Do you make money with your passion?

We haven't really made any profit from our haunt.
However we did get some income from some donations.

The first year, 2005, we got like 35 bucks.
Last year, we got over 150.

Quite the improvement.

I used all the money to buy new stuff for this years haunt.

It was great walking into Spencers having everything 50% off and going...
I'll take that, and that, and oh... give me one of those...

Lol!
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awesome dr morbius! cant wait to see your products making a few bucks for you - you deserve it

as for donations boxes...i think it depends on what the donations are going for - i have had a home haunt for several years and have just put out a box this past one - if its going to a charity or food drive or somethin - i think you can put out a box with having only a pumpkin carved on a hay bail - - for me, i wouldnt feel comfortable asking for any money to go inot next years haunt if it wasn't a good quality experience for the people - after all - the money would go to a hobby of ours - - -

but i felt that the entertainment value they got was close to what they would get for a pro attraction - on a smaller scale of course - - and if anyone asked what it was going towards - i would say everything goes into next years haunted house to make it better/more enjoyable for visitors so they knew it wasn't going to the next days lunch for me

i was very pleased that i got just over 1000 in donations - we were open for almost 10 nights i think

as for location of the box, mine was near the front, however, as they exited, it was close to it as well - many people came back and put more in or those who didn't put any in at all after they went through and saw that it was a pretty good experience - i would suggest doing something similar - some will want to give upfront - others will want to see how much to give based on the experience - i wouldnt put one at the front and end though - this makes it look like your trying to double dip - thats my 2 cents

Bauton said:

What does everyone who has a donation box think? Do you need to have a certain size or quality display before putting a box out? Or do you just put one out and see what happens?

I'm debating putting one out, I just don't know if my display would be worth it or not. I guess it would depend on how much people enjoy the display.

If you put a sign saying that donations go towards next year's display, do you tend to get more money?

Click to expand...

Do you have just a display or do you have a haunt?
It's really up to you with what to do.

A lot of people feel bad about asking... but it doesn't really bother me.

It's pretty much saying...
"I did this for you, you like it. Help keep us around."

If you would pay money to see your display or go through your haunt throw out a donations box.

We had our guest podium out right as you entered the cemetery.
Many people just threw in a couple bucks as they walked in.
Many came back and put more money after going through the haunt.
Others didn't give anything...

It's all okay in my book!
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well, as i said.
it's really up to you.

if you believe that you could get some extra income there's no reason not to put out a donaions box.

with our guest podium there's a place for the people to insert donations...
so it's not just saying "put donations here!"

it's "come sign our guest book! oh, and if you believe we did a good job be sure to put in a small donation!"

lol.
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