MIKEY
Mikey has been reviewing scare attractions since 2012. With a BA Honours Degree in Theatre to his name, Mikey uses his specialist knowledge of Artauds Theatre of Cruelty along with other detailed research when reviewing attractions. Mikey has conducted numerous haunt seminars and hosted an extreme haunt panel debate at recent scare conventions. Along side ScareTrack, Mikey also admins the ‘Scare Actors Group’ on facebook. This group helps aspiring and seasoned scare actors find new and exciting acting opportunities. Mikey enjoys attractions that aren’t scared to try new ambitious ideas.
MIKEY'S POSTS
Remembering Robbi: Lessons Learned from a Reluctant Haunter
By Scott Swenson For over 25 years, I was lucky enough to have Robbi LePre as part of my life. She played many roles. She was my mentor, my boss, my
TEA and AECOM Release the 2019 TEA/AECOM Theme Index and Museum Index
The annual publication lists new additions to the top 25 theme parks worldwide and provides data and trends on the global industry. The Themed
Phases of Recovery from COVID for Haunted Attractions
Approaches to Addressing a Crisis—Which Haunts Should implement All the Time By Scott Swenson Welcome back to the dark. I based this blog on Episode 45 of
Midsummer Scream to Host a Livestream “Telethon”
There in Spirit: Midsummer Scream — a Daylong Livestream Telethon Celebrating All Things Spooky Midsummer Scream, the world’s largest Halloween and
5 Enormous Halloween Events Cancel Plans
While one haunt has reopened, Disney’s Halloween Party, Kennywood Halloween events, and Eastern Penitentiary’s Terror Behind the Walls announce canceled
How to Reopen Your Haunt During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Fear Factory, the first haunt to reopen, discusses its strategies Right now, the haunt industry is being faced with something we’ve never done
The Power of Diversity in Your Haunted Attraction
Use Diversity in your team, in your scares, within your industry, and in your products to strengthen your haunt. By Scott Swenson Welcome to the dark. This
Don’t Panic, Pivot Your Haunt
Creative strategies for haunts and haunters to move through the COVID-19 pandemic and emerge on their feet. by Scott Swenson Episode 42 of my podcast, A
Marketing Your Haunted Attraction After a Pandemic
Strategies from FearWorm Hauntvertising for how to market your attraction during a post-pandemic Halloween season By HaunTopic Radio When a global crisis
Fear Factory Haunted House Successfully Reopens
Tickets sold out for the May 29 “Halfway to Halloween” Event at Fear Factory in Salt Lake City On May 29, 2020, Salt Lake City’s Fear Factory became the
So Now What? Haunted Attractions COVID-19 Edition
This unprecedented situation provides an opportunity for haunts and haunters to become more creative and support one another. This blog is based on Episode
Use Mobile Horror Experiences to Expand Your Haunt Brand
Use mobile, remote, horror experiences to keep connected to your guests and expand your brand. By HaunTopic Radio Each year, we should be adding
Empower Your Haunt’s Audience
By Ricky Brigante, Edited by Staff What follows is a summary of Ricky Brigante’s keynote given at the 2017 Haunted Attraction Symposium, the theme for
HauntQue Booking App Seamlessly Syncs Prescheduled Guests With Walk-Ins
HauntQue allows guests to schedule their visit to your haunt so it works best for them and for you. HauntQue virtual queue line is an “intelligent waitlist
Haunt Extreme Disaster Preparedness and Survival
Take steps now to prepare for any type of disaster to enhance the chances your business will survive it. By Carol Jeffers I am Carol Jeffers (CJ), Founder
Training Haunt Actors in Interactivity
By Dr. Margee Kerr, Edited by Staff What follows is a summary of Dr. Margee Kerr’s keynote given at the 2017 Haunted Attraction Symposium, the theme for
