Here are some of my favorite podcasts and radio shows for my haunting fix. Podcasts and radio shows can be downloaded and put on your phone, iPod, MP3 player, or you can listen to them when you’re surfing the web. Take a few minutes and check these audios out!
HauntCast – Chris Baker and the minions provide Halloween Goodness with a lot of personality and humor. Geared mainly for Home Haunters but excellent information for all Haunters. Each podcast comes out once a month and is packed with interviews, meet and greets, prop tutorials, and a new band from the horror music genre. Say hi to Skully and Grimlock for me.
Rotting Flesh Radio – Jonathan Johnson and the deadites bring you current Haunt Industry news, Haunted Attraction testimonials, and interviews with the people in the horror and haunt industries. Mixed in with Halloween music to keep you inspired all year long. Currently I couldn’t find the archive section of the past shows, but the link above will take you to the most recent one. I use iTunes and search for RFR Podcast. Sit back and rot away…
Scare House – Scott Simmons from Scare House Haunted House provides a behind-the-scenes view on operating a Haunted Attraction, the people behind it all, and some great visions for your Haunted House. If you want some ideas for your Haunt business, you gotta check this one out!
Halloween Haunt – The Halloween Haunter gets you educated on the History Of Halloween, creepy poems, stories of the dead, and a variety of topics from the dark and sinister. He only does this podcast through October and has years of older episodes to keep you in the mood.
Haunted Radio – A hidden resource for many of my haunt friends. Who else has listened to this radio show? I’m not sure why I keep forgetting about Haunted Radio. I’m definitely adding it to my weekly list of haunt podcasts! Go check it out and tell me what you think?
If you have any more podcasts or radio shows you listen to, add a comment below and share your info with other scary people like you!
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Who would have thought dressing up 24 years ago as Elvira and a Monster during Halloween Trick or Treating would have evolved into owning and operating a year round Haunted House recognized as one of Americas Best Haunts? Bill & Jayme Criscione, owners of Ghostly Manor Thrill Center in Sandusky Ohio didn’t get there overnight. In fact, opening night for Ghostly Manor was on a Thursday night in September of 2001 … not a good time for a Haunted House advertising terror, horror and fear.
Founded in 2001, Ghostly Manor Thrill Center is an indoor, multi-attraction family entertainment center, dedicated to providing safe, thrilling entertainment at minimal cost to patrons. Located three miles away from Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, Ghostly Manor Thrill Center is open all year round. Their attractions include the nationally ranked walk-through haunted house, Ohio’s first and only XD 4D Motion Theater, birthday parties as well as roller skating at Skateworld, and the Wizards Journey a 3D interactive black light Mini Golf course.
The Crisciones were transferred to Sandusky, Oh in 1987. Bill worked for Pillsbury and ran a grain export facility in Huron, Oh. Their two children Jenae and Billy were 5 & 4 years old at the time. During the Halloween season the Crisciones always dressed up and greeted the local “Trick or Treaters” in costume with spooky music in the background.
As the years progressed the Crisciones gradually purchased many Halloween items and started providing some scary entertainment for visitors. One of the early “scares” included Bill sitting near the door motionless on a bale of straw dressed as a monster. As Jayme (dressed as Elvira) started passing out the candy, Bill would slowly stand. The rest was history. Needless to say there was always candy left over at the end of the night.
In the mid 90’s the Halloween show and crowd grew to the point where people started walking through the Crisciones home haunt. Many props and scenes were set up both indoors and out. Many of their friends would help as actors and at the end of the night everyone celebrated with a Halloween party. 10 actors were used and they entertained approximately 500 people in two nights. The Crisciones had a great time putting on the show but it was a lot of work setting up and tearing down each year.
