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Halloween commercial scripts

50 Halloween commercial scripts written by us, free to practice with, record and put in your reel. Every one lists voice age, accent and length.

Halloween spots are a great workout because they switch color fast. One line is friendly, the next is spooky, and the tag is friendly again. These scripts cover candy, costumes, haunted attractions, family events and safety messages. Twenty of them are 15 seconds, so they also work for a short video. Want a vampire, a ghost pirate or a cackling horror host? Those are in the Halloween character voices section.

Fun Size Is a Lie

Halloween, candyAdult (25-40)Neutral AmericanOne narrator15 secondsabout 11s
Fun size is a lie. There is nothing fun about one bite. Mallowmoon full-size bars. Chocolate, caramel, and a marshmallow middle. This Halloween, be the good house. Mallowmoon.

Direction: Dry, deadpan, a friend telling you the truth
What it is for: A deadpan candy read where the joke lands because you never push it.
Coach's note: Watch out for selling the joke. Say 'Fun size is a lie' as a plain fact. The turn is 'Be the good house', which warms up into a smile.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for dry humor that still sounds like you love the candy.

The Good House

Halloween, groceryAdult (30-45)Neutral AmericanOne narrator15 secondsabout 14s
Every street has one house the kids talk about all year. Be that house. Big bags of candy are two for nine dollars at Parkhurst Market, through Friday. Parkhurst Market. Stock up before the doorbell rings.

Direction: Warm, quick, a neighbor in the know
What it is for: A friendly retail read with one price and one deadline to land.
Coach's note: Watch out for blurring the offer. 'Two for nine dollars' and 'through Friday' are the facts, so give each its own beat.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for warmth at speed and a clean price.

One Night Only

Halloween, haunted attractionAdult (40-55)Neutral AmericanOne narrator15 secondsabout 11s
Blackthorn Manor opens its doors for thirteen nights this October. Twelve rooms. One way out. Everyone who goes in comes back. Mostly. Blackthorn Manor. Tickets at the gate.

Direction: Low, slow, close to the mic; a host who enjoys this too much
What it is for: A spooky attraction read that stays quiet and still sells tickets.
Coach's note: Watch out for doing a monster voice. Stay human and calm. The scare is in the pause before 'Mostly.'
What casting listens for: Casting listens for menace you can understand. Every word of the dates must be clear.

If You Dare, Part Two

Halloween, corn mazeYoung adult (18-25)Midwestern USOne narrator15 secondsabout 14s
Eight acres of corn. Two miles of path. One exit. The Tuckaway Acres corn maze is open every weekend in October. Nobody has seen Greg since Saturday. Tuckaway Acres. Bring a friend. Keep track of him.

Direction: Bright and friendly, then one line of mock dread
What it is for: Switching color for a single line and coming straight back.
Coach's note: Watch out for staying spooky after the joke. Only 'Nobody has seen Greg since Saturday' gets the low voice. The tag is sunny again.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for a quick, clean switch and a likeable tag.

Your Dog Is a Taco

Halloween, pet costumesAdult (25-40)Neutral AmericanOne narrator15 secondsabout 16s
This Halloween, your dog could be a taco. A pumpkin. A very small sheriff. Pet costumes in every size are in now at Wagmore Pet Supply. Wagmore. He is going to hate it. You are going to love it.

Direction: Delighted, fast, trying not to laugh
What it is for: A playful retail read built on three quick images.
Coach's note: Watch out for rushing the list. Taco, pumpkin, tiny sheriff. Give each one its own picture, and the third is the funny one.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for real delight. If you sound like you own a dog, you book it.

Spooky Low Prices

Halloween, car dealershipAdult (40-55)Southern USOne narrator15 secondsabout 12s
The only thing scary at Lakeside Motors is how good these deals are! Every truck on the lot is marked down through October thirty-first. Lakeside Motors. No tricks. Just trucks.

