Haunt Tips Archives - Page 3 of 15 - ScaryVisions: We build your Haunted House

Haunt Stories with Darryl & Brian (plus Christmas Midnight Syndicate Tunes)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:07:20 — 61.6MB)

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Where have we been??

Deep in Haunt madness and Halloween overload! With me (Brian Foreman) opening a new Haunted Attraction this year called The Dead Factory and Darryl Plunkie scare acting most of October…we kinda got locked into ‘Haunter Tunnel Vision’. But now we’re back. And we got some Haunt Stories to tell….

dead factory haunted house-haunt stories — (My New Haunt in Mexico, Missouri)

With many benefits to you as a HaunTopic Radio listener because we will share our experience and lessons learned along this podcast and throughout many more episodes. We even had to split this episode into two parts just to squeeze in our Haunt Stories from this Haunt Season!

In this episode, we discuss my journey on Starting a Haunted Attraction and what I learned this first year. We discuss Darryl’s Scare Acting Principles to Live By and How Not to Burn Out before October is over. And what we plan on doing at our Haunts for next Haunt season.

And we play some Christmas Tunes from Midnight Syndicate’s new CD: Christmas A Ghostly Gathering.

This new CD features the band’s unique twist on classic holiday carols blended with new and original material.

“Our goal was to treat each song in a way that would merge familiarity with originality,” said Gavin Goska. “There are definitely recognizable elements, but plenty of additional original material as well. It also incorporates the widest instrument palette we’ve used to date and represents what we consider to be the most varied collection of songs we’ve ever released. There are serenely beautiful moments along more intense, darker tracks, and the end result is a thoroughly compelling and involving listening experience.”

“With so many Christmas-themed albums out there, we wanted to make this collection uniquely our own,” added Edward Douglas. “I think we were able to do that.” (To buy this new CD go to MidnightSyndicate.com)

Listen to our podcast to hear 3 mystery tracks from Christmas A Ghostly Gathering! Listen Here.

deadmonton haunted house-haunt stories — (Darryl’s home during October. Deadmonton Haunted House.)

Create a Custom Video for Your Haunted House with Chris Conlon from Venom VFX

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:43:30 — 94.8MB)

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Using video for your Haunted House or Haunted Attraction is a priority with today’s electronic devices and social media channels. ‘Coming Soon’ trailers, Hi-Definition Videos for your marketing, and Documentary-style on location videos are popular with today’s top haunted attractions. Your customers want to see pictures and video of your attraction before they go. They want social proof that your show is the best one to spend money at. Having an updated professional looking website to put everything together is still a requirement.

We interview Chris Conlon from Venom VFX, a visual effects & prop controller company, about how to capture the best moments in your show and create a custom video for you to show off your Haunt. Venom VFX can make custom HD video trailers, television commercials, introduction videos, video documentaries, websites, logos, prop controllers, and much more. We also discuss Scare Acting, Ways To Improve Your Haunt, and some secret information on McKamey Manor!

If you are reading this before May 31, 2015…USE CODE ‘MHC’ TO GET 15% OFF at VenomVFX.COM

We also include a list of a few Haunt conventions/shows coming up, Me & Darryl discuss a few horror stories from the past, we play some twisted tunes from Sam Haynes new CD “The Incredible Dark Carnival”, and drop some more gory nuggets throughout the podcast.

So if you’re in need for a short introduction high definition video for your Haunt, a custom logo/website, or a prop controller….give Venom VFX a try.

But the real question…….Are you using video in your Haunt Marketing???

Haunt Topics in this Podcast Episode

We’ll Scare Ya Next Time!!!

Phobia13 Trailer by Venom VFX

How To Use Sound in Your Haunt with Ken Webster from Sinful Audio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 46:56 — 43.0MB)

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Creating an immersive environment for your Haunted House is very important. Using sound and audio effects within your attraction can make your attendees feel that they are actually somewhere else. Sound taps into one of your five senses and adds to the overall impact of your show. You wouldn’t operate your haunt without lighting….you shouldn’t open your show without having a believable audio atmosphere.

Sinful Audio creates audio sound effects and custom soundtracks for Haunted Attractions and horror movies. We interview Ken Webster from Sinful Audio and get some tips on adding an audible experience to your haunted house. You can also purchase Ken’s sound effects that he has listed on his website or hire Ken to create a custom soundtrack just for your haunted event. We also play a few samples from Ken’s audio library of creepiness….so make sure you tune in.

