HaunTopic Radio: Haunted Attractions | Haunted Houses | Halloween | Haunters

Learn how to build Facebook ad campaigns that generate more ticket sales while reducing wasted ad spend. Whether you're opening your first haunt or growing an established attraction, this session is packed with practical tips you can use immediately. Want to sell more tickets this Halloween without wasting money on Facebook ads? Join Matt Kremer, founder of Scary Good Ticketing and co-founder of Forsaken Souls Haunted Attraction, as he shares the strategies behind successful Meta advertising for haunted attractions. In this session, you'll learn how to use Facebook Ads Manager the right way, understand the Meta Pixel, avoid common mistakes that cost haunt owners money, and build campaigns that attract more customers. Whether you're new to Facebook advertising or looking to improve your current results, this session will give you practical, actionable advice you can implement this season. You'll leave with a better understanding of how Facebook advertising works and how to make every advertising dollar count. Hosted by: HauntersToolbox.com & ScaryGood.com Merit Badges & Awards for Haunters: ScareItBadges.com

Not every haunted attraction has a Hollywood budget—but that doesn't mean you can't deliver a world-class experience. This Master Class is all about maximizing creativity while minimizing costs. We'll cover practical techniques for building an impressive haunt without emptying your wallet, including: Using lighting to elevate simple scenery Finding affordable and reclaimed building materials Creating reusable scenic elements that last for years Leveraging actors, sound, and scent to sell the illusion Using forced perspective to make small spaces feel larger Knowing where to spend your money—and where to save it The truth is, guests don't remember how much you spent. They remember how you made them feel. Whether you're planning your first haunted attraction or looking to get more out of your budget this season, this class is packed with real-world advice you can put to work immediately

Start your own haunted attraction on a budget: HauntersToolbox.com

Get award badges for your haunt staff & scare actors: ScareItBadges.com

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Haunt Owner/Operators & Hiring Managers Is your attraction asking illegal or high‑risk questions on your job application? Questions about age, allergies, T‑shirt sizes, or medical information may seem harmless—but when asked at the wrong stage of the hiring process, they can create real compliance issues for haunts. Dave Ferrier of FearSchool.com is teaming up with Justin Blackburn of Sithon.io to break this down in a practical, haunt‑specific way:

• Which questions should never appear on hiring applications?

• Which questions are allowed later in the process—and why timing matters?

• How can haunts protect themselves and their actors while still hiring effectively?

Sithon will also demonstrate how their compliance engine can automatically flag risky questions before they ever go live on a job form. This session draws on real‑world haunt hiring and training experience—not generic HR theory—and is designed for the people who actually run attractions. If you handle hiring, applications, or onboarding at a haunt, this session is worth your time.

We're going live with one of the true pioneers of the haunted attraction industry — David Bertolino, the founder of Spooky World. If you've ever been through a professional haunt and wondered what really goes into creating those experiences, this is your chance to hear it straight from someone who helped shape the industry. From its early days as a haunted hayride to becoming a full-scale Halloween destination, Spooky World has set the standard for immersive scares, detailed sets, and high-energy performances. During this live, expect real behind-the-scenes insight — not just about what you see as a guest, but what it actually takes to run a major haunted attraction year after year. We'll be talking about what works, what doesn't, and how the industry has evolved over time. Whether you're a haunt fan, actor, or someone thinking about getting into the business, this is a rare opportunity to learn from experience you won't find anywhere else. Join the Haunter's Toolbox Facebook Group to attend the next live session if you missed this one: https://www.facebook.com/groups/haunterstoolbox Find The Spooky World Book here. Join the Haunter's Toolbox membership and start your own Haunted Attraction Business. Reward, recognize, and retain your haunt crew with Merit Badges for Haunters ScareItBadges.com

Hiring and managing a crew at your haunted attraction can be one of the most challenging tasks you'll encounter as an owner or operator. What if it were easier? Justin Blackburn, the innovator behind Sithon.io, guides you through the journey of hiring, managing, & organizing your entire haunt operation. -Hiring & firing -Scheduling -Management -Costume tracking -Time tracking -Background checks -Award tracking -Staffing metrics ...all made easy! Become a member of The Haunter's Toolbox facebook group to join the next one: https://www.facebook.com/groups/haunterstoolbox/ Training & coaching to start your own haunted attraction: https://www.haunterstoolbox.com/ Recruit, manage, & organize your attraction: https://sithon.io/

How do you create a successful off-season haunted event? Are you spending your marketing budget effectively? What is changing in the haunt industry for 2026? And much more Haunt talk.

Philip Hernandez, creator of the Haunted Attraction Network and CEO of Gantom, answers all of your questions in this LIVE event.

