Halloween is quickly becoming a major money maker for more and more entertainment venues. Done correctly a Halloween event can inject additional revenues during a lackluster time of year. Expanding not only the season of some parks, but bringing in an expanded cliental and broaden your market. This comprehensive overview seminar covers the various concerns related to starting a October seasonal event. Costs and budgeting will be covered as well as how to maximize income by using a “Multiple Element” approach to the Haunted event, and the different types of elements are effective. How to purchase or lease used Haunted Attractions will be covered as well as tricks and tips on building your own attraction for the high throughput and high effectiveness required in today’s market. Also discussed are creative places to find space in the park for installing attractions, and what kinds of permitting and the codes required for operation. Safety for both public and employee actors will covered as well as security needs to minimize injury and eliminate insurance claims. Aspects of Attraction Design will be discussed including different styles of Haunted Attractions and comparisons between high startle design and theatrical, and the difference between Hay Rides and Walk-Through Haunts. Sponsorship opportunities, and how and where to advertise for the most effect and will be discussed, as well as operation issues including staffing, ticket sales and pricing strategies will be covered. This seminar is a must attend for anyone considering adding a Halloween event to their facility, or for anyone who has already taken the steps toward expanding their season and clientele with an October seasonal Haunted Attraction.

1. Adding A Halloween Event
To Your Facility!
A comprehensive overview of concerns relating to
a “first time” October seasonal production at an
FEC or Amusement Park.
By Leonard Pickel of
Hauntrepreneurs®
Haunted Attraction
Design and Consulting
972-951-5100
hauntrepreneurs@gmail.com
www.hauntrepreneursl.com

2. Why Halloween?
- Expanded Season
- A New Clientele
- Ancillary Sales
- Good PR
- Increased Income

3. AMUSEMENT TODAY
Playland's Fright Nights shows have record year
(NOV 9; 11:02 AM)
Fright Nights at the PNE, held for eighteen consecutive nights at the PNE’s Playland Amusement
Park, surpassed company expectations for both attendance and revenues in this the third year of
this event.
“We’re fortunate to have been able to successfully develop a product that has significant appeal
to the post trick-or-treat market,” says the PNE’s President and CEO Michael McDaniel.
Fright Nights attendance topped 63,000 guests, a 58 percent increase over the 2004 numbers.
Gross revenues surpassed $1.3 million – making Fright Nights one of the leading Halloween
events in the country.
“Our goal for 2006 will be to continue the upward momentum of this product,” said McDaniel.
“We are already planning on expanding the number of haunted houses as well as the overall
footprint of Fright Nights. We are also exploring creative ways to increase attendance on non-
peak weekday nights, thereby relieving capacity issues on the weekends.”
Fright Nights featured unlimited access to five haunted houses, a huge haunted maze and five of
Playland’s most popular thrill rides including its historic Wooden Roller Coaster. The park was
completely themed in Halloween scenes and a cast of 167 live actors provided the “thrills” for
guests.
Copyright 2005 Amusement Today. All rights reserved.

4. Event Master Planning
 Multiple Element
- Increase Ticket Price
- Greater Perceived Value
- Ancillary Sales
- More to Promote

5. Event Master Planning
 Types of Elements
- Haunted Trail (Outdoor)
- Haunted Hayride (Outdoor)
- Haunted House
(Building or Tent)
- Stage Show
- Themed Games
- Museum

6. Event Master Planning
Hay Ride vs. Haunted House
- Younger and Older - Teenage Age Group
- Less Expense - Weather Protection
- Fewer Code Restrictions - Sprinkler & Fire Alarm
- Harder to get Insurance - Safer Attraction

7. Permitting and Codes
 Special Event Permit
- Post Construction Inspection
- No Building Permit
- Codes Still Apply

8. Permitting and Codes
 Building Permit
- Emergency Lighting and Exit Signage
- Fire Alarm with Hard Wired Smoke Detection
- Sprinkler System
- Non-Flammable
Materials
- “Confusing Lights
and Sound”

9. Permitting and Codes
 Working With City
Officials
- Apply For Permit
- Plan Review
- Building Permit
- Inspections
Fire Marshal
Electircal
Health
Plumbing
HVAC
- Certificate Of Occupancy

10. Create a Working Plan
 Admission Price
- Competitor’s Prices
- Theater Prices
- Discounts
- Fast Pass
- VIP Tickets
- Online Ticket Sales

11. Create a Working Plan
 Construction Costs
- Building your own Attractions
- Purchasing Attractions
New
Used

12. Create a Working Plan
 Advertising
The most important piece of the Haunting Puzzle
– Where to Advertise
Web Site – (Start Now!)
Ticket Sales
Coupon
Radio
Billboards
Signage – (Start Now!)
– When to Advertise

13. Create a Working Plan
 Operational Costs
- Increased Staffing
Actors
Ticket Sellers
Ticket Takers
Security
Maintenance
- Costuming
- Mask vs. Makeup

14. Attraction Design
 Safety First
- Actor Separation
No Touching
No Hand Props
- Security
“The Rules”
 Insurance
- No Moving Floors
- No Grab Machines

15. Attraction Design
 Storyline
- The Reason for Existence
- History
- Character Development
- Theme

16. Attraction Design
 Effectiveness
- Scare Factor
Timing
Surprise
Darkness
- Entertainment Factor

17. Attraction Design
 John Burton’s 3 types of Scares
1) Visible Scare - A scare you can see and know is
coming, but you jump anyway.
2) Invisible Scare - A scare that you have no idea is
coming.
3) Visible Invisible Scare - A scare that you can see, but
had no idea it was going to scare you.

18. Attraction Design
 Throughput
- Multi-Impact Points
- Scare-Forward
- High Startle
- Low Theatrics

19. Attraction Design
 Things to avoid
- Display Style Attraction (Handrails)
- Guided Tour
- Child’s Haunt
- Offensive Themes
- Licensed Characters

20. Conclusion
 Do Your Homework
- Attend Gatherings and Conventions
- Experience Other Shows
- Subscribe To Magazines
- Buy Books
 Think Outside of the
Coffin
 Have Fun

21. Resources and Further Information
Haunted Attraction National Tradeshow and Convention (HAuNTcon)
972-951-5100 www.hauntcon.com
Hauntrepreneurs® - Haunt Design and Consulting Firm
972-951-5100 www.hauntrepreneurs.com
Sinister Visions - Haunting Web Design
312-952-1832 www.sinistervisions.com
Haunted Attraction Magazine – Trade Publication for the Industry
704-366-0875 www.hauntedattraction.com

22. Leonard Pickel
972-951-5100
hauntrepreneurs@gmail.com
www.hauntrepreneursl.com