Thread: Profesional Haunters

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I just have a question. How does a haunter go pro. I mean its not like sports where you get into onto a pro team. For example Terra's Haunt is incredible. Could she become a professional haunter? I'm just curious to know.

As with most things, I think the biggest hurdle is money. I would quit my job tomorrow and build/maintain a professional haunt attraction if I had the capital to start it up. (C'mon LOTTERY!)

Obviously there has to be desire and ability/talent. Anyone in the Boise area who might be interested in something like this, please feel free to contact me. I've got a head full of knowledge and ideas just looking for an outlet.

I agree with bkr1969, it has to do with money and motivation. The money could hire the talent. Running a pro haunt seems to be an expensive endeavor and, to me, a very tough business to get into and make money. In fact, it kind of looks like a money pit. You'd have to be super highly motivated to do it. Not impossible, but it would be a huge effort. Here's why I think that:


From what I've seen from pro haunts... the business reminds me of a combination of running a fast food restaurant, car repair shop and a theater group. Three businesses I'd never want to get into You deal with teenage/young actors. Work nights, weekends and one holiday - and that's after working all day on the props and rooms - so long work days. Constant design, build and repair of props and set designs. To make matters worse, (IMO) you make money only part of the year and your main clientèle are rowdy teenagers. From working in the restaurant management industry I can tell you it's a pain to do all the payroll, benefits, taxes, inspectors stuff.

Headline: From my perspective, the pro-haunt industry would be the last business I'd get into. The fun of it would be far overshadowed by the drudgery of running it.

Dang, that sounded like a downer... but if you are very motivated you can do this. Made a great living in the restaurant business because I was highly motivated and loved it....but it nearly killed me. 14 hour days were common!

Originally Posted by LostinTheDarkProductions

I just have a question. How does a haunter go pro. I mean its not like sports where you get into onto a pro team. For example Terra's Haunt is incredible. Could she become a professional haunter? I'm just curious to know.

I think so with Terr'a talent! But like she said its a lot of work. I would like to get into a mask making business one day! We will see

A great perspective, Terra. A big part of me would love the "downer" aspects of it though. Maybe I'm just a little off (part of me would also love to own a restaurant) . It's fun to watch TV shows about professional haunts and see how successful they are. I've seen some that can pull in a couple million dollars in a season (not bad for only about a month of being open) but that doesn't happen over night. It's still at the top of my list if I ever do win the lottery. You can come for free if it ever opens, Terra. :-)

Yep, cash for the most part, how much it takes to make & how much you hopefully take back in.......& permits, insurance & finding actors that show up for work, etc. We have a big one around northern Cali, Gyro's World of Terror- Sacro & San Jose, that does a 1 monther & makes big $$, other than that just a few smaller local ones & I know they make a little more than breaking even, mostly do it for the public.

There is 1 group that started as home haunters & went pro -not super big- but became a known haunt that does all Oct & doesn't take in anywhere near Gyro's, but makes enough to come back every year, is a haunt with a pirate theme called
"Pirates of Emerson".

I would more consider unique prop design & sales / store & just have fun setting up your or friends place or get lucky enough to be asked by a mall, etc to put together a haunt at they're expense with your ideas & talent.

As much as some of us would love to go "pro", I think the reality of a slim / harsh market / industry would kill the fun we have as home haunters........not to mention the current economy.

Now back to our reg scheduled channel of "happy thoughts".....