a surprisingly stacked show for an episode that's as far away from Halloween as we can get. We have two announcements from Universal Studios, two more from Disney and a slew of local haunt news across the country.

It's one busy episode with a few fun items at the end so stick around as we go through all the haunt news that's fit to print, or talk about rather.

This Week's Episode Includes:

Intro
Conference Reminders
Posters Stolen from Charity Haunt
Canadian Haunt May Be Closed
West Virginia Town Approves Variances for Haunt
Virginia Haunt Wins Tourism Awards
Universal Announces 'Universal Monsters' Haunt for HHN
Universal Also Announces Holiday-Themed Maze for HHN
Mickey's Halloween Party No More at Disneyland
Disney World Promises New Halloween Fireworks
Lego Artist Builds Movie-Themed Haunted House
Reverend Michael from Haunt Chat Has a New Bobblehead
Conclusions
All in all, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss!

Another episode based on suggestions from the "A Scott in the Dark Listener's Group" on Facebook.

It's the time of year when haunts are either ramping up their recruitment or are thinking about doing so. It's also the time of the year newbie actors are considering if they want to come on board and, if so, what haunt they want to work.

So we've reached out to our resident actor expert, Japes Palles, to tell newbie actors what they can expect and to help haunt owners figure out how to make the process suck less. So prepare yourself for a jam-packed hour of talking about actor recruitment and actor onboarding.

This Week's Episode Includes:

Intro
Introduction to Japes
Auditions mentioned on Haunted Attractions Network and Haunters' Hangout
How Actors Can Prepare For Their First Audition
Tips for Choosing Which Haunt to Apply At
How Can Haunt Owners Make Actor Intake Better
How to Find Out What Actors' Strengths Are
Conclusions
All in all, this is one episode you do NOT want to miss!

Rick is an award winning photographer of Horrify Me. Turning 'normal' people into Vampire, Zombies, Horror Icons and much more.

Hannah gets a bloody make-over photoshoot and we interview Rick on this episode of the ScareTrack podcast.

For more information, to book and shoot or buy the horrify me book, click here: http://www.horrify.me.uk/



Watch our latest ScareCam vlog episodes: https://youtube.com/scaretrack

You can support the show here: https://patreon.com/ScareTrack

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How to view criticism as a gift that can help you make your haunt the best ever

This week on Haunt Weekly, we're about as far as Halloween as possible, the weather is getting warmer and it can pretty much not feel less like Halloween.

Luckily, we're haunters and we have a lot of great ways to keep Halloween alive 365. However, there's always room to improve so that's why we're sharing 31 ways that we keep the Halloween and haunter spirit alive, no matter what the season outside is doing.

This Week's Episode Includes:

Intro
Conference Reminders
Why We're Talking About It
31 Ways to Keep Halloween Alive
Conclusions
All in all, whether you're down in the dumps about Halloween or just wanting a little bit iof extra spark, this is an episode you do NOT want to miss!