Thread: Charge fee for home haunt?

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I'm planning on running my own home haunt next year, as we really don't have anything like it in town. Should I charge a small fee? I plan on doing it anyway, regardless of whether I make any money. I'm not sure if I should charge a small fee (under $5), request donations, or do nothing at all. Does anyone else have any experience with this?

I have thought of the same thing to offset some of the cost, however I believe that if you charge any amount of money there are rules and regulations that must be in place according to inspectors and such. I am sure there are people that know more about this.

you just said it "would do it anyway " so my suggestion is dont charge anything .....

we had a donation pail out this year and got some donations but dont expect tons of money from that.......expecting that it will repay all the cost you involved around your display or haunt.....

if you charge something you will need to check with the city rules and regulations an then it is not just a fun home base haunt anymore and you will be considered more of a commercial display haunt .....and will need to apply ALOT more rules , safety issue etc .....some will even ask you get responsibility insurances ......i think it is just not worth it....espacially if you aleready do it for your own fun

I always have people tell me that I should charge folks for coming to our place. This is just my personal opinion but for us.....we would never do it! Only because I do this for fun & even tho the people have such a good time most of them probably have no idea how much I enjoy myself & what a wonderful halloween it makes for me that I can entertain them like this and we all can enjoy it together.

I get so much out of this & thats why I'm going to do the Xmas open house too. If it goes well this year with that for sure we will consider an open house for Halloween prior to Halloween night. There is just so much to see in the house & with the line waiting to get in people just don't have time to look at all of it. That is what 4 people told me this Halloween. "Sure wish we had more time in there!"

So .....I think the choice is up to the Haunter & see no problem with charging a small fee if they wish. But as the others mentioned here.....you may have to deal with the city & I think most importantly is calling your insurance agent & seeing about an additional coverage for that night. If one person gets hurt on your property & pursues a law suite.........your great Halloween Haunting idea can quickly turn into a Halloween Nightmare.....a REAL ONE!!!

Mistress Muffy

Originally Posted by Muffy

I always have people tell me that I should charge folks for coming to our place. This is just my personal opinion but for us.....we would never do it!
Mistress Muffy

Same here, people tell us we should but I never would. I get so many warm fuzzies just from doing it.

Also, who carries money when they TOT?????

As others have said, it’s a whole different ball game when you start charging for your haunt. I don’t have any personal experience with this but I’ve read a lot about it. For us, we do it because we love it and the extra hassle of determining how much to charge, collecting money, keeping track of it and hoping that people feel they got their monies worth would suck the joy of Halloween right out of it for us. Personally, I’d say if you want to charge then invest time and energy into going pro and leave the home haunt for your neighborhood to enjoy for free. Just my opinion.

I've often thought of having some kind of donation box, if I could appropriately integrate it in with my haunt, with all the proceeds clearly marked as going to a local charity or nationally known charity. I wonder if anyone else has done just that here and how it went over?

I would have to agree with Mrs. Leather face...

Right now - doing this because it makes you happy is awesome. Dont turn it into another job where you have to worry.

Plus - speaking as someone who still dreams of ToTing, I dont think I would want to stop somewhere to pay. I mean, they have haunted houses up all month for the paying crowd.

I say make it free and open to all so they can enjoy it as much as you. :-)

~mina

ok, everyone told me I need to charge for my haunt, it is so cool we all haver heard the comments. The minute you charge an admission you become a buisness and there is more red tape involved you have no idea what can of worms you will have opened. Now a free will donation total different story. Don't expect tons of money.
I do a free will donation have been doing so since 2004, with a local charity. They (the charity) whoever you pick tell them if you wish, to get yoy as much exposure as they can they can get you free psa's and get attention to you. Heck if they want more money you need more ppl. IF you want that. This year we exceeded 900 it was a blast. We only netted $600 for the charity but what fun we had.