Bootstrap Your Haunt – a Guide to Saving Time and Money
Tips and tricks to save time and money on building or upgrading your haunted attraction. By Brian Foreman and Darryl Plunkie Time and money are the two
The February Meeting to Prepare for Your October Haunt
Get started early in the year to be better prepared for the Halloween season Welcome again to my blog, this one based on episode 40 of my A Scott in the
An Ode to Year-Round Haunting
The general manager of Haunted Mayfield Manor talks about the great hurricane of 1900 and women in haunting. This blog is based on episode 191 of our Haunt
Drop 96 FEET PER SECOND at This Haunted Mine
Developing Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park’s Haunted Mine Drop By Philip Hernandez Most of us have had the experience of stepping into an elevator on a top
Actor Safety in the New World – a Guide
We’ve always focused on actor safety, so build on what you already do well to care for them after the pandemic. By Scott Swenson We, in the haunt industry,
The Source for Uncommon Scents for Haunts
Mikey interviews Florentina of Aroma Prime about those weird smells at scare attractions. Hi, it’s Mikey, and this blog is based on episode 145 of
Designing a Fright Attraction from the Inside Out
A basic overview of the fright attraction design process! By Leonard Pickel, Hauntreprneurs.com Attraction Design and Consulting My background is
How to Get Away with Lighting in Your Haunt
4 lighting designers offer tips for pulling off effective haunted house lighting design using what you already have. For many haunted attractions, lighting
HAuNTcon 2020 – a Weekend in New Orleans
Seminars, a panel discussion, and chats with folks from Dark Woods and Raybourn Creative I recorded Episode 39 of my A Scott in the Dark podcast at the
7 Things We Wished We Knew About Haunting
Jonathan and Crystal Discuss Lessons Learned Over Years of Running a Haunt This blog is based on Episode 186 of our Haunt Weekly podcast, which was
Why You Need a Gift Shop at Your Haunted Attraction
Jonathan offers six plus two rules for creating a successful gift shop at your haunt. It’s Jonathan and Crystal here again, and this blog is based on
Engaging Fear for Your Haunted Attraction
Making an emotional connection through fear is the key to creating a powerful and memorable experience for guests. By Phil Raybourn For haunted
A Visit to the 2019 IAAPA Expo
Discovering what’s new and trending in the haunt and theme park industries Episode 38 of my A Scott in the Dark podcast was recorded at the 2019 IAAPA
Transitioning your Haunt to Christmas
A Haunter in Christmas Town: How to Do a Changeover from a Halloween to a Christmas Event This blog is based on Episode 37 of my A Scott in the Dark
The After Party – Bringing Haunters Together All Year Long
by Scott Swenson This blog is based on Episode 36 of my A Scott in the Dark podcast, which came right on the heels of Episode 35. I wasn’t planning on
The Power of the Paranormal — A Chat with Jill Witecki of Tampa Theatre and Jeremy Rettig of Genesis Paranormal Services
This blog is based on Episode 34 of my A Scott in the Dark podcast, entitled “The Power of the Paranormal,” in which I had the great opportunity to look at
‘Tis the Season – Summer is the Time to Start Preparing for Halloween
This blog is based on Episode 33 of my A Scott in the Dark podcast, which was called, “’Tis the Season.” This wasn’t a Christmas episode. No. It was
Planning Your Haunt’s Success
Tips and lessons for folks who think they might want to create a haunt by Scott Swenson This blog is based on episode 31 of my A Scott In the Dark podcast,
Listeners’ Choice, Volume 2…
…in which Scott talked about how he got into the haunt business and a few other topics. This blog is based on Episode 30 of my Scott in the Dark podcast.
