HaunTopic Radio: Haunted Attractions | Haunted Houses | Hallow...

One of the most difficult things for a Haunted Attraction Owner is to find quality Scare Actors and Staff to help make the attraction come to life.

Having your Scare Actors not show up is one of the biggest complaints we hear as haunt consultants...from the bad reviews from your customers to the other actors who have to cover those spots and pull double duty on a busy Saturday night.

These are some of the things we have tried in the past. We now have over 40 scare actors inside our haunt The Dead Factory.

Join us in this LIVE ONLINE MASTER CLASS on Hiring Employees and Recruiting Volunteers

Here are five things you can start doing now to recruit and hire new scare actors for your haunted attraction.

1. Reach out to family and friends. Use social media to let others know you're searching for help. People aren't mind readers so you gotta put it out there. I know it's tough to ask for help, but it determines the success of your show.
2. Create an Ad on Facebook. Create a business page on Facebook..yes, they still work. Boost a post or create an ad directly focused on your local area (maybe a 15 mile radius around your location) and interests like Horror Movie Fans, Theater/Plays, Haunted Houses.
3. Team up with your local theater or high school drama club. Many of my scare actors have come from the local theater. My son was also in the drama department at his high school. You might be able to cross-promote with them by sharing staff members or even hanging banners in each others queue lines.
4. Ask strangers. Allen Hopps, from The Darkhour Haunted House, carries pre-made business cards specifically for Scare Actor auditions. He carries them everywhere! I usually get a feel for a person and then ask them if they'd be interested in helping work behind-the-scenes of a Haunted House.
5. Ask your current Actors/Staff for referrals. Sometimes your current helpers don't know you need more help. Ask if they have a friend that may want to try it out as a test run. Once they get that first scare..it usually lights that fire inside. It's either for a person or not...don't try to force it. You'll get a better quality of actor by letting the good ones come back for more.

Treat your scare actors and your haunt staff like family. Have food and drinks if it's in your budget. Make them comfortable as possible. Make their time with you fun and enjoyable so they'll want to come back and bring a friend.

Happy Haunting!

In this PODCAST EPISODE, we chat with the organizers of SEHEC (Southeast Halloween Enthusiast Convention) and the Haunted Attraction Leadership Symposium.

Philip Hernandez: Business Director for Gantom Lighting and Controls, a reputable company in the attraction space known for their quality lighting and controls.

William Ramsay: Also known as Dr. Terror Eyes, has taught his Haunting skills in various conventions all over the United States.

Haunted Attraction Leadership Symposium

The Seasonal Attraction Leadership Symposium is the one event for industry professionals in Southern California where you can learn and network with the best and the brightest in the themed entertainment industry.

Philip Hernandez

The 2nd Annual Leadership Symposium is July 30th, 2018, aboard the historic and haunted Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. The theme of this year's event is "First Impressions."

Besides presentations by leading industry professionals on this theme, the day's activities will include a tour of the Queen Mary and a preview of the upcoming "Dark Harbor" Halloween event.

Dive Deep into the Theme with Industry Experts & Moderators

Crafting Memorable First Impressions using the key elements of Elevation, Insight, Pride, and Connection is the touchstone for presentations at this year's event.

Added to this year's symposium will be discussions following each speaker's presentation. During these discussions, attendees will meet and share their thoughts about what they just learned and use workbooks to integrate this into their experience and vision for their own attractions.

Deepening the learning using the discussion and workbook format assures the information goes home with the participant and becomes part of their reservoir of knowledge.

Experience The Queen Mary

Enjoy an exclusive preview of "Dark Harbor" and Q&A with the team.

Plus, tour the ship with The Queen Mary attractions team and enjoy the opportunity to discover more about the ship's operations directly from the team.

Not Convinced? Watch the Talks from for Last Year

Last year's Symposium, titled, "Innovation in Interactivity," was held at Knott's Berry Farm on August 1.

Watch the trailer here.

This symposium featured keynote talks by:

Ricky Brigante of Pseudonym Productions

Jon Cooke and Ken Parks of Knott's Berry Farm

Quan Gan of Gantom

Sociologist/Author Dr. Margie Kerr

The Queen Mary's Brian Luallen

Industry Veteran Scott Swenson

Southeast Halloween Enthusiast Convention (SEHEC)

The Southeast Halloween Enthusiast Convention (SEHEC) is both a Halloween fandom-based educational event and a charitable fundraiser dedicated to the largest portion of Halloween-lovers: the Halloween Enthusiast. It's for folks who share their love of Halloween (and the Paranormal) with others and just wait until October!

CHARITABLE CAUSE: A portion of the event's proceeds go to the Tampa Shriners Hospital for Children to help pay for necessary medical care for afflicted young patients.

