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

Let's talk about things that move in your haunted attraction. Yes, animatronics can be complex and scary to attempt by yourself. But what if animatronics weren't as scary as you thought? Join co-host & haunt veteran Ed Gannon as he breaks down some simple takeaways that just might change the way you look at animations. You can also find Ed Gannon at Something Wicked Productions, Haunt Dawgs, and Haunt Fix. Sign up to be a Haunter's Toolbox member (any tier) before May 7, 2024 to receive a video of this Master Class at HauntersToolbox.com Join our next Master Class with Rich Cimino on Wall Textures & Paint Effects on May.14th, 2024. This is for ProHaunters & Haunt Masters only. Become a Exclusive Member here.

Inside a Haunted Attraction, it's all about the SCARE! But how do you pull it off when your audience gets braver every year? Learn the proper techniques to create that perfect scare that can be effective over and over again. We'll talk about Actor Tools, Set Design, & Scare Techniques. To join us next time LIVE and get this video master class, become a member at HauntersToolbox.com

Sean Herman takes us through the Wicker Manor and tells us how he will transition from a haunt in his two-car garage into a permanent location. Wicker Manor was featured on ABC’s Great Halloween Fright Fight and also won Best International Haunt in an award show. To start your own haunted attraction business, visit our homebase at HauntersToolbox.com

Join the haunt community at HauntersToolbox.com and start your own haunted attraction or grow your current haunt business. Get instant access to haunt master classes, the haunt library, haunt vendor discounts, and haunt coaching. Bart Butler from Terror in the Corn located in Erie, Colorado, shares his knowledge about building corn mazes, designing haunted houses, scare actor management, and how he changed his marketing strategy to drastically increase his attendance numbers. Find Bart at TerrorInTheCorn.com

What can you do before next season to improve your brand, your marketing, and your attraction? Are you focused on the right things? Philip Hernandez, from the Haunted Attraction Network, lets us in on a few things he noticed in 2023 that will be game-changers for the future of your haunt. Find Philip here: Haunted Attraction Network Start and grow a Haunted Attraction business here: Haunters Toolbox Buy ScareIt Badges for your haunt crew and yourself here: ScareIt Badges Music by The Crypt Keeper and Midnight Syndicate

What makes a Haunt a GREAT one? The Scare Factor reveals their secret list of what they look for as they review haunted attractions. What to do and what not to do. We all can improve our attractions, here's your list. Become a member of The Haunter's Toolbox and make your attraction great.

Come with us as we tour a couple of haunted attractions in and around Hannibal, Missouri. Haunted Hollows Haunted Trail Warehouse of Nightmares Don't forget your ScareIt Badges for your Haunt parties and to reward your haunt staff this season. Buy them here.

Hannibal's inaugural Halloween & Horror Con! October 7th 2023 ~ 1:00PM until 9:00PM Celebrity Guests, Vendors and Costume Contest. Kids 10 and under are free. Price of admission: $20.00 Guaranteed to be frighteningly fun Admiral Coontz Recreation Center ~ 301 Warren Barrett Dr.~ Hannibal, MO. 63401 More info: https://www.facebook.com/wickedfest Don't forget the ScareIt Badges for your Scare Actors and Staff. NEW badges this season! See our entire collection at ScareItBadges.com

Get your Haunt started at HauntersToolbox.com Japes Palles, a scare actor manager and scare actor, shares many tips and tactics to build a strong team and how to make your haunted attraction one to remember. We cover things like queue line acting, creating zones, actor safety, handling rude customers, how to scare someone using the word BOO! (yes, it's true), and lots more...because Japes loves to talk about acting! Find Japes at https://www.lostsoulschicago.info/

Check out the Haunt Hour every Tuesday and their LIVE program for Haunters at https://www.facebook.com/haunthour The tables have turned! We get drilled by the team at Haunt Hour. Everything from how we got started in Halloween, who we would choose "Dan or Troy"??, and what is going on with ScareIt Badges... PLUS a ton more questions and BS from the Haunt Hour crew. These people are funny and informative. We love the energy over there. You might too! Let us know what you think. To get some ScareIt Badges for your scare actors and staff, go here: Buy ScareIt Badges Join our Facebook Group, The Haunter's Toolbox

Join our membership community at HauntersToolbox.com and talk with the Haunt professionals each month. Leonard Pickel shows you how to design your haunted attraction for people with disabilities so that they can enjoy your show as well. Not only wheelchair accessibility but other disabilities as well. Contact Leonard Pickel at Hauntrepreneurs.com

Would you like to have more control over your queue line? Would you like to know how many people are going to be there for the entire night before you even open? Implementing a virtual queue line can let your customers be entertained the whole evening while they spend more money at your event. Timed ticketing can let you streamline your ticket sales and fine-tune your throughput. Alex Linebrink from HauntPay.com explains how you can add these solutions to your attraction. Justin Hill (Haunted Hills Haunted Attractions) uses some of these ticketing solutions in his attraction and explains how you can do it too. Plus, his customers are happier and they are spending more money at his haunt! To start a Haunted Attraction or grow your current one, start here: Haunters Toolbox To start rewarding and retaining your team, check out ScareIt Badges here.