In 2001 the Skateworld property (4 acres & 27,000 sq ft building) was purchased, both as an investment and for a location to build a permanent Haunted House. By the year 2001, the Crisciones had already been purchasing many different props as well as attending the annual National Halloween Show for several years. During the show they met many people in the industry across the U.S. and received a lot of help and ideas. By that time they had a good idea of what was needed to open a commercial for-profit haunt. They started building Ghostly Manor inside the Skateworld skating rink that summer. The laser tag area was gutted and the Ghostly Manor Haunted House officially opened its’ doors in September of 2001. September 2001 was not a good time to open a haunt due to 9/11. Because of sound financial planning, they were able to survive that first year even though the numbers were low. During that first season Ghostly Manor was only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s in late September and October. The admission price was $10 and attendance was only several thousand people.
Sandusky, Oh is best known for Cedar Point, one of the best roller coaster amusement parks in the world. 9 million people visit the area during the summer. The Crisciones hoped they could tap into some of that vacation crowd. The layout of Ghostly Manor is unique in that efficiency was a priority during its’ design. They needed to provide a quality experience without the expense of many actors. Bill came up with the idea of a central corridor system that allows actors to move throughout the haunt with ease and interact with the customers in every room. The designed flow continually brings the patrons back to the central corridor where the actors are lurking. The whole haunt can be up and running in 5 minutes and can provide a great show with just one actor if needed. All this efficiency and high tech monsters comes at a price though. The Crisciones estimate they’ve probably invested close to $750,000 their “hobby”.
The Ghostly Manor theme is that of an old haunted mansion. As the patrons enter, a door opens to the parlor. They proceed through the mansion just as it would be in an old house. The mansion contains many rooms that include a bedroom, bathroom, nursery, dining room, kitchen, den, library as well as many more. Each room in Ghostly Manor can “scare” from multiple locations. The scares come from places where it’s least expected and the action starts as soon as the door closes. Ghostly Manor is 7000 sq ft of very high-startle, non-stop action. Many haunted houses rely primarily on actors. Ghostly Manor goes that extra step and has combined a large amount of state of the art props with live actors. Because the haunt is open year round, detail sets them apart from many of the seasonal attractions. During the October Halloween season they may employ as many as 75 to staff the production.
Almost all of the props in Ghostly Manor are original creations. Most of the props were designed and built in Columbus, Oh by The Scarefactory. The Scarefactory is one of the largest suppliers in the U.S. to the haunted attraction industry. The Scarefactory combines the latest in high tech pneumatics with quality character design.
Ghostly Manor Thrill Center is open year round. They are open noon daily and closing hours vary during the season. Admission is $11 for adults (10 & older), $7 for children (under 10). Although Ghostly Manor is not recommended for children 9 and under, during the non-Halloween season they can normally tone the experience down so all ages can enjoy their visit. Group rates are available and they will open any time by appointment for groups of 20 or more.
Each year since opening they have added the “latest and greatest” in scares as well as more detail in set design. This year will be no different. They guarantee this will be one of the best Haunted Houses you have ever seen. That claim can be backed up by the fact that Ghostly Manor has received national recognition from the likes of The Travel Channel and Rand McNally’s Top 10 Haunts list for 2010. Ghostly Manor was also selected as one of America’s Best Haunts for 2011 and the Darkride and Funhouse Enthusiasts has ranked Ghostly Manor as one of their Top Ten Favorite Walkthrough Attractions six years in a row. Ghostly Manor is also very safety conscious which keeps their insurance company happy. Their actors DO NOT touch anyone and they have video cameras set up throughout the haunt to constantly monitor and record all activities.
Dialogue and theatrics are the best you’ll experience anywhere…great decor..houses the best acting we’ve seen in two years! – Ohio Valley Haunts
It’s been more than 25 years since a haunted attraction operated in the Dublin area. The Scare-A-Torium, one of the scariest Halloween haunted attractions in Ohio, has relocated to the Dublin Village Center south of I-270 and Sawmill Road. The Scare-A-Torium provides two attractions with more than 50 creative scenes with a support staff of 80 actors, makeup artists and safety personnel.
The last haunt in Dublin was operated by the Jaycees. They used to operate in old schools and abandoned houses, but requirements for sprinkler systems and costly safety features forced many of them to close. Haunted attractions have evolved in many ways to entertain guests in a safe manner. Also the appearance and performance of entertainers has changed with special effects makeup and custom characters.
