Featured image: Muve Slimesworth wants YOU to ask yourself these 13 questions before Haunt Season. Actor portrayal by @morbidplaythings; Makeup and styling by @havepaintwilltravel; Photography by @bloodwhirl on Instagram
When you think about opening up your haunt this October, are you filled with excitement…or with dread?
Haunt season brings a mix of emotions for all of us: excitement to show off your newest scene and to hear all the screams of guests enjoying this incredible thing you’ve built. But there’s also the anticipation of long nights, stress, and fear of the unknown. (We know something will go wrong at some point, but what…and when?)
To help ease some of the anxiety about the upcoming season, here are 13 questions every haunter should ask themselves. Thirteen might be an unlucky number in horror lore, but skipping these crucial questions is the real curse. Take a 10-minute break from the prop bench and run through this ultimate pre-opening gut check to guarantee your smoothest, most profitable season yet.
1. What changes am I making based on last year’s post-mortem?
Repeating the same operational mistakes guarantees the same October headaches. Did you review last season’s guest reviews, staff complaints, and queue logjams? Identify the one operational nightmare from last year…whether it was a bottleneck at the entrance or a box office slowdown…and ensure you’ve put a permanent fix in place before doors open.
2. What does success actually look like for us this season?
If you don’t define your target up front, you won’t know if the season was a triumph—and you’ll end November simply exhausted. Is your goal a specific revenue figure, an attendance milestone, stellar local media coverage, or expanding your team? Set two or three concrete, measurable metrics right now so your entire crew knows what target you’re rallying around.
3. Am I mentally and physically ready for the grind?
Haunt season isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon of 16-hour days fueled by energy drinks and sheer willpower. Owner burnout trickles down directly to your cast, crew, and customer experience.
- Do you have an operational “second-in-command” who can step in if you get sick?
- Have you prepped meal and hydration plans for your core crew during long weekend runs?
- Are you building in mandatory downtime before opening weekend?
Protecting your sanity is operational prep, too.
Many haunters aren’t flying solo out there…the whole family is often part of the business. Take some time to check in on your loved ones who will be working the haunt: how are they feeling about the upcoming season? Address any concerns now so that they can feel fully committed (…not that kind of committed…) by the time your gates open.
4. How am I getting the word out…and where is every marketing dollar going?
You can build the scariest attraction in the state, but it won’t matter if nobody knows your doors are open. Are your digital ad campaigns scheduled to ramp up as October approaches? Are your Google Business Profile, Apple Maps, and social channels updated with accurate dates, operating hours, and parking directions?
Pro Tip: Make sure you aren’t leaving money on the table. Auditing your promotional channels ensures every ad dollar is driving ticket conversions.
5. How am I going to fill those slower early-season weekends?
Early season weekends are notoriously quieter than the massive rush leading up to Halloween. Your best asset for filling those early nights is your existing fan base. Have you sent an email blast or SMS promo to last year’s customer list with an early-bird discount or exclusive preview invite?
Setting up automated email marketing campaigns ahead of time lets you nurture past attendees on autopilot while you focus on running the haunt.
6. Have I secured all mandatory permits, inspections, and insurance?
There is nothing scarier than a fire marshal shutting down your haunt on a prime Saturday night. Are your building permits, fire safety sign-offs, health permits (for food and drink), and liability insurance policies fully executed, paid, and printed on-site? Keep a physical binder in the main office with all official documentation ready for walk-through inspections.
7. What is my backup plan for rain or severe weather?
A sudden downpour on a peak night can sink revenue if you don’t have a plan in place. If you run an outdoor attraction or hayride:
- What is your explicit rain-check or refund policy?
- How quickly can you announce weather delays across social media and your online ticketing banner?
- Can your ticketing platform handle quick date transfers for affected guests without breaking your box office workflow?
8. Is my online ticketing setup driving early sales or creating friction?
Friction during online checkout leads straight to abandoned carts. Online pre-sales are critical because they lock in cash flow early and guarantee attendance regardless of minor weather hiccups.
Is your ticketing widget cleanly embedded on your website? Is the checkout flow optimized for mobile screens where most guests buy? If you want to dive deeper into maximizing online revenue, check out our guide on analyzing the spending gap between online and in-person transactions.
9. How am I managing queue lines and crowd flow on peak Saturdays?
Multi-hour static lines kill the fun and keep guests standing in the cold instead of spending money on food, drinks, or merch.
- Do you have clearly marked VIP / Fast Pass lanes?
- Is there explicit signage separating pre-paid online ticket holders from at-the-door buyers?
- Are you using timed-entry ticketing to spread arrivals evenly across operating hours?
10. Are my box office, concessions, and merch POS systems battle-tested?
Technology loves to glitch at the worst possible time. Have you stress-tested your Wi-Fi routers, cellular boosters, and card readers at the physical venue? Make sure your point-of-sale setup can handle heavy volume and process card, contactless, and cash payments seamlessly without crashing under load.
Deploying mobile points of sale allows your staff to roam queue lines and bust crowds before they reach the window.
11. Am I maximizing spend-per-guest beyond the entry ticket?
Gate admission gets people through the door, but merchandise, concessions, escape games, and VIP perks drive high-margin profit.
- Can guests easily bundle merch or fast passes online during ticket checkout?
- Can your box office team easily offer VIP upgrades at the gate?
Leveraging pre-event add-ons and in-person upsells with HauntPay is one of the easiest ways to boost your average ticket value.
12. Is my front-of-house staff fully trained on check-in hardware and upsells?
Your front-of-house team sets the tone for the entire night. Seasonal staff need simple, intuitive tech so lines keep moving at lightning speed. Have you run a full “mock checkout” test run with box office staff? Are your ticket scanners easy to operate in low-light conditions?
While we’re at it, let’s talk about staff training in general. Working a haunt can be chaotic, and your team needs more than one all-staff meeting to be truly prepared to handle tricky situations. If you haven’t done so already, start building a training program and onboarding your entire team with comprehensive training. Don’t forget about the veterans, too…it’s not just newbies that need training. Make sure everyone, no matter how long they’ve been with you, gets a refresher course this season.
13. Do I have real-time visibility into tonight’s numbers?
When the night is in full swing, you need live data to make quick calls regarding staffing, capacity management, and security. Can you pull up hourly ticket capacity and revenue from your phone while walking the haunt grounds? Consolidating your admission, concessions, and merchandise into a single reporting dashboard makes nightly reconciliation effortless.
Ready to Make This Season Your Best Yet?
Taking the time to ask (and answer!) these 13 questions turns opening-night chaos into a smooth, profitable, and unforgettable experience for your guests.
If you’ve got your scares built and your goals locked in, but want to ensure your ticketing, concessions, and box office POS run without a hitch, we’ve got your back. Schedule a call with the HauntPay team today or set up your free account in minutes to get your box office battle-ready!