We also have an exclusive interview with Kelsey Meeks founder of Ween Dream straight from theTransworld Halloween & Attractions Show. Ween Dream is a non-profit organization that provides costumes to children who can’t afford to go out on Halloween or who are limited by their physical and mental abilities. Yes…there are children out there that have never trick-or-treated before. Take a few of your extra costumes and donate them to a great cause!

We also throw in some twisted tunes and sound effects from Sinful Audio. A few free creepy audible environments and sound bytes that you can use in your haunt this year. Still make sure you check out Ken’s website and purchase a few compilations of your own. He has new soundtracks coming out this year.

Haunt Topics in this podcast episode:

We hope you enjoy this audio podcast of HaunTopic Radio and take advantage of all the sound resources around you. Create a great audio atmosphere for your Haunted House this year and donate some of your costumes to children who need to experience Halloween for the first time.

…..and we’ll Scare Ya Next Time!

Designing Knotts Scary Farm with Jon Cooke (and a Transworld Show Update)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:39 — 49.1MB)

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Designing and building a Haunted Attraction is challenging. So how does one manage “160 Acres of Horror”??

Jonathan Cooke, one of the masterminds at Knotts Scary Farm, joins us in this episode of HaunTopic Radio and shares some of his creativity and ideas for operating such a huge event at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. Every year Knott’s turns their entire amusement park into darkly themed scare attractions. (Yes…that means tearing down and setting up each year. 160 acres!)

Knotts Scary Farm, aka Halloween Haunt, started back in 1973 as a 3 day attraction and now has become a very popular month long event. One not to miss.

Jennifer Braverman, event coordinator and owner of the Transworld Halloween & Attractions Show, also stops by to fill us in on the new stuff going on at the trade show this year. New FREE meeting rooms for Haunters, hotel arrangements, new registration packages, and more!

The Transworld Halloween & Attractions Show is hosted in St.Louis, Missouri on March 19-23 and attracts Haunted Attraction owners, theme park designers, and Halloween enthusiasts as well. However, Transworld is geared more as a trade show for buyers and serious Haunters.

We play some twisted tunes from the horror masters Midnight Syndicate and cover some tips in finding a location for your Haunted Attraction in this episode’s Haunter’s Toolbox. If you’re looking for ideas and steps to find a property for your Haunt, this online seminar may help. Location. Location! How to find the perfect spot for your Haunted Attraction.

Haunt Topics in this episode:

So… go visit Knott’s Scary Farm in Bueno Park, CA one October. Make sure to attend the Transworld Halloween & Attractions show or another Haunt Show somewhere. And always strive to be a better haunter in your journey and continue to learn everything you can along the way.

We’ll scare ya later!!

[Free Training] 13 Fears of a Haunt Owner: Survival Tips from Haunted Attraction Owners

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:17:33 — 106.5MB)

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Is the fear of owning and operating your own Haunted House holding you back? What do you really need to know before you go into the Haunted Attraction Business?

These survival tips from professional haunt owners will help take some of the fear out of your mind. At least you will feel that you are not alone. I combine my experience as a Haunt Owner and my survey results of over 500 Haunt Owners in this online training seminar.

[This is the audio recording of our LIVE WEBINAR plus a few extras thrown in.]

Here are the ’13 Fears’ I discuss in this podcast:

Motivation to Keep Going
Time Management
Finding Reliable Help
Choosing the Right Location
Codes/Permits/Safety
Money & Funding
Community & Social Acceptance
Theme & Back Story
Managing Employees & Volunteers
Marketing/Advertising/Sponsors
Ticketing & Queue Line Efficiency
Competition
Customer Service & Bad Reviews

I also discuss 3 ways to overcome each fear. And many attendee questions answered during our seminar. This free training is great for those who are thinking about starting a Haunted Attraction or Haunt Owners who are looking for ways to take their Haunted House to the next level.

Learn more about our upcoming LIVE WEBINAR on finding the perfect location for your Haunted House Learn More About Our Location Webinar

We play some more tunes from Sam Haynes and announce the winners of 5 of his CDs listed below. Buy music from Sam here.

The winners of one of Sam’s Digital Downloads of “Spine Chillers” are:

Wesley Hubbard
Head Haunter
Roger Grund
Mary Fetner
John Ficht

If you want a chance to win more prizes & get our updates in your email…Subscribe Here

Hope you enjoy the audio seminar and We’ll Scare YA Next time!