Jason Egan has always loved horror movies and Halloween — he used to set up haunted houses in his basement and backyard.
“I’ve just always loved the way a good scare and horror movies make you feel. I enjoy the adrenaline rush, the feeling you get at movies, and situations that get your heart pumping,” said Egan, owner and creator of Egan Escape Productions, which runs escape rooms in Southern Nevada and elsewhere. “I especially enjoy seeing our visitors’ smiles when they exit our attractions.”
Egan’s attractions in Las Vegas include Saw Escape Room and Escape Blair Witch, modeled on the horror movie series of those brands.
And while October is one of the busiest months of the year for Egan’s horror-themed enterprises, these are not strictly seasonal businesses. They attract customers year-round.
“People love to feel like they are in their favorite movies, and we like to provide that experience with good, quality, and authentic entertainment,” Egan said.
Is there a peak season for your business?
For us, it’s a toss-up between spring break and October. In general, spring break is an amazing month for our city, and we feel it here. And yes, because our escape rooms are horror themed, they sell out every single day in October. However, since horror content is breaking records at the box office and on TV all year long, people like to experience fear and an adrenaline rush all the time. Shows like “The Walking Dead” and “American Horror Story” really drove our audience to another level.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your business?
It’s only affected our business from a safety standpoint. We’ve implemented more safety procedures throughout the attractions. For example, hand sanitizers are available throughout, we are disinfecting between each group, and of course the mask requirement; however, this has not deterred visitors from coming. We are very transparent in our safety protocols and people know and trust that. We’ve had an amazing year, apart from the 2020 mandatory shutdowns.
What are the advantages of setting up shop in Las Vegas, as opposed to other cities?
Las Vegas is unique with over 40 million tourists — we get folks from all over the world and with little immersive choices, unlike Orlando, and no competing theme parks, people are looking for amusement attractions when in town. In a regular city, we’d be dependent on 2 million people, but with the constant flow of customers and tourists, we have the platform we need to be successful.
Do you have any other projects planned for Southern Nevada?
We are very excited about our top secret announcement in the first quarter of this year, but I’m always working on new ideas — life is too short, and I want to accomplish as much as possible while I’m here.
If you were king of Las Vegas for a day, what’s something you’d do to make the community better?
There’s so much we need, I’d need more than a day, but one of the biggest problems I’d like to address is the homeless crisis we are facing. People seem to ignore the issue; it’s devastating. There are certain streets where hundreds of people are lined up in the cold with no place to live, and I would love to be a part of the solution. As a community, we need to acknowledge the problem and address it. We can ask the federal government for money to attempt to fix the problem with proactive solutions, like teaching people how to be successful. I’ve worked with organizations like Goodwill that assist in placing people with jobs and keep their jobs with proper training.
What is the best business advice you’ve received?
“Whatever it takes to win,” Dana White said to me. To always go above and beyond and walk into anything I commit to giving it my all — an idea, a proposal, a meeting — have no regrets. No matter the results, you don’t question the what-ifs, as long as you always put your best foot forward giving it 110%.
What has been your most exciting professional project?
There are people I’ve looked up to on the big screen and inspired me to follow my passion, and to then get to collaborate with them, like Tobin Bell on the “Saw” project, was amazing. He is talented on screen, but just as talented off the screen; he’s a super smart man. Also, getting to work with Mark Burg, producer of “Saw,” was an incredible experience. Knowing that the studios trust me with their iconic brands, allowing me to bring them to life, is such a huge accomplishment.
What are you reading right now? Or binge-watching?
I just finished the new “Chucky” series and am watching the new “Dexter” — but I am very excited for “Stranger Things” to come back!
Whom do you admire?
Tony Robbins for his positivity and incredible motivational teachings. I also admire David Copperfield because of the passion he brings to his craft. The amount of effort he puts into each magic trick to make everything look as perfect as possible is unreal. His attention to detail is unmatched, and I’m fortunate enough to call him a friend.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
I love Richard Branson’s quote, “If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes — then learn how to do it later!” I don’t like when someone says they can’t do something, without taking the time to think about how it can be accomplished. Wherever there’s a will, there’s a way.
What is something that people might not know about you?
I really love well done comedies and I hate snakes. And anytime I can help with philanthropic efforts, I do. I truly believe it’s important to help others whenever you can.