Direction: Big local car-lot energy, fully aware it is corny
What it is for: A hard-sell local read that winks at its own pun.
Coach's note: Watch out for apologizing for the pun. Commit to 'scary good' at full volume, then drop to a normal voice for the date.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for energy and a clear end date. Local car spots book the voice that sounds like a real person.

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The Day After

Halloween, dentalAdult (30-45)Neutral AmericanOne narrator15 secondsabout 12s
We're not going to tell you to skip the candy. We're dentists, not monsters. Enjoy every piece. Then come see us. Brightwater Family Dental. We'll see you in November.

Direction: Kind, a little amused, never scolding
What it is for: A gentle healthcare read with a light seasonal joke.
Coach's note: Watch out for sounding like a lecture. She likes candy too. The turn is 'We'll see you in November', which is a smile and a promise.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for trust. A dental office wants the voice parents would hand their kid to.

Extra Large, Extra Late

Halloween, pizza deliveryYoung adult (18-25)Neutral AmericanOne narrator15 secondsabout 12s
The kids got candy. You walked two miles in the cold holding a plastic pumpkin. You've earned a pizza. Slice Harbor delivers until midnight on Halloween. Two large pies, nineteen ninety-nine.

Direction: Easygoing, a little conspiratorial
What it is for: A relaxed food read aimed at the parents, not the kids.
Coach's note: Watch out for getting excited too early. The first half is tired and honest. The offer is where the energy comes up.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for a voice that sounds like the listener's own inner monologue.

Boo at the Zoo

Halloween, family eventAdult (25-40)Neutral AmericanOne narrator15 secondsabout 15s
Wear your costume. Bring a bag. Meet a bat. Boo at the Zoo is back at Maple Ridge Zoo, with a trick-or-treat trail past every animal. The last two weekends in October. Kids in costume get in free.

Direction: Sunny, inviting, talking to small kids and their parents at once
What it is for: A family event read with three facts to carry clearly.
Coach's note: Watch out for singing it. Keep it conversational. The facts are costumes, the trail, and the two weekends.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for warmth without a kids'-show voice.

Last-Minute Face

Halloween, makeupYoung adult (18-25)Neutral AmericanOne narrator15 secondsabout 12s
No costume? You have a face. The Velvet Hex Halloween palette has twelve shades, from bone white to bruise purple. Ten minutes. One mirror. Done. Velvet Hex. Be something tonight.

Direction: Fast, confident, best-friend energy
What it is for: A beauty read at speed that still sounds like a person.
Coach's note: Watch out for losing the product name. Everything is quick except 'Velvet Hex', which gets room both times.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for attitude and clarity. The brand has to be easy to repeat.

The Doorbell

Halloween, smart homeAdult (30-45)Neutral AmericanOne narrator15 secondsabout 12s
It's Halloween. Your doorbell is about to ring forty times. The Porchlight video doorbell shows you who's there. Tonight, it's a very short vampire. Porchlight. Know before you open.

Direction: Calm tech voice with a tiny smile
What it is for: A tech read that uses the holiday for one small joke.
Coach's note: Watch out for overplaying 'a very short vampire'. Throw it away. The clean, calm tag is what sells the product.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for an easy, modern voice that never sounds like an announcer.

Thrift the Costume

Halloween, thrift storeAdult (25-40)Neutral AmericanOne narrator15 secondsabout 12s
A prom dress from 1994. A trench coat. One hard hat. That's three costumes, and it's under twenty dollars. Second Story Thrift. Your Halloween is already hanging on our racks.

Direction: Wry, clever, a little proud of the idea
What it is for: A value read where the listener gets to feel smart.
Coach's note: Watch out for listing without pictures. A prom dress, a trench coat, a hard hat. See each one before you say it.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for personality. Thrift brands want charm, not polish.

