Scott and Jewel Simonson answer all of your questions about creating killer videos and photos at your haunt, marketing on a budget, retaining your actors, haunt technology, and other questions you have about Haunted Attractions.

"Haunting Media was founded by experienced haunted attraction owners, who, much like you, understand the intricacies and importance of delivering a truly detailed and immersive experience. As we carefully crafted our own haunted attraction, it became apparent that our photos and videos should mirror this attention to detail.

With an unwavering commitment to excellence, Haunting Media ensures that our content creation services cater to your specific needs. Each member of our team is not only highly experienced in the haunting industry but also exceptionally creative. We understand that no two attractions are alike; therefore, we take great pride in tailoring our offerings to suit your unique vision." -HauntingMedia.com

Start or grow your haunted attraction at HauntersToolbox.com

Start, grow, and scale your Haunted Attraction at HauntersToolbox.com

In this episode, we discuss many things like Scare Actors, Safety, Timed Ticketing, Wall panels, Haunt Construction, Tent Haunts, Outdoor Trails, International Haunts, and more!

Leonard Pickel has over 50 years of themed attraction design and operations experience in year-round and seasonal installations, museums, and dark rides. Creating more than 300 original and innovative dark-themed attractions for major venues worldwide.

 A few of Leonard's accomplishments:

-1987: created the industry’s first turn-key Haunted House “˜kits” and the first adaptation of the “Field Theory” for Haunted Attractions (The Triangular Grid System)

-1993 to 2000: Applied his October seasonal experience toward a summer seasonal haunted house with Mayhem Manor® in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

-1994 to 2009: Co-founded Haunted Attraction Magazine, the premier publication for the dark amusement industry.

-1997: Formed the Haunted Industry’s first trade association, the International Association of Haunted Attractions (IAHA).

-2004 to 2017: Launched the first national convention devoted solely to the Haunted Attraction Industry. The Haunted Attraction National Tradeshow and Convention (HAuNTcon®)

-2009: Awarded a lifetime achievement award from the International Association of Haunted Attractions and was honored with a question using his name in the Millennium Edition of Trivial Pursuit.

-2009: Appeared as an industry expert in several television programs including the Travel Channel special about Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida and America’s Best Haunted Houses.

-1976 to present: Constantly searching for new challenges and striving for new heights in his Haunting career, Leonard has 40-plus years of experience designing all types of commercial Attractions.

Contact Leonard Pickel at Hauntrepreneurs.com

Start and grow your Haunted Attraction at HauntersToolbox.com

Get Merit Badges and Name badges for your crew at ScareItBadges.com

2024 is over! What's in store for 2025??

We discuss many subjects in this episode. Topics like:

• Should you sell alcohol at your haunt?
• How to get free marketing
• Campfire rentals and selling S'Mores
• Concessions and merchandise sales
• Corn Maze Haunts
• Transworld Show preparations
• and a crap ton more Haunt Talk!

Don't be a scrooge...turn up that volume and share us with your entire crew! But don't wake the ghosts...

It stinks that we don't get to travel during October to visit haunted attractions because most of us are busy with our haunt businesses and projects. 

Nick and Beverly Pappas have traveled thousands of miles yearly as Haunt customers and have seen things we haven't. Listen to their stories and get a peek at how Haunts are changing. 

What are the trends coming for the industry? How do Haunts compare between now and then? Are you doing everything at your attraction to maximize your guest experience?

Become a Haunter's Toolbox member at HauntersToolbox.com

HauntPay created the annual Haunt Industry Survey because they needed reliable, recent data about the haunt industry. This is the fourth annual report and haunters revealed some surprising insights for the coming season!

Marketing efforts got more sophisticated and more robust this year, with haunters using digital and offline platforms to promote their attractions. Crowd sizes are growing modestly, but haunts remain an affordable activity compared with rising costs for other entertainment. And Haunters are using new strategies to manage the crowds on busy nights.

In this podcast, you'll find insights like: how small or large is the average haunted attraction these days? How much are they charging for admission? Which social media apps are most popular? What are the biggest challenges haunt owners face?

Thank you to all of you who responded to the 2024 survey! We quite literally couldn’t do this without your help.

Visit HauntPay.com for all of your ticketing needs. Visit HauntersToolbox.com for help starting & growing your haunt.

A complete walkthrough of the Sithon management platform for haunted attraction staff/actors, why communication with your team is important, and things you can do this season to keep your staff coming back every year!   Things Sithon can do (all from your phone): -Custom Actor Recruitment -Scheduling -Actor/Staff Management -Costume Management -Time Tracking -Email & Text Notifications -Dedicated Personnel Line -Background Checks -Attraction Studio -Staffing Metrics -Awards Tracking -On-Demand Reports   From Sithon.io : Recruit, manage and communicate with your actors and staff with Sithon. Developed by a veteran haunted attraction manager, Sithon is an easy-to-use platform that includes everything you need to make personnel management easier for you and your managers. Anytime. Anywhere   No selling on this webinar. Just solid information that will help you be stress-free this season.   Start and grow your haunted attraction business at HauntersToolbox.com

It's 30 minutes before the haunt doors open. You need a quick way to make some realistic wounds, cuts, and bruises that will stay on all night. We have those answers inside this podcast!

You can also watch the full video here: https://haunterstoolbox.com/sfx

Applying special effects makeup inside a haunted attraction is a unique skill. You have to be fast & efficient while creating a monster that the customers want to see. The best way to get started with special effects makeup is buy a few supplies then just start. Practice on yourself and watch your skills blossom as you learn along the way.

Join these Master Classes at HauntersToolbox.com

There are a few ways to make more revenue with your attraction: 1) Raise your prices 2) Get more customers 3) Sell more to your current customers

We will focus this master class on selling more to your current customers by using the space you already have. Things like themed dinners, private tours, and ticket upgrades allow you to charge more for unique experiences without needing extra space. 

Shawn Lippert, the co-owner of Scarehouse Windsor, joins us to show how he increased the revenue at his attraction by adding interactive dinner experiences. We'll also share some various ways that you can earn more revenue at your Haunt this season.

To get more monthly Master Classes like this one delivered to your inbox and take your Haunt to the next level; become a member at HauntersToolbox.com

How do I get more people to attend my Haunt? What does it take to stand out in today's market? Are there creative ways to grab attention without spending too much?

We answer these questions and more in this Master Class with Laura Kilpatrick from FearWorm Hauntvertising.

Become a member at HauntersToolbox.com to join our next Master Class. Start & grow your Haunt today!

Visit FearWorm.com for your Haunt Advertising needs.

Creating realistic scenes requires detailed wall panels. But where do you start? Should you use a light base paint or black? What are simple ways to distress your sets? How do you make charred walls, peeling paint, bubbled paint? What materials do you need to create amazing sets? We answer these questions and more during this Master Class with Scenic Artist Rich Cimino from BentCirkus.com

Start and grow your Haunted Attraction at HauntersToolbox.com

Reward, Retain, & Recognize your employees with ScareItBadges.com