Recipients of 2020 Haunters to Watch Awards Announced
The wait is over! In partnership with HAuNTcon, we are excited to announce the recipients of this year’s Haunters to Watch awards. Created to highlight
Transworld 2019
Highlights from my visit to this year’s Transworld in St. Louis, Missouri It’s time once again to step into the darkness… This blog is based on
The Majestic Repertory Theatre in Las Vegas Presents “Sweeney Todd”
The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Comes to the Las Vegas Arts District from January 16 to February 16, 2020 Stephen Sondheim’s Tony-award-winning musical,
Welcome to Volume 1 of Listeners’ Choice
…in which I answer a few burning questions from listeners Welcome once again to A Scott in the Dark. This blog is based on my Episode 28 podcast, which was
Interviews with Friends at the 2019 HAuNTcon in New Orleans
TRADESHOWS ARE THE BEST PLACE TO MAKE FRIENDS AND GET EDUCATED ABOUT THE HAUNT BUSINESS We’re going to do something a little different in the dark this
Krampus Haunted Christmas Event Comes To 8 States This December
13th Floor Entertainment Group brings ‘A Haunted Christmas’ featuring Krampus to indulge guests in search of a demonic holiday experience. Krampus: A
7 Scary Holiday Events coming this December to Southern California
Need a break from Christmas holiday mayhem? Cleanse your palate with a little Halloween spice. Halloween is over for most people, but not for us! Keep your
Attending a Parallel Industry Tradeshow
What haunters can learn from participating in tradeshows outside the haunt world In this blog, I’ll be talking about my experiences at The Special
Shopping for Your Haunted Attraction Year Round
How and where to find bargains on stuff for your haunt throughout the year Welcome to my first blog of 2019. Since it’s right after the holiday season, I
Krampus Show Debuts in Las Vegas for the 2019 Holiday Season
Guests are invited to an immersive family holiday party with an unexpected guest and horrifying consequences On December 5, 2019, the Majestic Repertory
Installing “ Dark ,” my First Haunt in Canada, at Fort Edmonton Park, Alberta
Moving into new territory with the installation of a haunt at a historic site in Canada I was thinking this blog should probably be called A Scott After
ScareHouse Opens 2 New Experiences in Pittsburgh for 2019 Halloween
The Basement and Stalked by a Killer Open in Pittsburgh ScareHouse is on hiatus for 2019 while the attraction relocates, but the team announced two new
When the Tide Comes in, All Ships Rise
All the reasons to support fellow haunts and haunters – especially in online public forums. Welcome, once again, to A Scott In the Dark. We’re
Michigan’s Hush Haunted Attraction Grows 6X for 2019 Halloween
Hush Haunted Attraction in Westland, Michigan, is debuting three haunted houses in a new venue that’s 6X as large as the previous space. The trio of
New for 2019 at Cross Roads Escape Games —The Séance Experience
Debuting at Cross Roads Escape Games in Anaheim, California for the 2019 Halloween season is The Séance, a theatrical horror experience For the 2019
Dead Factory Haunted House in Mexico, Missouri Focuses on Phobias
Family-owned, home-grown haunted house in Mexico, Missouri focuses on phobias. Dead Factory, located in Mexico, Missouri, is a 30-minute, linear,
New Mazes and Special Events at this Year’s Haunted Fort
Historic, haunted buildings and real ghosts await guests at this unique outdoor haunt at Fort Abraham Lincoln on the North Dakota prairie. Haunted Fort is
HAuNTcon 2020 Announces First Sessions of Education Program
All-inclusive, full-weekend pass allows access to all education sessions, HAuNTcon and Halloween Party & Expo exhibit halls, and costume ball. HAuNTcon
The Four Levels of Haunt
The Importance of Targeting Your Haunt to One of the Four Demographic Audiences Welcome to the Dark! Here we are at the crux of the Halloween season.