The Scare-A-Torium, housed in the 31,000 square foot Dublin Village Center space, will offer the ultimate in fright-entertainment. The Scare-A-Torium formerly operated for two years at Karl Road and Rt 161 in a former Big Bear grocery store space. “The haunt received rave reviews from haunt teams that traveled throughout the Ohio Valley. We were rated # 1 in acting, costuming and makeup by the Ohio Valley Haunt Reviewer. They visited over 80 attractions last year we’re thrilled they voted us the best,” boasted Kelly Collins, the mastermind and haunted industry veteran behind the attraction. He continues, “We have a solid team of performers and we’ve been holding training sessions on makeup and acting year round.”
“With the new location in Dublin; we’ve added more scenes and created an awesome castle entrance that will be visible through large windows from the parking lot” added Collins. “Our new location offers lots of free parking and is easily accessible from the Outer belt, Dublin Granville Road, Riverside Drive and Sawmill Road.”
The Scare-A-Torium includes two haunted attractions and they’ll be open Thursday through Sunday nights during the month of October. The Scare-A-Torium is a collection of fears from around the world with a second attraction; RIP’s Funhouse; creating one of the largest haunted attractions in central Ohio.
The Scare-A-Torium is a very frightening experience and it is not recommended for small children, but special Family Friendly tours are offered in October on Sunday afternoons from 4:30 – 7:00 pm for families. Kids 12 and under are admitted for just $1 with a special $7 adult admission ticket purchase. The overhead lights are on, the sounds are on, but there won’t be any monsters in there to frighten them. Members of the Ghost Busters of Columbus and non-scary performers will assist as tour guides during the Lights-on tours. A portion of proceeds is donated to local community organizations.
The Scare-A-Torium Haunted Attraction is located in the Dublin Village Center at 6765 Dublin Center Drive in Dublin, Ohio, 43017; immediately South and East off I-270 and Sawmill Road near the Dublin AMC 18 Movie Theater. Please visit www.ColumbusHauntedHouse.com for more information, ticket times and pricing.
For interviews, press passes, and more information contact: Kelly Collins 614-203-4626 or here:
It’s 7:30 pm…5 actors are here…30 minutes before show time. Now we just need 10 more actors to fill every assigned spot. Are they going to show? I know it’s Saturday night and they’re teenagers; but they should still be here like they said two weeks ago.
7:45pm…
We’ve all been there. That mysterious place between confidence and worry. Hoping your team arrives when they are supposed to. Trusting them to be as passionate as you are about this sport of chasing the scare. But the truth is- if you are the one building the home haunt, directing the big haunt, or being a leader in your choice of dark creation-then you probably have more invested in this than they do. Don’t get me wrong. There are many passionate haunters out there; it’s just different when you’re the owner and leader of the haunt.
So where do you find quality people? And how do you keep them from burning out too soon and keep them around for next year?
Here are a few ideas you can try and implement with your staff, actors, volunteers, and crew members. If you have any good ideas, please share them in a comment below.
RECRUITMENT
Social Media – This is the most important time to utilize all the contacts that you have. Your local friends on Facebook. You can narrow down your twitter list to find local haunters and Halloween junkies. Check your email contact list for people you have forgotten about. Think about any application where you have a friend or contact and reach out to them.
Pick Up The Phone – Go through your phone contacts and search your old friends. Who has helped before or would make good scare actor. Maybe they can help out with the line or repairs. Most of your friends would be willing if you just ask.
Classifieds and Craigslist – You can write out a scary themed “Wanted” ad to get some attention from the locals. If you write a print-ready press release to your local newspaper they might just put in on the front page. It has to be something they think the readers would want to hear about. Use your story as what makes your situation unique. “We are a charity haunt for….” “We have used 90% recycled materials from the neighborhood…” People want to be part of something bigger than themselves. The same rules apply for Craigslist.