Fright Nights

Halloween, theme parkAdult (40-55)Neutral AmericanOne narrator30 secondsabout 27s
By day, Thunder Point Park is roller coasters, cotton candy and a very friendly beaver mascot. But when the sun goes down in October, the lights go out. Five haunted houses. Three scare zones. Coasters in total darkness. And something has happened to the beaver. Fright Nights at Thunder Point Park. Fridays and Saturdays through Halloween. Not recommended for kids under twelve. The cotton candy is still great.

Direction: Trailer-voice menace that breaks into a grin
What it is for: A big event read that builds, peaks and then lets the listener off the hook.
Coach's note: Watch out for starting at full volume. Begin quiet and close. The build runs through the list, and the turn is 'The cotton candy is still great', which is a full change of tone.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for range inside thirty seconds: dark, darker, then friendly, with clean dates.

Costume Contest at Dooley's

Halloween, bar and restaurantAdult (25-40)IrishOne narrator30 secondsabout 26s
Dooley's Public House is having a Halloween costume contest, and we take it very seriously. First prize is five hundred dollars. Second prize is a bar tab. Third prize is our respect. Last year a man came as a fridge. He could not sit down all night. He won. Saturday the thirty-first, nine o'clock. Live music, no cover in costume. Dooley's. Come as you aren't.

Direction: Warm pub host, quick with a joke, never shouting
What it is for: A local nightlife read with a prize, a date and a time to land.
Coach's note: Watch out for leaning on the accent. Keep it light and natural. The facts are Saturday, nine o'clock and the five hundred dollars. The turn is 'Last year a man came as a fridge.'
What casting listens for: Casting listens for a host you'd want to have a pint with, and for a clear prize.

The Walking Tour

Halloween, ghost tour, tourismMature (55+)Southern USOne narrator30 secondsabout 26s
There's a house on Linden Street where the porch light comes on every night at nine. Nobody has lived there since 1962. Some folks say it's the wiring. I'll let you decide. Old Harbor Ghost Walks leave from the town square every evening in October. Ninety minutes, eleven stops, and one story I only tell after dark. Old Harbor Ghost Walks. Wear good shoes.

Direction: A storyteller on a porch at dusk; unhurried, a twinkle
What it is for: Storytelling pace inside a commercial. The tour is the product and the voice is the tour.
Coach's note: Watch out for rushing to the offer. The first three lines are the hook, so take your time. The turn is 'I'll let you decide', which is a smile.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for a voice people would follow down a dark street. Mature Southern storytellers book this kind of spot.

Trunk or Treat

Halloween, community event, PSAAdult (30-45)Neutral AmericanOne narrator30 secondsabout 26s
Looking for a safe place to trick-or-treat this year? Come to Trunk or Treat at the Fairmont Community Center. Forty decorated cars, one parking lot, and more candy than any child should have. It's Friday, October thirtieth, from five to eight. It's free. All ages are welcome, and costumes are encouraged for grown-ups too. Trunk or Treat at Fairmont. Bring a bag. We'll fill it.

Direction: Neighborly, clear, glad you asked
What it is for: A community announcement where every detail has to be heard once and kept.
Coach's note: Watch out for treating it as a list. Each fact answers a question a parent has: where, when, how much, what to bring. Slow down for the date and the time.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for clarity and a voice that sounds like it lives in the neighborhood.

The Pumpkin Spice Problem

Halloween, coffee shopYoung adult (18-25)Neutral AmericanOne narrator30 secondsabout 26s
You said you were over pumpkin spice. You said it out loud, in public, with confidence. And yet here you are. The Kettle and Crow Midnight Pumpkin Latte has real pumpkin, dark espresso and a little black cocoa on top. We made it for people who say they're over pumpkin spice. It's really good. Kettle and Crow. Through October thirty-first, or until you stop pretending.

Direction: Self-aware, playful, a barista who has heard every joke
What it is for: A conversational food read that teases the listener and then wins them over.
Coach's note: Watch out for sounding sarcastic all the way through. She is teasing, then she means it. The turn is 'It's really good', which should be plain and sincere.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for a natural, modern read. If it sounds like an ad, it's wrong.