HISTORY: Born out of eight years of make-n-take (instructive prop building) gatherings so popular, they outgrew the venue! SEHEC is the next masterful step to bring Halloween enthusiasts together to learn, share and grow their love for all things Halloween. This event features a variety of educational seminars (Halloween-related and Paranormal), instructional demonstrations, Make-n-Take courses (learn-how-to courses where you bring home the creation you made with guided assistance), guest speakers, product vendors, master artists – even from hit television shows, and provides a welcoming atmosphere for Halloween socializing.

SEHEC's producer and Halloween zealot, Dr. TerrorEyes, has been involved with Halloween and prop creation for 44 years. He has been a presenter at all major Halloween industry conventions since 2010. This includes popular conventions such as: HAuNTcon, TransWorld, Midwest Haunters Convention, HauntX, Halloween Extreme, ScareLA, National Haunters Convention, West Coast Haunters Convention, Halloween & HauntFest, Canadian Haunted Attractions Conference, Midsummer Scream, Chicago Frights, Lakeland ZombieFest, and Florida Haunters Annual Ocala Make-n-Take/Social.

LOCATION: The SEHEC show is in Central Florida and is conveniently located about 75 miles from Universal Studios, Disney World and Sea World.

THE EVENT: -Friday night: Ocala Ghost Walk Tour: 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM and away from the event venue. - Saturday day is the Convention Show and Courses: 8 AM to 6 PM -Saturday night is the "Haunted Eye Ball" adult costume party with food, freshly-brewed beer and local vineyard-produced wine, 8 PM to Midnight. - Sunday in the Convention Show and Courses: 9 AM - 2 PM.

REGISTRATION: - Registration will only be available ONLINE at www.SEHEC.com - AFTER JUNE 30th, ALL prices are at-the-door purchases and are higher at the venue. - No 2018 T-shirts will be available for ordering after June 30, 2018 as they are a Limited Edition run. - You will receive one T-shirt (valued at $20) with your paid admission ticket purchase online. You'll receive it upon check-in at the show on July 14th/15th.

Coming Jan.25-27, 2019 in New Orleans. HAuNTcon!

Black Market Escape Rooms presents "Murder Co": a R-rated escape experience

BLACK MARKET ESCAPE ROOMS, a new immersive-based attraction company, announces the opening of MURDER CO, a permanent escape experience aimed at turning the attraction industry on its head.

Location: 1220 W 9th St. | Upland, CA 91786 | 909-920-9902

Moonlighting from their day gigs, a handful of theme park professionals have thrown the proverbial gloves off by thrusting guests into an adventure far too severe for the family-friendly confines of an amusement park.

The experience was created by theme park designer, Jon Cooke, who was looking to push the parameters set by the day-to-day requirements in his industry. In response to founding his new side project, Black Market Escape Rooms, Cooke says, "I saw so much potential story and show elements in escape rooms. I wanted to do something more so I went out and surrounded myself with some of the best experts in the theme park industry and we created this unforgettable encounter."

Regarding Murder Co's intensity is attraction writer and director Ted Dougherty, who confesses, "We had to go to some extremely dark places that definitely left a few emotional marks." Although the attraction may not fall into the category of an "extreme haunt," it does contain content best reserved for those not easily offended or disgusted.

Expect serious thrills as Cooke is no stranger to terrifying people based on his innovative haunted attraction designs for Knott's Scary Farm. When conceiving Murder Co, he admits, "It's what I have always wanted to see and do in an immersive attraction." A living nightmare is one step away for those bold enough to cross into Murder Co.

JON COOKE has designed, art directed and produced some of the most successful haunted attractions for the world famous Knott's Scary Farm, including "Special Ops: Infected," "Paranormal, Inc," "Shadowlands," "Trick Or Treat: Lights Out" and "Dark Ride." As vocalist for the deathcore metal band, Winds of Plague, Cooke has released numerous albums and toured extensively throughout the globe. Taking the two worlds of themed entertainment and live performance, Cooke has melded his experience into creating visionary ways to horrify the masses. www.plagueproductions.com

TED DOUGHERTY is a writer, producer and director having worked with Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights, Knott's Scary Farm, Cedar Fair and Hollow Studios, including directing and co-writing Fear VR, the first 4-D virtual reality horror experience at a major theme park. www.lunarvisions.com

Special Guests

Andy Russ and Susan Russ: Dark Forest Creations/ Burn Brae Mansion

National Haunter's Convention: HalloweenShow.com

Haunter's Toolbox: Our other website for starting and growing your own Haunted Attraction

In this podcast episode, we talk to Robert Nulton from The Haunt Rater about the elements that he feels makes up a great Haunted Attraction experience and how you can improve your show for next season.

The Haunt Rater has been reviewing and walking through Haunted Houses since 2008. They've seen the small town haunts and the nationally recognized ones. They also offer haunt consulting and try to make the haunted attraction industry better through all of their services.

