The air is growing crisp, the smell of fog machines is just around the corner, and your creatures are getting restless. Haunt season is upon us! You’ve spent months building, planning, and perfecting your scares. Now, in the final days before you open the gates, it’s time to shift from building the terror to managing the crowds.
A smooth opening night sets the tone for the entire season. A chaotic one can lead to bad reviews, frustrated staff, and lost revenue.
Here at HauntPay, we’ve seen what separates the screaming successes from the horrifying hiccups. To ensure your season starts with a bang (and not a crash), run through this final last-minute checklist.
Your Pre-Season Ticketing Checklist
We’ve broken this down into three key areas: your digital presence, your on-site operations, and your scream team.
1. Your Digital Haunt: Online & Ticketing Setup
Your website and ticketing page are your digital front door. Before guests ever step foot on your property, they interact with you here. Make sure the experience is seamless.
- ✅ Double-Check All Ticket Events & Pricing:
- Go through every single ticket type in your HauntPay dashboard. General Admission, Fast Pass, VIP, Group Packages, etc.
- Are the dates and times correct? Is the pricing accurate for every level? A simple typo here can cause major headaches.
- Are your time slots configured properly to manage guest flow?
- Don’t be shy about asking for help on these! Our support team is standing by to help you make sure everything is set up properly and ready for sales.
- ✅ Activate and Test Your Virtual Queue:
- If you’re using HauntPay’s Virtual Queue (and you should be!), is it enabled for the correct ticket types?
- Review your custom messaging. Is it clear how guests join the queue and what they should do when their group is called? Reducing physical lines is one of the best ways to improve guest experience.
- ✅ Run a Test Purchase from Start to Finish:
- Go to your own website and act like a customer. Click the “Buy Tickets” button. Does it link to the correct HauntPay page?
- Complete a full transaction (you can create a $1 test ticket or use a 100% off coupon code).
- Did you receive the confirmation email? Does it have the right information: your haunt’s address, the event date/time, and the QR code for scanning? Is your logo on it?
- ✅ Review Your Add-Ons & Upsells:
- Don’t leave money on the table! Make sure any merchandise, photo ops, or concessions you’re selling online are set up as Add-Ons in HauntPay. This is an easy way to increase per-customer revenue before they even arrive.
2. The Physical Realm: On-Site Hardware & Operations
This is where the digital world meets the real world. A dead battery or spotty Wi-Fi can bring your entire operation to a halt.
- ✅ Charge and Test All Hardware:
- Turn on and test every single device you’ll be using. This includes:
- Ticket Scanners: Whether you’re using dedicated scanning hardware or the HauntPay mobile app on phones, make sure they are charged, logged in, and ready to scan.
- Credit Card Readers: Test your card swipers/tappers for at-the-gate sales. Run a test transaction to ensure it processes correctly.
- Printers: If you’re using receipt printers, ensure they are connected and have paper.
- Turn on and test every single device you’ll be using. This includes:
- ✅ Check Your Connectivity (Wi-Fi & Cellular):
- Walk to the exact locations where you’ll be scanning tickets and selling at the gate. How strong is the Wi-Fi signal?
- Have a backup plan! If your Wi-Fi is unreliable, is there a strong cellular signal (4G/5G)? Be prepared to use a mobile hotspot if needed.
- Pro Tip: Remember that HauntPay’s mobile app has an offline mode. If you lose connection, you can continue scanning tickets and the data will sync up once you’re back online. Make sure your team knows this feature exists!
- ✅ Prepare Your Signage:
- Clear signage prevents chaos. Make sure you have large, easy-to-read signs for:
- “Buy Tickets Here” / “Online Ticket Holders Enter Here”
- Instructions on “How to Join the Virtual Queue”
- Line designations (General Admission, VIP/Fast Pass)
- Clear signage prevents chaos. Make sure you have large, easy-to-read signs for:
3. Your Scream Team: Staff & Training
Your staff is your front line. A well-trained team can handle any situation, keeping the lines moving and the guests happy.
- ✅ Hold a Final Admissions Briefing:
- Gather everyone who will be working the entrance. Do not skip this step!
- Role-play the process:
- How do you scan a ticket using the app/scanner?
- What does a valid scan look like? What does an invalid or duplicate scan look like, and what do you do?
- How do you look up a guest’s order by name if they forgot their phone or the QR code won’t load?
- How do you process an at-the-gate sale for cash and card?
- ✅ Train Your “Virtual Queue Ambassadors”:
- Designate one or two staff members to be experts on your virtual queue. Their job is to help guests who are confused, explain how it works, and keep the energy positive while people wait.
- ✅ Review Your Contingency Plans:
- What is the plan if a scanner dies? (Have a backup phone ready or use power banks to keep your team fully charged all night).
- What is the procedure for handling a difficult customer?
- Who is the point person for any payment or ticketing-related issues? Make sure your team knows who to go to for help.
Final Thoughts
You’ve poured your blood, sweat, and tears into creating a world-class haunted attraction. By taking an hour to run through this final checklist, you can ensure your guests’ first impression is as flawless as your scariest scene.
Now, go get ready to scare. We’ll handle the tickets.
