[Lagrousome]

Just wondered if anyone here has been able to turn their passion into making a little xtra money on the side? Do you sell any props you make? Work for businesses setting up displays? Was just curious. My ideal job would be making props all year and being able to support my habbit at the same time!

 

[slightlymad]

No only because everytime I have seen someone do this it ruines their enjoyment of said passion

 

[The Haunter]

Well I'm going to try I plan to do a comertial haunt in my home town. My wife told me that my addiction had to start paying for itself. Also I did a small charity haunt for my moms school and the screams were music to my ears, so I found a storefront and I'm going for it . (fingers crossed)

 

[Lagrousome]

Good luck to you Haunter! Keep us posted on how it goes.
Slightlymad ~ I have thought about that. I was thinking along the lines of some fall shows, or something like that where it wasn't an everday sale kinda thing. Maybe a web site selling custom made props......just turning the wheels I guess.

 

[Spartan005]

Not yet but I'm probably going to sell a couple of corpsed bluckies on ebay pretty soon. Besides that, the money made from my haunt all goes to charity.

 

[Lagrousome]

Spartan ~
You make money from your haunt?
Great that it all goes to charity!
Oh, I see you are 16......no mortgage, no utilities......
Wait till you get the ideal suburban home, an SUV and little offspring that want the pool, DS and all the goodies they see on T.V!

 

[Lagrousome]

That was a funny BTW!
Great spirit helping out!

 

[Spartan005]

Spartan ~
You make money from your haunt?
Great that it all goes to charity!
Oh, I see you are 16......no mortgage, no utilities......
Wait till you get the ideal suburban home, an SUV and little offspring that want the pool, DS and all the goodies they see on T.V!

lol... that won't happen for a while though thank god

 

[Front Yard Fright]

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!
.

 

[Bauton]

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?

 

[Dr Morbius]

I'll be selling a few of my 3 Axis Bucky skulls soon. Custom hand made, I'll probably make 10 or so available. After that, who knows?

 

[Death's Door]

I don't have a walk-through haunt. I'm one of those weiners that decorates the inside and outside of my house to the hilt for my own self satisfaction. However, a few of my neighbors have been giving me gifts because they like coming to my house and appreciate all the time and effort that I do. One neighbor gave me a Halloween photo album where the front of it was covered with bronze and had bats engraved in it along with an insert for a picture. I still cherish it.

 

[1031fan]

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

 

[Front Yard Fright]

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?

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!
.

 

[Bauton]

I just have a yard display, but I dress up as a pirate and try (emphasis on try) to entertain the children with jokes and witty comments before giving them their candy. I've actually had parents video tape me while messing with their children.

I've thought about having a box, but just can't decide if it would be too forward to ask for donations. Espcially since I only get about 100 to 150 kids come through.

 

[Front Yard Fright]

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.
.

 

[CerysCrow]

I don't have a walk-through haunt. I'm one of those weiners that decorates the inside and outside of my house to the hilt for my own self satisfaction.

That's pretty much how we are.

However, I make Halloween related "crafty" items for funsies, but not much profit, thus far. I sell on Etsy and have had many lookers, but few buyers. I am really hoping that sales pick up closer to Halloween.

As for props, although many tell me that I should make and sell them, I really don't want to. They're like my children and I really don't like the idea of mass producing them for others.

 

[Spartan005]

Well this year I'm putting a lot of money into this haunted house since it will be my last one for the next four years (b/c of college) so I've decided that we'll still donate all of the proceeds to charity BUT at the end of the haunt there will be a souvenir stand where all of my old halloween stuff along with some new corpsed skulls and so forth will be sold. On top of that we'll be having a raffle in which 10 lucky guests will get to go through a lights on tour through the house and see how every single special effect/illusion works. I really would want everything to go to charity but this hobby gets really expensive (especially when you're 16 years old lol)

 

[Bone Dancer]

So, where can I buy a ticket for this raffle, and does it include airfare to an from the haunt. Will there be a luncheon provided.
Just because you going to college does not mean you can't corpse skulls, your roomys will love it. Well maybe not the smell of the latex so much.

 

[Sickie Ickie]

My passion is acting and haunt things. My acting hasn't even begun to pay for itself yet, but I'm hoping my buddy's and my new haunt biz will soon pay for itself.