Haunter's Toolbox Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/haunterstoolbox

Check out what Philip is doing: https://hauntedattractionnetwork.com/

Start your own Haunted Attraction: https://www.haunterstoolbox.com/

In this episode, Dr.William Ramsay, aka Dr. TerrorEyes will present usable information on starting and growing a SAFE haunted attraction. Here are a few topics that will be discussed: -How did Haunted Houses start? -Why fire safety is essential at your Haunt -Are you doing Staff training correctly? -Employee forms & applications -Create signage that works -Haunt start-up tips -LOTS MORE! Here are a few of William's credentials: -Producer of the SEHEC (Southeast Halloween Enthusiast Convention) -Guest speaker at many Haunt conventions since 2007 -Co-manager at the Ocala Fear Fest Haunted Attraction -Board-certified optometric physician: a eye and contact expert Start your own attraction or grow your current one here: https://www.haunterstoolbox.com/

What's it really like to open and operate a Haunted Attraction business? Can your dream really come true? Can you do it by yourself? We answer all of your questions in this Master Class with Conner Beets from Imminent Doom Haunted House. Conner, a lifetime Haunt enthusiast, started and operated his first commercial haunted attraction this year (2025). At the age of 20 years old! Conner's 5 Top Tips for starting a brand-new haunt are… 1. Build outside city limits if possible! If you happen to be in the city limits… be in CONSTANT communication with your local Fire Marshall and don't try to fight them on codes. Believe me… You will not win that battle lol! 2. Invest Wisely! As cool as some of those massive props are at TransWorld… the quality often isn't what it is at the show when you receive your copy. When at a show, be sure to thoroughly inspect a prop to make sure it is built to last and will be a worthwhile investment for your show! 3. Train your actors!!! As cool as your sets and props may be, your guests only want one thing… to be terrified!!! You can have the most beautiful and high-tech animatronics known to man. Still, if you don't hold your actors to a standard and train them how to scare, develop characters, and pace themselves properly… your show will definitely suffer! 4. Work with and collaborate with your other local haunted attractions! We did a huge project this year called The Frightful Four of East Texas, featuring four local haunts, and it absolutely blew up into a huge deal! You can learn a lot from working with fellow industry experts from your area, and since you are all near each other… There is room for everyone to succeed by working together to drive more guests to your area around October! 5. Stay Humble! I cannot stress this one enough! Don't be a giant Douche for lack of a better word! Your show is not the best thing in the world, despite what you may think, and you will always have to work to improve your show year after year! Also, don't be afraid to ask for help. I haven't seen many haunts that absolutely one person builds, so I'm definitely willing to work with others!

In this episode, we remember our friend and fellow Haunter, Jan Knuth.

The Haunt world lost a good one. R.I.P. Jan Skaggs Knuth She was always a kind soul, loved Haunting, was an admin for this group, & even thought about me enough to include my opinion in her book "Not Afraid to Slay: Women of the Haunt Industry". You will be missed… Here is part of her obituary: "A memorial service for Janet L. Knuth will be held on November 20, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska, with Pastor Darren Theesen officiating. Janet Leigh "Jan" (Skaggs) Knuth, 60 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer at Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. Jan was born in Holdrege, Nebraska, on January 14, 1965, the second of three children, born to Wes and Monica (Valentine) Skaggs. She received her education from Holdrege Public Schools and graduated with the class of 1983. She pursued higher education and received a degree as a Physical Therapy Assistant from Colby Community College in Colby, Kansas. Following her education for over 20 years, Jan worked as a Physical Therapy Assistant, starting in Holdrege at Holdrege Physical Therapy, and continued working across the state for Tabitha Home Health. Jan had a love for Halloween and scaring others since she was a little girl. She started a yard haunt at their residence, after a few years, it had grown so much that she bought a house to expand her vision and started Gray House Haunts. Jan also authored her own haunt book, Not Afraid to Slay, Women Of The Haunt Industry. On November 12, 2005, Jan was united in marriage to Steven Knuth at the First Baptist Church in Holdrege. The couple made their home in Holdrege. Jan enjoyed spending time at Johnson Lake and nurturing a beautiful garden. Her passion for animal welfare across the state, particularly for dogs, was inspiring. She was committed to providing a loving home to the most vulnerable dogs from shelters, and she was an asset on the board for the Holdrege Animal Rescue. Jan's love and devotion to her family and friends were equally unwavering, and she consistently demonstrated kindness and generosity to those around her. Her laughter was infectious, and her kind-heartedness and loyalty were truly remarkable. Jan had no tolerance for injustice, and she was always a voice for the voiceless."

Join the guys behind Midnight Syndicate, Edward Douglas & Gavin Goszka! We ask them questions like: How to create your own haunt music? What inspires them to make music? Sound tips and tricks? Plus, we play the first 3 tracks from their NEW album Darkened Corners.

Midnight Syndicate is an American musical duo known for creating dark, atmospheric, and gothic-themed instrumental music. Their tunes and ambient sounds are used in themed attractions worldwide.

Since 1997, composers Edward Douglas and Gavin Goszka have produced what they call "soundtracks for the imagination," blending orchestral scores with sound effects to evoke a sense of horror, mystery, and fantasy.

Find their music: https://www.midnightsyndicate.com/

Start or grow your haunted attraction: https://www.haunterstoolbox.com/

Get Haunt Badges for your crew: https://scareitbadges.com

Join the Haunter's Toolbox Facebook group to attend events like these: https://www.facebook.com/groups/haunterstoolbox/