HaunTopic Radio: Haunted Attractions | Haunted Houses | Halloween | Haunters

Brian Foreman & Darryl Plunkie: Haunters, Scare Actors, Haunt Owners
  • 4.6 (46)
  • Performing Arts
  • Updated Bimonthly

Have you always wanted to know what goes on behind the scenes of Haunted Attractions, Scare Attractions, and Halloween? We tell those stories here! We capture the stories of the people behind the scary events and share tips along the way on HOW YOU can make your own Haunted House scary and effective...without spending lots of money to do it. We've done it and are still doing it. Join us, Brian Foreman and Darryl Plunkie, as we pick the brains of the professionals that make up the Haunted Attraction Industry!

  1. 2d ago

    Haunt Insurance & Liabilities: Are You Covered? with Craig Watt

    HAUNT INSURANCE: KNOW WHAT YOU'RE REALLY COVERED FOR   Insurance can be one of the most confusing — and most important — parts of running a haunted attraction.   Join us & Craig Watt of Terror Isle for an in-depth discussion on haunt insurance, liability, risk management, and how to protect your attraction.   Craig brings a unique perspective to the conversation. He has years of experience as an insurance agent and is also a haunted attraction owner, giving him firsthand knowledge of both sides of the industry.   WHAT WE'LL COVER:   KNOW YOUR COVERAGE Understand what your general liability policy is designed to cover and where the gaps may be.   KNOW YOUR EXCLUSIONS Learn about common policy exclusions, including assault and battery, and why understanding the fine print matters.   PROTECT YOUR EMPLOYEES Employee training, no-touch policies, documentation, and practical ways to reduce unnecessary risk.   LIMIT YOUR LIABILITY Waivers, customer interactions, security, incident prevention, and other steps that can help protect your business.   DOCUMENT EVERYTHING Incident reports, employee training, video surveillance, records, and why good documentation matters when something goes wrong.   PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS Take a bigger-picture look at insurance, risk management, and the steps you can take to protect the attraction you've worked so hard to build.   ABOUT CRAIG WATT Craig Watt is the owner of Terror Isle and an experienced insurance agent who understands the unique challenges haunted attractions face. This isn't simply an insurance presentation from someone outside the industry. Craig knows the haunt business inside and out.   Whether you're a first-year haunt owner or you've been doing this for decades, you won't want to miss this presentation.   IMPORTANT: This presentation is for educational and informational purposes. Insurance coverage varies by carrier and policy, and laws vary by state. This presentation is not legal advice or a substitute for advice from your insurance professional or attorney.   Hosted by: HauntersToolbox.com & TerrorIsle.com

  2. Sep 27

    Facebook Marketing For Haunts with Matt Kremer

    Learn how to build Facebook ad campaigns that generate more ticket sales while reducing wasted ad spend. Whether you're opening your first haunt or growing an established attraction, this session is packed with practical tips you can use immediately.   Want to sell more tickets this Halloween without wasting money on Facebook ads? Join Matt Kremer, founder of Scary Good Ticketing and co-founder of Forsaken Souls Haunted Attraction, as he shares the strategies behind successful Meta advertising for haunted attractions.   In this session, you'll learn how to use Facebook Ads Manager the right way, understand the Meta Pixel, avoid common mistakes that cost haunt owners money, and build campaigns that attract more customers. Whether you're new to Facebook advertising or looking to improve your current results, this session will give you practical, actionable advice you can implement this season.   You'll leave with a better understanding of how Facebook advertising works and how to make every advertising dollar count.   Hosted by: HauntersToolbox.com & ScaryGood.com Merit Badges & Awards for Haunters: ScareItBadges.com

  3. Aug 8

    Building BIG Scares With a tiny Budget

    Not every haunted attraction has a Hollywood budget—but that doesn't mean you can't deliver a world-class experience.   This Master Class is all about maximizing creativity while minimizing costs. We'll cover practical techniques for building an impressive haunt without emptying your wallet, including:    Using lighting to elevate simple scenery  Finding affordable and reclaimed building materials  Creating reusable scenic elements that last for years  Leveraging actors, sound, and scent to sell the illusion  Using forced perspective to make small spaces feel larger  Knowing where to spend your money—and where to save it   The truth is, guests don't remember how much you spent. They remember how you made them feel.   Whether you're planning your first haunted attraction or looking to get more out of your budget this season, this class is packed with real-world advice you can put to work immediately Start your own haunted attraction on a budget: HauntersToolbox.com Get award badges for your haunt staff & scare actors: ScareItBadges.com   5OiwE495on5PPNp6Zljy

  4. Jun 28

    Hire HAUNT employees the right way. Don't make these mistakes!

