Just signed my lease, any tips for a first year pro haunt?

[fearforyourlife]

Your already discriminating against age?

You need to have a mind set that every age has money. If it's kids or young teenagers, their parents will pay. Just post a sign at the ticket booth of the younger kids warning stuff and be done with it. Don't judge the age, just take their money. And as for toning it down for younger kids, I did that for 8 years and worked out great!!! But to each their own on that one.

You might want to expand your horizon being a beginner pro haunter. You're going to need every dollar you make for it to be a successful first year.

Maybe I should broaden my range a bit, but tone it down I will not (that last part said in a yoda voice) ;P haha

[scottylmt]

Fear for your life, I think you and I may be in the same boat. Im trying to make mine as intense as possible; two reasons 1) the kiddie market is being met and 2) I went to some and was so disappointed that it made me angry lol.

Imo its the SPECIALISTS who succeed in industries, while the generalists keep it alive. Keep in mind im coming from a service industry perspective tho not entertainment... but (and im hoping some pros can chime in here) wouldn't it make sense that he makes it as bold as possible because 1) that's what he's passionate about so he'll do better and 2) he will gain a reputation faster by having a "thing" for ppl to hear about, possibly even by generating shock publicity????

For everyone my age I've interviewed, 25-30, we seem to be starved for something legitimately shocking when it comes to haunted houses. This may also just be my area too...

[fearforyourlife]

Fear for your life, I think you and I may be in the same boat. Im trying to make mine as intense as possible; two reasons 1) the kiddie market is being met and 2) I went to some and was so disappointed that it made me angry lol.

Imo its the SPECIALISTS who succeed in industries, while the generalists keep it alive. Keep in mind im coming from a service industry perspective tho not entertainment... but (and im hoping some pros can chime in here) wouldn't it make sense that he makes it as bold as possible because 1) that's what he's passionate about so he'll do better and 2) he will gain a reputation faster by having a "thing" for ppl to hear about, possibly even by generating shock publicity????

For everyone my age I've interviewed, 25-30, we seem to be starved for something legitimately shocking when it comes to haunted houses. This may also just be my area too...

Right on the money brother! I'm tired of haunted houses that are catered to the general public. Sure that is great and needed, and I'm glad their are some out there for everyone, but why can't there be houses that are catered to people that want a real scare? I think with societies obsession with Dexter, The Walking Dead etc it is abundantly clear Americans like gore. So with that I think it's time I serve up a dose of gore that will give people what they are paying to see.

Shock factor is what I want. I really think you and I are on the same wavelength on this. Are you opening this year too?

[scottylmt]

Im trying man! Spoke to the fire marshal yesterday about alarm specifics. Really i just need a location so I can get things moving. The haunt is pretty much fully conceptualized. Now im moving on graphics work and establishing a facebook presence, so things are in place for searching for volunteers.

Either way im setting up my corporation this month, and gonna start buying necessary equipment. Worst case scenario is we do a haunt at my parents house this year, and would then be able to spread some expense over two years instead; but that's only a contingency plan.

I've got a meeting with my landlord to discuss how to appeal to other landlords, and what types of deals I should propose. Im also hoping maybe I can get some other building owner names from him so I don't get ignored lol. Either way im going to call everybody and push push push!

Thanks for asking! Yeah we seem to be on the same page; if you'd like any ideas on how to make your maze really intense I've got a ton. I actually went to universal last year just to study their methods, and learned a TON of tricks regarding scare tactics and maze setup.

[nightmarezhauntedhouse]

cool theirs alot of new haunts in florida. I am trying to open one their as well. I hope we can be good competiton to universal.