The haunted house season comes in cycles starting with the end of Halloween which starts the new year where vendors build new products and haunters plan new scares!  Every March the major tradeshow occurs where buyers buy and sellers sell new masks, zombies, monsters, animations and special fx.  The tradeshow is over and now the haunt industry has entered PHASE TWO!   Phase one is the period between the end of Halloween and the Tradeshow, where haunters close down their haunts, plan and prepare for what is next.  PHASE TWO is after the tradeshow where haunt owners have purchased new products and are now focused on rebuilding their haunted attractions for the following Halloween season. 

What should haunted house owners do during PHASE TWO?  FOCUS on marketing your haunted house get the jump on your competition!  Look at doing events to promote and build your brand.  Ramp up the promotions of your haunted house thru you blogs, social media and mass emails.  Don't allow your customers to believe you are a part time business, inform them of all the exciting things you are doing between closing your haunt and opening your haunt again.  PHASE TWO is an important phase as most haunted house owners really start to plan new scenes, new haunts, or some prepare to open their haunted house for the first time.

PHASE THREE is the stretch run from June to September and probably the busiest phase for any and all haunted house owners.  During PHASE THREE haunters are working sometimes seven days a week to get their haunted house open.  Everything happens during PHASE THREE from hiring actors, placing advertisement, sponsorships, inspections, to finally opening your haunted house.  Clearly PHASE FOUR is operation of your haunted house.  Some would think this is the toughest phase when in fact without any question the time when haunters are the busiest is PHASE THREE!.  Make PHASE THREE easier but moving up time tables into PHASE TWO such as start laying out marketing, run smaller crews and get foundations laid NOW for improvements to your attractions.
 

If you plan on finding sponsorship for your haunted house you should have ALREADY STARTED.   In the old days I think most haunters would start working on their haunted house in the handful of months prior to the season starting.  If your haunted house will be a success you must make sure you stay in touch with your client base but begin the process to re-open your haunted house the day after the Halloween Tradeshows are over.  FOCUS on making yourself goals to improve your business.  What will it take to gain an additional 5 to 10,000 new guests?  What will it take to make your haunted house one of the best in your market, then your state, your region and maybe one day the entire country.  Setting goals and trying to achieve them is key!

Subscribe to Hauntworld Magazine and we'll help you achieve your goals. The next magazine will release in late June!  Lastly never forget that a haunted house is ENTERTAINMENT first and foremost.  Watch this video of something we are adding to The Darkness to help build social media awareness.  Always be prepared to think outside the box, what can you do to get your customers taking pictures, videos, at your event then in turn sharing them on social media?  Also for another boost make sure to attend the Midwest Haunters Convention May 29-31 in Columbus Ohio http://www.midwesthauntersconvention.com/