If you want to get these guys to help you improve your Haunt or just reach out and say hi, visit The Haunt Rater website here.

Robert has also starting working on the Haunter's Association which is still in it's infancy, but he is searching for like-minded individuals who want to build a community around doing haunted attractions the right way. You can contact Robert at the Haunter's Association here.

Keeping your Haunted Attraction fresh, safe, and entertaining are just a few things you need each year to provide your customers with a great experience. Getting another experienced Haunter's point-of-view can help bring a new perspective to your venue, sometimes it takes someone from the outside looking in. Thanks Robert for taking your time chatting with HaunTopic Radio!

And don't forget we have our own Membership Community at the Haunter's Toolbox where we host monthly live online workshops to help you continue to improve your Haunted Attraction. The Haunter's Toolbox: You can become a member for FREE here.

In this podcast episode, we get Ed Roberts on to discuss what to expect at this year's West Coast Haunter's Convention in Portland, Oregon on April 13th through the 15th.

What: A haunters convention for all, whether you are a pro haunter, home haunter, or Halloween enthusiast. The West Coast Haunter's Convention is a 501(c)3 organization that gives grants to professionals who work with children with hearing impairments and/or autism.

Where: Double Tree Hotel | 1000 NE Multnomah St. | Portland, Oregon 97232

When: April 13th - 15th, 2018

Website: https://hauntersconvention.com/

Contact: [email protected]

Thanks to Philip Hernandez from the Haunted Attraction Network, Dan Doble from Haunt Collective, and Ed Roberts from the WCHC for participating in this audio conversation.

Be a HaunTopic Insider for FREE! Sign up here to know what we know. 

In this podcast episode of HaunTopic, we get Benjamin Selecky on from Vampfangs to discuss:

• How to Properly Wear Theatrical Lenses and Why You Need to Choose the Right Ones
• Why wearing faux teeth can make your scare character come to life
• The new vision he and his business partner, Alexis Abare, have for Vampfangs after their acquisition of the company.
• Celebrate 25 years of Vampfangs! (discounts are on their website)
• All of the products for Scare Actors and Haunters his company has to offer

Vampfangs Celebrates 25 Years and Announces New Ownership

Vampfangs is excited to announce that after nearly a quarter century, the Salem-born online retailer has changed ownership. Though formally announced in this podcast, the company officially changed hands in July of 2017. "We are thrilled about our recent acquisition," commented Alexis Abare and Benjamin Selecky, CEOs of Vampfangs. "It is an honor to be at the helm of such a well respected and established brand. We are excited about engaging with Vampfangs followers and are eager to receive their feedback and input. We are looking forward to bringing the same commitment to quality and personal service to Vampfangs that are at the core of our other businesses."

"This sale marks one of the biggest milestones in my life. After 25 years, it feels like I sent a child off to college," said Scott Smiledge, founder and former owner of Vampfangs. "I know that Vampfangs is in the best possible hands I could have ever hoped to find. Alexis and Ben are great friends with incredible drive, fire, and vision." "We are passionate about delivering value to our clients and customers.

Our purchase of Vampfangs has created monstrous synergy between all of our brands." says Abare. "We are committed to creating a phenomenal experience for new and returning guests and are deeply grateful to our longstanding, loyal customers who have made Vampfangs a trusted, global brand." Plans for 2018 include expanding their selection of GOTHIKA® Theatrical Contact Lenses to include custom creations as well as toric lenses for patients with astigmatism.

In addition to widening the corrective strength options on many popular styles, Vampfangs will also spearhead efforts to educate consumers on contact lens safety. "Safety of our customers is paramount. We are in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and are proud to be one of the largest sources for FDA Cleared FX contacts in the United States." commented Selecky.

About Vampfangs

Founded in Salem, Massachusetts in 1993, Vampfangs is a leading online retailer of custom fit vampire fangs, GOTHIKA® contact lenses, fragrances, and apparel. They pride themselves on exceptional customer support and offering unique, personal products. Vampfangs is proud to serve the Halloween, cosplay, vampire, gothic, occult, haunted attraction, and makeup/special effects markets.

Vampfangs is a wholly owned subsidiary of Iron Raven, Inc. and has two sister companies; Haunted Farms of America ( farmhaunts.com ), a service provider and support community for farms that produce Haunted Attractions and Agritainment; and Dark Alchemy ( shopdarkalchemy.com ), a newly launched Occult Lifestyle & Apparel Brand. For more information on Vampfangs, visit Vampfangs.com

This is a 30 minute segment of our full training we hosted on https://www.haunterstoolbox.com "Start a Haunted Attraction without spending tons of money"

Starting up your first Haunted Attraction as a business can cost you a lot of money if you don't know where to invest your hard earned cash. In this podcast episode, we give you our first 30 minutes of our hour and a half workshop we hosted on HOW and WHERE to spend your money so you can be successful each year.

