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

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

Author: Brian Foreman & Darryl Plunkie: Haunters, Scare Actors, Haunt Owners June 28, 2026 Duration: 1:27:24
⚠️ 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.

Ever wondered how the chilling atmosphere of a professional haunted house is really built, or what it takes to make a scare actor’s performance truly unforgettable? HaunTopic Radio: Haunted Attractions | Haunted Houses | Halloween | Haunters pulls back the heavy black curtain on the world of professional scares. Hosts Brian Foreman and Darryl Plunkie aren’t just commentators; they’re working haunters, scare actors, and haunt owners who live this passion year-round. In each episode, they sit down with the artists, builders, and visionaries who create the terrifying events we love, capturing their personal stories and hard-won expertise. This podcast is built on practical, real-world advice, focusing on how you can design effective scares and build compelling attractions without relying on a massive budget. It’s a deep, conversational dive into the craft, from makeup techniques and set design to the psychology of fear and the business of Halloween. You’ll hear the triumphs, the creative problem-solving, and the dedicated community that brings the haunting season to life. Tune in for an authentic look behind the screams, where passion for the art form is always the main topic.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

HaunTopic Radio: Haunted Attractions | Haunted Houses | Halloween | Haunters
Podcast Episodes
Facebook Marketing For Haunts with Matt Kremer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:59:17
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…
Building BIG Scares With a tiny Budget [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:16
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 tec…
The Secrets of Spookyworld with David Bertolino [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:26
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 creati…
How to Hire, Manage, & Organize Haunt Employees | Sithon.io [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:57
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 yo…
Haunted Attraction Network: Marketing, AI, Trends, and MORE! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:49:57
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 Hau…
How To Open a Safe Haunted Attraction | William Ramsay [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:04
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…
Start Your First Haunted Attraction | Imminent Doom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:41:32
What's it really like to open and operate a Haunted Attraction business? Can your dream really come true? Can you do it by yourself? We answer all of your questions in this Master Class with Conner Beets from Imminent Do…
Remembering Jan Knuth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:52
In this episode, we remember our friend and fellow Haunter, Jan Knuth. The Haunt world lost a good one. R.I.P. Jan Skaggs Knuth She was always a kind soul, loved Haunting, was an admin for this group, & even thought abou…
Midnight Syndicate: The Birth of Gothic, Horror, & Haunt Music [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:42:04
Join the guys behind Midnight Syndicate, Edward Douglas & Gavin Goszka! We ask them questions like: How to create your own haunt music? What inspires them to make music? Sound tips and tricks? Plus, we play the first 3 t…
Total Terror Haunted House: From Home Haunter to Pro [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:30:39
Join us as we discuss the Total Terror Haunt with Chip Wells in Virginia. Going from a home haunter to a commercial haunted attraction Create your own props with papier-mache How to operate and grow a haunted attraction…