The thought of letting your victims—er, guests—decide what your haunt is worth can be more terrifying than a chainsaw-wielding killer clown. The most common fear we hear from haunters considering a “Pay-What-You-Can” night is the chilling prophecy that everyone will choose to pay nothing at all. It’s a fear that can curdle your blood.
But what if we told you this pricing strategy wasn’t a curse, but a powerful spell? There’s a clever reason Pay-What-You-Can pricing is possessing more and more events. It’s not just for charity events (though it works devilishly well for fundraisers). When summoned correctly, this dark art can unearth terrifyingly high profits and forge a loyal horde of fans who will follow you to the gates of hell and back.
What in the Devil is Pay-What-You-Can Pricing?
Pay-What-You-Can pricing allows your adoring fans to choose their own tribute for entry to your haunt. You hold the power to set a minimum required sacrifice (say, $5 or $10), and from there, your guests can choose how much more they wish to offer up to the spirits.
Here at HauntPay, we live to serve the creators of fear. We built the Pay-What-You-Can feature to give you ultimate control over the sinister ceremony of pricing your event.
Don’t forget – our crypt-keepers (the support team) are always lurking in the shadows, ready to help with any incantations or questions you may have. We even offer a concierge event setup if you’d rather pass off the busy work and focus on what you do best: orchestrating terror.
Is This Dark Magic Right for My Haunt?
Any haunt can unleash pay-what-you-can pricing, but it is especially potent for certain rituals:
- Charity Nights & Fundraisers: Hosting a “Scares for a Cause” night? This is a no-brainer. Guests who feel ghoulishly generous can give far beyond the ticket price. By setting a minimum offering, you guarantee your costs are covered while summoning forth bountiful donations for your chosen cause.
- “Beta Test” or Preview Nights: Unleash your new scares on a select group of die-hard fans before opening night. A Pay-What-You-Can preview lets your most loyal followers get a sneak peek and offer feedback, all while contributing what they feel the terrifying new experience is worth. It builds insane buzz and makes them feel like part of your creepy crew.
- “Lights-On” or Behind-the-Screams Tours: Offer a special, less-intense tour showing off the guts and gore of your operation. Let haunt enthusiasts and aspiring ghouls see how the magic happens. This is a fantastic way to monetize a typically non-ticketed experience and engage a different segment of your audience.
- Witching Hour Rush: Got a slow Tuesday night that’s as dead as a doornail? Offer Pay-What-You-Can pricing for the last hour of operations to conjure up a sudden, frenzied crowd and ensure your haunt ends the night with blood-curdling screams instead of dead silence.
How Do I Summon This Feature?
Now that you’re ready to add this spell to your grimoire, you’re probably wondering how to unleash it. Here’s our step-by-step guide to raising this feature from the dead:
- Log in to your HauntPay Admin Crypt.
- Create a new event or choose an existing one to haunt.
- Descend to the ‘Ticket Info’ section.
- Click ‘Add Ticket Type’.
- Give it a name your victims will recognize – ‘Pay What You Can Offering’ or ‘Fan Tribute’ – whatever best fits your unholy theme.
- Check the box that reads ‘Pay What You Can Ticket Type?’
- Enter your minimum sacrifice (the ticket price minimum).
- Fill out any other cursed fields or boxes.
- Slam the ‘Save’ button.
- Hit ‘Save Event’ and the ritual is complete!
Final Thoughts
Pay-What-You-Can tickets are a wicked way to encourage donations, boost attendance on slow nights, and give your fans a chance to show their undying loyalty. It can be your only ticket type for a special event or one of many you offer your guests for their convenience.
Need help resurrecting your ticket sales? Reach out to our crypt-keepers; we’ll get everything set up for you before you can say “boo!”