Many Haunted Attractions close their doors before they get the chance to grow like they should. You DO NOT need tons of money but you do need to know the important places to put your money.

Here is the outline on what we talked about in our live training session:

• Where to spend your money in your first year open
• Cheap design ideas to look professional
• Material costs that will save you money
• Cost-effective marketing ideas for your brand
• Where to find scare actors and haunted house staff

To get this recorded training, become a HAUNT MASTER member at Haunter's Toolbox.com.

To sign up for our next live workshop, Ask the Haunt Expert Master Class, CLICK HERE.

About HAuNTcon HAuNTcon, the leading event for starting and growing haunted attractions, is a trade-only event that brings industry professionals together each year. Owned by Urban Expositions, the event provides a platform for sourcing, learning, and networking. The next event will be held in New Orleans, January 25-27, 2019. For more information, visit hauntcon.com 

Our experience at HAuNTcon 2018 in New Orleans, LA

We could smell the cajun cuisine as we entered the heart of New Orleans. A bustling city full of ghost stories and a rich history dating back to 1718. Some parts of the landscape appear to be stuck in time due to the preservation of many of the buildings. Just like we had remembered...

We have been to New Orleans several times, the last time being 2014, but never to a Haunted Attraction convention. This trip was going to be a little different for me. I had to think about travel logistics to the convention center, schedules, first-time vendor stuff, entertaining my wife (who opts out of many things Haunt related), meeting up with friends, staying safe in the French Quarter, the various food options, and maintaining enough energy for the 12 hour road trip back to Missouri on Sunday.  

Our expectations were exceeded in every way. It was easy to get to the convention with the Haunt Shuttle and the friendly Uber drivers. Once I found the check-in area and our vendor booth, the show floor was easy to navigate. The HAuNTcon management team were very organized and made sure we had everything we needed. The host hotel, Staybridge Suites, was located next to the Harrah's Casino (which my wife appreciated) and there were plenty of quality eateries close by and free breakfast. And it seemed the French Quarter was much cleaner than last time we visited.

We also appreciated the over-the-top Costume Ball that had excellent finger foods, amazing entertainment & costumes, and FREE drinks until 11:00pm! This was the first year that the party was included with your general admission ticket. And those light-up ladies dancing on the stage!! WOW.

Granted, the HAuNTcon 2018 product and vendor area is only a fraction of the size of the Halloween & Party Expo area, HAuNTcon really shines when it comes to their educational workshops and demonstrations that focus on practical advice you can implement in any haunt. And it's all included in the ticket. All-you-can-learn haunt education.

Overall we had a great experience at HAuNTcon 2018 and plan on going back next January 25-27, 2019. This was the first year that the event was produced by Urban Expositions and they plan on expanding the event next year. Now that they have their first year under their belt, they can listen to the feedback of the attendees and continue to make HAuNTcon a yearly stop on every Haunter's list.

Here are the Haunters that we chatted with:

• Nightmare Harvest
• The Pumpkin Geek
• Haunt Shirts
• Scared of Your Shadow
• Top Dog Halloween Madness
• Woodley Special Effects
• Haunted Attraction Network/Leadership Symposium
• Gantom Lighting
• Big Scary Show
• Magic Wheelchair

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If you're like us, you never get tired of stories from Haunt Season. We never get tired of talking about it. Here are the highlights from our experiences as Co-owner of the Dead Factory Haunted House (Brian Foreman) in Missouri and Manager of the Deadmonton Haunted House (Darryl Plunkie) in Canada.

Deadmonton Haunted House (Edmonton AB Canada)

"The first haunted house I've been to! Waited in line for a few hours but worth it! Actors walked around while we were in line to scare us, so awesome. The haunted house was so well done! Scared me so much, jumped so much, laughed so much. Well done!! So much fun! Well worth the price and the wait!!" -Kayla Bourgoin

"Wonderfully terrifying experience. Arrive early in the day to get a good place in line, unless you're willing to dish for speed passes. Crazy amounts of imagination go into this 45 minute plus experience. Try not to rush through, but be forewarned. . Do not walk to slowly either :/" -Kristine Lynn Bowman

Dead Factory Haunted House (Mexico, Missouri)

"I've been through the super fancy haunted houses at Halloween Horror Nights in Universal Studios - Orlando, and The Dead Factory blew those big budget houses away. The actors are superb, the scared are bone chilling, and you can feel the level of care that they put into their craft. This will most definitely become an annual tradition. A huge thanks to everyone who made this entertainment possible." -Charles Dallas Parrott

"We just got done going through the house and I am still shaking. I ran out of there as fast as I could and I am not going to have a voice tomorrow! So much fun! You can tell these guys love what they do! Awesome price awesome & people check it out!" -Claudia Holt

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