Stopping Strangers – Yes. I admit it. I have used this one. And have been accurate most of the time. I only use this one as a last resort. We kind of know others who might be interested in dark and scary things. Look for tattoos, piercings, heavy metal t-shirts, dark make-up, Halloween jewelry, and use your instincts. Now I’m not saying that all haunters look like this and vice versa; just that this technique works for me.
KEEPING THEM AROUND
Have a hiring process – Set up certain criteria for helpers when working at your haunt. Even an audition if they are acting. Even if you are short of help, you don’t want someone there who is going to be unsafe or disruptive. Be up front with your rules and let them know of the consequences. This will also keep everyone with the same goals in mind.
Age Does Matter – Kids 16 or younger have difficult time getting rides. Set up a car pool for everyone. Pay for the gas. Try to have an adult with children under 16 because having many kids equals spontaneous laughter and talking. I usually have lots of candy for my little helpers.
Use your veteran helpers – The old trustees can help you train, recruit, and supervise the newbies. Treat them well and you’ll have back-up for life. Give them cooler t-shirts than the rest of the crew. If you are making a profit, pay them more. They are your commanders-treat them as such.
Reward Good Behavior – People are driven by rewards and power. Set up contests before the season. A $200 prop for “Best Actor”. Free badges or different t-shirts for perfect attendance. Everyone who makes it through the season will get to go to the annual trip to Transworld. Make it tasty.
Make Them Comfortable – The more relaxed they are the more they will want to stay. Have a neutral area where they can relax and take a break. Keep refreshments and snacks on hand. We usually fed everyone before we started each night. If you have enough actors, rotate them out to keep them from getting burnt out. Check on them and see what they need. Make sure they have the right tools, flashlights, chairs for sitting, and are feeling like family. Make sure they have what you have.
Communicate – The worst thing for an actor sitting in a dark corner is wondering if there is another group coming through or if they are just curled up in a ball for no reason. Have a way to communicate the flow of the line and what’s going on. I’ve used walkie talkies for group leaders and air horns for checkpoints. Once the horn blows everyone has a time-for-action.
Show Appreciation – Just by saying “You were awesome when that one girl came around that corner” or “Where did you learn to act like that?” Say “Thank You” and show that you are interested in them and they will keep coming back.
I know there are many more ways to skin a cat so if you have anymore good ideas to add, please comment below. If you want more exclusive content and be the first in line for new products, please subscribe to my list and I’ll send you some cool stuff.
September 22, 2010….my very first post as a blogger. I was listening to a few podcasts that were guiding me to the interesting journey as a hobby blogger; not sure where the road was going to lead me. As I brainstormed for my first word….nothing was coming out. No ideas. No topics. No direction. I had no blog and no idea what I wanted to share with the world.
I consider myself more of an introvert with extroverted tendencies. I never enjoyed public speaking but I enjoy mingling in a crowd. My idea of a good time would be sitting inside the house reading a good book or doing something online. I also enjoy vacations with the family and social gatherings. But what could I write about that would help others and tap into my creative passion?
The realm of Dark and Scary!
One year later. I have met many honest people and gained many friends. I have learned how to create websites, a little bit about internet business and social media, and found a topic that I can spend hours researching and never get tired of it. I have learned quite a bit more about the horror, haunt, and Halloween industries. And I dove head first into realms of the paranormal, dark art, and artisans of the Halloween trade. There are lots and lots of dark creative people out there!
As a gift to you for my 1 year birthday of ScaryVisions.com; here is my very first post I wrote a year ago and a few of my earliest posts that you may have never seen. Enjoy!
As I sing: Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you…
Remember when: My very first post and a few classic Halloween cartoon to get you in the mood.
Here are some of my favorite podcasts and radio shows for my haunting fix. Podcasts and radio shows can be downloaded and put on your phone, iPod, MP3 player, or you can listen to them when you’re surfing the web. Take a few minutes and check these audios out!
It’s 7:30 pm…5 actors are here…30 minutes before show time. Now we just need 10 more actors to fill every assigned spot. Are they going to show? I know it’s Saturday night and they’re teenagers; but they should still be here like they said two weeks ago.