Twilight Actors Visits 2019 Spirit of Halloweentown Festival in St. Helens, Oregon
Peter Facinelli, who played Dr. Carlisle Cullen in “Twilight,” will light the city’s giant Halloween pumpkin at this year’s 10th annual event. As part of
Tampa Theater’s 2019 “A Nightmare of Franklin Street” Halloween
A horror film festival, short-form horror story contest, campfire stories, and creepy storytelling for adults are featured in Tampa Theatre’s 2019
The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor 2019 Event Overview
Open from Sept 26 – Nov 2 on 23 select nights, The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor occurs in the harbor surrounding The Queen Mary Ship in Long Beach,
Third Annual Haunted Little Tokyo Returns to Los Angeles this October
The Little Tokyo community transforms into family-friendly scares and fun on select days and nights in October. The Little Tokyo community welcomes
“Monster Movies for Music” Festival Debuts at San Diego’s Observatory Theater on October 20
The first-ever event sponsored by Spooks and Spirits podcast will premier on October 20 at San Diego’s Historic Observatory Theater. The inaugural Spooks
Marrying Location, History Inspired Story, and Party
EPIC Entertainment Group Launches Dark Horizon in Orlando By Philip Hernandez “Dark Horizon: Point of No Return” is a new haunted attraction produced by
Dark Horizon, Point of No Return 2019 Event Overview
Dark Horizon is at the Holiday Inn and Suites in Orlando, Florida from October 10 through November 2 on 16 select nights. This Halloween event has 200
The Director is the Lens, Not the Sun
What’s the role of the director in a haunt attraction, and do you need a director at your haunt? I’m really excited about this blog, which is based on
Slaughterland Screampark Opens in Binghamton, NY for 2019 Halloween
An abandoned theme park sat deserted for years after a horrific accident, but now, the chaotic and haunted remains of what was once a fun-filled playland
The Overlap Between Haunted Attractions and Theater
All the reasons for haunters to get involved with their local community or professional theater Welcome to this blog, which is based on Episode 17 of my A
FunkO’s Oogie Boogie and Ursula Cereals Provide Fuel for Haunters
Oogie Boogie FunkO’s Cereal Coming to Spirit Halloween and Spencer’s September 2019 Wondering what to eat while working on your Halloween decorating?
Jack Skellington Hosts Disney’s Halloween Fireworks
The first look at the ‘Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular’ Fireworks – Hosted by Jack Skellington Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party returns to the
Nominations Open for First Annual ‘Haunters To Watch’ Awards
Haunters to Watch Awards will recognize Future Leaders in the Haunt Community at HAuNTcon 2020 27 August, 2019 – HAuNTcon, The Haunted Attraction
Make It Cheap
Tips and tricks for using your creativity to have the most awesome haunt ever… and save money In this blog based on Episode 16 of my A Scott in the
Can you Survive the Dark at London’s new attraction?
Create Your Terrifying Adventure in Variant 31 In Variant 31, players become their favorite action character and choose their own adventure within a
OC Fair Hosts Boo Ha Ha Haunted Oktobeerfest October 25 – 26
OC Fair brings Beers and scares together in Costa Mesa at this first-ever event for 2019. The first-ever Boo Ha Ha, a haunted Oktobeerfest, will take place
Play Disney Parks App’s Halloween Overlay
Enjoy Halloween With Play Disney Parks’ Spooky New Halloween Experiences The Play Disney Parks App has received frightfully fun Halloween makeover with
Tales from the Crypt Turns 30: Relive its epic moments
‘Tales from the Crypt’ is 30! 10 Things we learned about the Series at Midsummer Scream ‘Tales from the Crypt’ – an American horror TV series, first
Winchester Mystery House Hosts Christine McConnell
‘From the Mind of Christine McConnell’ Went to the Winchester Mystery House for the Second Episode of the YouTube Series Christine McConnell announced the
Balancing Immersion with Throughput
By Ken Parks & Jon Cooke, Edited by Staff What follows is a summary of Ken Parks’ and Jon Cooke’s keynote given at the 2017 Haunted Attraction
Walpurgis Night at the UK’s Scare Kingdom Scream Park
Mikey and guest hosts Jenna and Ryan discuss this year’s Walpurgis Night scene at Scare Kingdom. This blog is based on Episode 141 of our Scare Track
These boutique hand sculpted masks are to die for
Serious haunters know the only way to scare is with hand-sculpted short-run masks. Their detailed is unmatched and the look is unique (likely not copied by
Graveyard Games is the newest Haunted House at Universal Orlando Resort’s Halloween Horror Nights
Graveyard Games is making its debut at this year’s Universal Orlando Resorts Halloween Horror Nights. The story goes like this: Two teens have awakened the
New Haunted House Based on Jordan Peele’s Blockbuster Movie “Us” at Halloween Horror Nights
Universal Orlando Resort has announced a new residence of terror at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights. Guests will walk through the Wilson family beach
Learning from Ren Rats and Fairie Folk
Discovering the similarities between Renaissance Faires and haunted attractions by Scott Swenson This article is based on Episode 13 of my A Scott in
Oogie Boogie Bash Debuts at Disney California Adventure
Oogie Boogie Bash Debuts at Disney California Adventure Park for 2019 Halloween Season Debuting this year at Disney California Adventure park in Anaheim is
Celebrate Halloween on the High Seas with Disney!