    Haunt Owner/Operators & Hiring Managers   Is your attraction asking illegal or high‑risk questions on your job application?   Questions about age, allergies, T‑shirt sizes, or medical information may seem harmless—but when asked at the wrong stage of the hiring process, they can create real compliance issues for haunts.   Dave Ferrier of FearSchool.com is teaming up with Justin Blackburn of Sithon.io to break this down in a practical, haunt‑specific way:   Which questions should never appear on hiring applications? Which questions are allowed later in the process—and why timing matters? How can haunts protect themselves and their actors while still hiring effectively? Sithon will also demonstrate how their compliance engine can automatically flag risky questions before they ever go live on a job form.   This session draws on real‑world haunt hiring and training experience—not generic HR theory—and is designed for the people who actually run attractions.   If you handle hiring, applications, or onboarding at a haunt, this session is worth your time.

  5. May 31

    The Secrets of Spookyworld with David Bertolino

    We're going live with one of the true pioneers of the haunted attraction industry — David Bertolino, the founder of Spooky World.   If you've ever been through a professional haunt and wondered what really goes into creating those experiences, this is your chance to hear it straight from someone who helped shape the industry. From its early days as a haunted hayride to becoming a full-scale Halloween destination, Spooky World has set the standard for immersive scares, detailed sets, and high-energy performances.   During this live, expect real behind-the-scenes insight — not just about what you see as a guest, but what it actually takes to run a major haunted attraction year after year. We'll be talking about what works, what doesn't, and how the industry has evolved over time. Whether you're a haunt fan, actor, or someone thinking about getting into the business, this is a rare opportunity to learn from experience you won't find anywhere else.   Join the Haunter's Toolbox Facebook Group to attend the next live session if you missed this one: https://www.facebook.com/groups/haunterstoolbox   Find The Spooky World Book here.   Join the Haunter's Toolbox membership and start your own Haunted Attraction Business.   Reward, recognize, and retain your haunt crew with Merit Badges for Haunters ScareItBadges.com

  6. Apr 27

    How to Hire, Manage, & Organize Haunt Employees | Sithon.io

    Hiring and managing a crew at your haunted attraction can be one of the most challenging tasks you'll encounter as an owner or operator.   What if it were easier?   Justin Blackburn, the innovator behind Sithon.io, guides you through the journey of hiring, managing, & organizing your entire haunt operation.   -Hiring & firing -Scheduling -Management -Costume tracking -Time tracking -Background checks -Award tracking -Staffing metrics ...all made easy!   Become a member of The Haunter's Toolbox facebook group to join the next one: https://www.facebook.com/groups/haunterstoolbox/   Training & coaching to start your own haunted attraction: https://www.haunterstoolbox.com/   Recruit, manage, & organize your attraction: https://sithon.io/

  7. Feb 19

    Haunted Attraction Network: Marketing, AI, Trends, and MORE!

    How do you create a successful off-season haunted event? Are you spending your marketing budget effectively? What is changing in the haunt industry for 2026? And much more Haunt talk.  Philip Hernandez, creator of the Haunted Attraction Network and CEO of Gantom, answers all of your questions in this LIVE event. Haunter's Toolbox Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/haunterstoolbox Check out what Philip is doing: https://hauntedattractionnetwork.com/ Start your own Haunted Attraction: https://www.haunterstoolbox.com/

  8. Jan 17

    How To Open a Safe Haunted Attraction | William Ramsay

    In this episode, Dr.William Ramsay, aka Dr. TerrorEyes will present usable information on starting and growing a SAFE haunted attraction.   Here are a few topics that will be discussed:   -How did Haunted Houses start? -Why fire safety is essential at your Haunt -Are you doing Staff training correctly? -Employee forms & applications -Create signage that works -Haunt start-up tips -LOTS MORE!   Here are a few of William's credentials: -Producer of the SEHEC (Southeast Halloween Enthusiast Convention) -Guest speaker at many Haunt conventions since 2007 -Co-manager at the Ocala Fear Fest Haunted Attraction -Board-certified optometric physician: a eye and contact expert   Start your own attraction or grow your current one here: https://www.haunterstoolbox.com/

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About

Have you always wanted to know what goes on behind the scenes of Haunted Attractions, Scare Attractions, and Halloween? We tell those stories here! We capture the stories of the people behind the scary events and share tips along the way on HOW YOU can make your own Haunted House scary and effective...without spending lots of money to do it. We've done it and are still doing it. Join us, Brian Foreman and Darryl Plunkie, as we pick the brains of the professionals that make up the Haunted Attraction Industry!

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