Party in a Box

Halloween, party suppliesAdult (25-40)Neutral AmericanOne narrator30 secondsabout 24s
You offered to host the Halloween party. That was three weeks ago. It is now Thursday. Don't panic. Go to Confetti Depot. Spider webs and string lights. Plates and cups. A fog machine and a playlist. One box has all of it, for thirty-nine dollars. You just have to open the door. Confetti Depot. The party is in aisle one.

Direction: Upbeat, organized, the friend who plans everything
What it is for: A retail read with a long list that still has to sound easy.
Coach's note: Watch out for running out of air on the list. Group it in pairs: webs and lights, plates and cups, fog and music. The turn is 'You just have to open the door.'
What casting listens for: Casting listens for energy that stays tidy. Every item should be heard.

Stay on the Sidewalk

Halloween, safety PSAAdult (40-55)Neutral AmericanOne narrator30 secondsabout 28s
On Halloween night, there will be more kids on our streets than on any other night of the year. So here are three small things. If you're walking, carry a light and stay on the sidewalk. If your costume has a mask, lift it to cross the street. And if you're driving between five and nine, slow down. Slow down. A message from Riverbend Police and Fire. Have a safe Halloween.

Direction: Steady, kind, a parent's voice; serious without alarm
What it is for: A public safety read that keeps people listening by staying calm.
Coach's note: Watch out for sounding stern. These are tips from a neighbor. Give each one room, and let 'Slow down' be the quietest line in the spot.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for authority that feels like care.

Escape the Cellar

Halloween, escape roomAdult (25-40)Neutral BritishOne narrator30 secondsabout 25s
Good evening. You and five friends have sixty minutes. The door behind you is locked. The lamp has about an hour of oil. And the previous owner of this cellar left some rather detailed notes. Most groups need a hint. Some need two. The Cellar, a Halloween escape room at Lockwood and Key. Booking now through November first. Do bring someone clever.

Direction: Polite, precise, faintly sinister; a game master who knows the answer
What it is for: A character-flavored commercial read where the menace comes from good manners.
Coach's note: Watch out for playing a villain. He is courteous throughout. The turn is 'Most groups need a hint', and he enjoys saying it.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for crisp diction and control. Understatement is the scare.

The Bakery Window

Halloween, bakeryMature (55+)Neutral AmericanOne narrator30 secondsabout 26s
Every October, I put ghost cookies in the front window. I've done it for twenty-six years. They're sugar cookies with white icing and two little chocolate eyes. Nothing fancy. But I have customers who came in as kids and now bring their own. We also do pumpkin bread, caramel apples and a chocolate cake shaped like a cauldron. Rosalind's Bakery. Order by Wednesday for Halloween.

Direction: Soft, proud, the owner herself
What it is for: A small-business read where the owner's pride is the selling point.
Coach's note: Watch out for announcing it. She is talking to a regular over the counter. The turn is 'Order by Wednesday', which is practical and firm.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for a real person. A lived-in voice beats a pretty one here.

The Costume Aisle at Nine PM

Halloween, big-box retailAdult (30-45)Neutral AmericanOne narrator60 secondsabout 66s
It is nine o'clock on October thirtieth, and my daughter has just told me she no longer wants to be a princess. She has been a princess since August. We own the dress. We own the shoes. There is a wand. She would now like to be a banana. I asked her why. She said, and I'm quoting, 'Because bananas are funny.' I could not argue with that. So here is what I know. Hartwell's is open until eleven. The costume aisle still has every size. And there is, in fact, a banana. There's also a shark, a slice of pizza, an astronaut and something called a spooky avocado, which I did not ask about. Kids' costumes start at fourteen ninety-nine. Face paint, candy bags and glow sticks are all in the same aisle, so you only have to make one trip. My daughter is going to be a banana. I'm told the princess dress will be 'for later.' Hartwell's. Open late all Halloween week.