Disney Combines the Cruise Craze with Halloween Fun Disney’s Halloween on the High Seas cruises, which set sail in early September through late October,
The Park of OWA on the Alabama Gulf Coast Unveils its First Dark Ride
Mystic Mansion, at Alabama’s The Park at OWA, opened to the public on June 15, 2019. This is the Park’s first dark ride. Kristin Hellmich, Director of
New Halloween Peeps Available Soon
The classic marshmallow candy will be available this season in four, Halloween-themed shapes and flavors. Even though Halloween is almost three months
The Haunted Mansion Turns 50
Disneyland Resort’s Haunted Mansion Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary Haunted Mansion, one of Disneyland Resort’s oldest and most popular attractions, is
Universal Studios Hollywood Offers Fans a Premier Peek at This Year’s Halloween Horror Nights
Universal Studios Hollywood is offering fans an exclusive first look at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights on September 12, one day before the event opens
The “It Experience Chapter Two,” arrives at Hollywood and Vine on August 15
An immersive, interactive experience introduces fans of “It” to its terrifying sequel. The It Experience Chapter Two features a 40-minute journey through
Killer Klowns Maze Comes to Horror Nights Orlando
This year, the Klowns stalk their victims inside their own haunted house. MGM Pictures “Killer Klowns from Outer Space” will arrive en masse at this year’s
The Art of Communication
How to Communicate with All the People in Your Process—from Creation to Production By Scott Swenson This article is based on episode 12 of my
Gaylord Resorts Announces 2019 ICE! Holiday Events at Five Properties
Five Gaylord Properties to See ICE! and Christmas Events in 2019 Highlights include The Polar Express coming to Gaylord Palms and the first event at the
SEE “THE POLAR EXPRESS” IN ICE DURING CHRISTMAS AT GAYLORD PALMS!
All Aboard! Feel the magic of Christmas come alive in a world made from over two million pounds of ice, hand-carved into scenes from “The Polar Express.”
Signing and Tour Announced for New Haunt Book by Scott Swenson
Scott Swenson’s Virtual Book Tour will include a stop at Midsummer Scream for the official Signing of Follow the Story on August 4th. Follow the Story: The
10 Horror Games for Haunters
Jonathan and Crystal discuss 10 horror games that offer lessons for haunters. Hello, it’s Jonathan and Crystal again. This blog is based on Episode 185 of
How to Make it to the End of the Haunt Season
The key is: consistency, consistency, consistency by Scott Swenson Welcome back to the dark. This blog is based on Episode 9 of my A Scott in the Dark
The Best Room- How to Create the Most Memorable Room in Your Haunt
Following on the heels of blogs about the first room and the last room, Jonathan and Crystal discuss the best room. This blog is based on Episode 183 of
The Last Room
Jonathan and Crystal discuss six approaches for creating a memorable “last room” in your haunt. This blog is based on our Haunt Weekly podcast, Episode
The Pros and Cons of Shows and Cons
How to decide which events and shows to attend, and why they’re important to you and your haunt. Welcome, once again, to the Dark. In this blog, which is
Auditions and How to Survive Them
Advice for how to make an unforgettable—in a good way—impression during an audition This blog is based on Episode 7 of A Scott in the Dark—which I refer to
Six Approaches for What to Do with the All-important First Room of Your Haunt
Jonathan and Crystal explain why the first room is so important for setting the atmosphere and expectations in your haunt. This blog post is based on
The Antipodes Episode (180˚ from Halloween)
Jonathan and Crystal talk about Halloween and other news of the day. Welcome to our Haunt Weekly blog. This one is based on episode 180 of our Haunt Weekly
A Discussion with Mark Jardine from Mad About Horror
Hello, everyone, it’s Mikey, and this blog is based episode 139 of our Scaretrack podcast in which I talked on the phone with Mark Jardine from Mad About
