Thread: I think I might be done...

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I hear ya, brother. This was also my last year as a Major Neighborhood Attraction. Not that the TOT's misbehaved mind you, but the hassle is no longer worth the reward, for myself or my family. Plus, the Haunt has, for years now, been so scarey that the little ones have stopped coming inside. Next year it will be a nice display of tombstones and Jack O'Lanterns, lighting, sound and fog, ONE animatronic and handing out treats. Total set up and knock down time, 5 hours, max.

The guests can reminice about "the Old Days"...

I had a few kids a couple years ago that kept hanging around the haunt. I had to tell them to leave. Like the kids that kept coming thru looking for more candy. Get your **** and leave. Some people think that we run a daycare. We don't! I feel your pain. I will probably do it next year. I didn't have as many as last year but people were happy. I had good comments from both kids and parents. I think H1N1 kept a few home this year.

I too think I am done. Not as much because of the kids though. They actually were really great this year. My major thing is that I don't want to do the same thing every year. If I don't do the same thing every year that means that I have to start over pretty much each year. It has got to the point where it feels like a hassle instead of being fun. I had a minor deviation from this thought process when I saw the looks on the kids faces Halloween night. Then when it came time to tear everything down I made up my mind that this will be the last year for such a big undertaking.

I am sorry this happened to you .. but if its stopped being fun and enjoyable take some time off turn to a small private party for family and friends to decorate , come back again in time when the mood strikes and things seem right.. take reservations for your walk through..

I am sorry to hear how you have been treated..I do have a few words to say that we live by dont know if they will help or not but here goes..

1 I wont let anyone call the tv stations or put my yard into the papper it just seems to bring the bad out.
2 We work hard on the haunt but most is for our party with friends and the surounding neighborhood and they know when it is.
3 We put up a huge haunted village that we play with and stare at for hours and the light in my grandsons eyes when he flips the swich is worth it all
4 Yes we have some bad kids but over all most are good and thankfull for what we do. and most of our tot'er either live around us or come by .. by word of mouth.
5 I and the hubby are just dead from all the fuss and you know what the worst of all this is for us? Looking at all the stuff we have to put away and darn if we dont start pulling out christmass LOL

Just know that we here at this forum understand how you feel to a degree each one of us has had a bad year or two.. but we also understand the passion and the enjoyment of that new prop and the child looking up with a smile on there face to tell you without words that you are wonderfull for what you do.

What you need is a little rest... cut back ... and maybe dont even have a haunt next year.. have a party and just invite family and friends.. enjoy halloween do whatever you feel like doing take a vacation.hey maybe go to a few haunted houses and parties its all in the spirit.

and if none of that helps heres a BIG Halloween Hug for you and yours HUGS!!!

I put up a message somewhere else on the board but it is relevant here also.

Consider finding a local haunted house that fits your style. I helped out with one that benefits the local parks commission. The revenue generated provides auxiliary programming and capital improvements that would otherwise be tax funded or not happen.

A couple big advantages. You don't have to do it all. You can build a couple pieces, work as an actor a couple nights, help plan, whatever! It is really nice to know that when the drunk crowd comes through that we have a couple officers at the house plus a couple more on the grounds. The property is secured by county staff, and there is actually a small budget to work with.

It is a bit of a downer when some of the jerks come through, but there money builds playgrounds just as well as the next guys. And the folks that get into it an play well make it a lot of fun. The guy who has been the prime mover on this house is fun to work with, and I think that I will be doing a lot more planning and building this coming year.

Originally Posted by icezombie

downsize. no need for a big haunt. sometimes just a small display is just as rewarding and much less of a hassle. I have a few props and a fog machine and my house is the hit of the neighborhood.

I agree with this. Just downsizing and doing something simple next year might be what you need. I certainly have the space to do a large outdoor haunt, but I can't imagine going through all the work to do it, even with a crew of 8 part time volunteers!

To be harshly honest, you're crazy for posting your phone number on fliers, and I'm not at all surprised that some waist of air, unparented, bored teens choose to harass you. Teens have no respect for anything, or anyone anymore, it is very sad to see for sure!

After a crappy year like that I can't blame anyone for not wanting to do anything anymore.

what you might want to try is just do some smaller haunts not as mutch stress one that you just need to set up on the day no flyers or hudge blow out somthing the kids can look at as they go on there normal trick or treat route I think that will be lots of fun

I believe firmly that when a hobby is more stressful than fun, it's time to make a change. I've burned out on hobbies before, and although I'm not there with Halloween, I can the potential for myself to get where you are. Different reasons, same result.

I can only echo what the others have said. Pack everything away, take a breather, do something scaled back and manageable next year with the props you already have on hand. See if that rekindles your enthusiasm for the holiday, or just feels "meh."

Best wishes, whatever you decide.

I've been doing a good size front yard display for a few years and it's been perfect. Each year there's a bit more to see. I finally took advantage of the 50% off sales this year, so next year there will be some more cool stuff to add. It takes about four hours or so to setup the day before halloween and the same amount of time to break it down. I'm 46 years old and I do it all myself. My wifes back is too shot for her to help. Even 8-10 hours total of setup and breakdown wipes me out. I'm sitting here sore as I type! This is as big as I can realistically go.

I have an amazing back yard to do a seriously good walk through that I've had mapped out for years. But the work, the WEATHER, the sheer logistics of it all is more than I could bare. So a rather large size front yard display that grows a little each year is all that I plan to do. Our reputation has grown and we see all the same kids and parents each year that look so forward to it and are very complimentary. It remains fun and rewarding- a endevour that I can handle. And a front yard display is just as impressive than a major undertaking of a walk through haunt. It's also a lot less stressful because it's a different thing- the visitors just come for TOT and enjoy the sights. They don't get the notion that they can take over the yard for their own and abuse the situation. They get a good look-see as they approach, come to the door, and get a good look-see as they leave [and a few scares it seems] and they move on. No hanging out to create possible problems. In and out, with all the same thrills and chills. That amouts to a lot less work and stress on me, which keeps the fun in it. And it keeps them coming back for more each year.

If you have a major jones for a full haunt, it's best to hook up with a working pro haunt and get the rush that way. They are ALWAYS in need of actors and help. This keeps all the logistics, problems, and issues on the THEM and off of YOUR shoulders.

It's always tempting to do the things you love in a big way. I have done this in my careers too, being a musician and a pyrotechnician. But at the end of the day it's still a LOT of work, bottom line. Some people are cut out to take it on, and some aren't. Most folks are better off doing music for fun. Most people are better off shooting bottle rockets in their back yard for fun. Be careful what you commit to or the fun can go right out of it, and that's a shame. Same with haunting. Keep it manageable and it will remain a fun, rewarding experience.

My 2 cents.

Dan