The Haunted Attraction Network interviewed 5 new board members from the Haunted Attraction Association about their experience in the haunt industry and picked their brains. You get to enjoy their tips & strategies! To check out the Haunted Attraction Network, go here: https://hauntedattractionnetwork.com/ To learn more about the Haunted Attraction Association, go here: https://hauntedattractionassociation.com/ To learn HOW to start or grow your haunted attraction, go here: https://www.haunterstoolbox.com/

To join us once a month in these LIVE Master Classes, be a Haunt Master Member at HauntersToolbox.com A business plan for your haunted attraction is necessary for keeping you on track with your goals and it helps when you need to get your permits or funding. Think of it like a "road map" or an "outline". It shows you how to get there and keeps you on the right road to success. Find Allie Stones at Heart of Horror Productions or on Facebook.

The word "Consultant" can leave a bad taste in your mouth if you've ever been burnt by someone who promised to make your attraction better but didn't. Or if you think that you can do everything on your own, without professional feedback. It doesn't have to be that way. Choosing the right Haunt Consultant doesn't have to be scary. Scott Swenson explains what makes a great consultant, things to avoid when it comes to hiring the right one, and why you might not even need one. Plus, we always sprinkle Haunt Tips & Tricks throughout our conversations. To join these LIVE monthly sessions, become a Haunt Master member at HauntersToolbox.com

We'll be at the Transworld Halloween & Attractions show in St.Louis, MO between Feb.2-5th, 2023 at booth 1443 at the ScareIt Badges booth. Stop by and say hello. Mention that you're a podcast listener and receive a special gift. We'll also be holding a contest if you're at the show. Take a photo of ScareIt Badges in the wild and be entered to win (2) $50 Gift Cards. Make sure to play! More info on the show: https://www.haashow.com/

(even if you don't plan on using TikTok. There are useful social media tips & tricks inside this episode) Why you should NOT use TikTok at your Haunt Have you been wondering HOW to use TikTok the right way at your Haunt to attract customers? Is it worth starting an account? Is TikTok on the way out? Philip Hernandez tries to talk you out of it using it, but watch this video and decide for yourself: https://brianforeman.wistia.com/medias/47a5ayjete To join these LIVE Haunt Master Classes, join at https://haunterstoolbox.com

To join these Master Classes live, become a Haunt Master at HauntersToolbox.com Have you ever opened your attraction for Christmas? What's it take to do it successfully? Do you have to change everything? We learn how with Sir Henry's Haunted Trail, Asylum X Haunted House, and Insanity Haunted House. They've done it. Listen in... Happy Holidays from us to you!

How did your Haunt Season go?? We had some ups & downs. And some BIG changes are in store for 2023. Some of our Haunt Master members share their experiences and give you a sneak peek behind their businesses. In this podcast episode you'll learn: To join us in these monthly sessions, become a Haunt Master at HauntersToolbox.com Haunted Attractions mentioned in this episode: To get new episodes and listen to our archives since 2012, subscribe to ANY podcast player or visit HaunTopic.com

Our 2022 Halloween Special with Lesley Bannatyne! She knows a lot about Halloween and shares some spooky tales about October traditions, the beginning of Halloween, and the evolution of haunted attractions. Plus, we throw in some tunes to get you in the Halloween mood. About Lesley: Lesley Bannatyne is an American author who writes extensively on Halloween, especially its history, literature, and contemporary celebration. She also writes short stories, many of which are included in her debut collection Unaccustomed to Grace, released in March, 2022. One of the country's foremost authorities on Halloween, Bannatyne has shared her knowledge on television specials for the History Channel ("The Haunted History of Halloween," "The Real Story of Halloween"), with Time Magazine, Slate, National Geographic, and contributed the Halloween article to World Book Encyclopedia. In 2007, she and several compatriots set the Guinness World Record for Largest Halloween Gathering, a title they held until 2009.