Direction: A parent telling a true story, tired and funny, then relieved
What it is for: A story-led retail spot. Practise holding a listener for a full minute with one small scene.
Coach's note: Watch out for playing the comedy instead of the situation. The parent means every word. The build runs to 'a banana', and the turn is 'Hartwell's is open until eleven', where the shoulders drop.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for a storyteller. Sixty-second retail spots book the voice that sounds like a real parent on a real night.

The House on the Corner

Halloween, home improvementAdult (40-55)Midwestern USOne narrator60 secondsabout 59s
I want to be clear that it started small. One pumpkin. A string of orange lights. Then I was at Brennan's Hardware picking up furnace filters, and they had a twelve-foot skeleton by the door. I don't know if you've ever stood next to a twelve-foot skeleton. It changes a man. So now I have the skeleton. I have forty feet of purple lights and an outdoor timer. I have two fog machines, because one fog machine does not cover a corner lot. I have a motion sensor that makes the mailbox scream. My wife says it's too much. It is not too much. Brennan's has everything you need to be the house on the corner. Lights, extension cords, stakes, timers and, yes, the skeleton. They'll even help you load it. Brennan's Hardware. Family owned since 1958. Ask for the skeleton by name. His name is Dennis.

Direction: Plain-spoken dad who has gone a little too far with the decorations
What it is for: A character-driven hardware read. The product list is the comedy, so every item needs a clear picture.
Coach's note: Watch out for winking at the audience. He is completely sincere about the fog machine. The turn is 'My wife says it's too much', followed by a pause and 'It is not too much.'
What casting listens for: Casting listens for an everyman with timing. If the listener can see the yard, you've got it.

What We Hand Out

Halloween, nonprofit, food driveAdult (30-45)Neutral AmericanOne narrator60 secondsabout 62s
On Halloween, about three hundred kids knock on the door of the Northside Food Pantry. We give them candy, like everybody else on the block. We decorate. One of our volunteers dresses as a carrot every single year, and nobody knows why. It's one of my favorite nights. Some of those kids come back on Monday with their parents. Not for candy. For groceries. That's what we do the other three hundred and sixty-four days. We hand out food to about nine hundred families in this neighborhood, and October is when our shelves start to run low. So this Halloween, we're asking for one small thing. When you buy a bag of candy, buy a jar of peanut butter too. Drop it in the orange bin at any Northside grocery store, any day through November seventh. One jar. That's it. The Northside Food Pantry. We'll take care of the candy. Help us with the rest.

Direction: Honest and warm; a volunteer talking, never pleading
What it is for: A nonprofit read that moves from a light holiday image to a real ask without changing voices.
Coach's note: Watch out for going sad. She is hopeful and practical. The turn is 'Some of those kids come back on Monday', and it should be said simply. Then the ask is clear and specific.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for sincerity and restraint. The listener should want to help, not feel told off.

A Face on Purpose

Halloween, pumpkin carving kitAdult (30-45)Neutral AmericanOne narrator15 secondsabout 16s
Every year you carve a pumpkin with a steak knife and a soup spoon. Every year it comes out looking surprised. The Gourdsmith carving kit has six real tools and twelve patterns. Gourdsmith. This year, make a face on purpose.

Direction: Dry and friendly, a neighbor who has seen your pumpkin
What it is for: A short product read where a gentle tease sets up a plain, useful offer.
Coach's note: Watch out for mocking the listener. You have carved that pumpkin too. The turn is 'make a face on purpose', and the last two words carry it.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for a likeable tease and a product name that is easy to catch.

The Closet Door

Halloween, mattress storeAdult (25-40)Neutral AmericanOne narrator15 secondsabout 16s
You watched the scary movie. It's two in the morning. The closet door is open. A little. We can't help with the closet. We can help with the bed. Featherfall Sleep Shop. Every mattress, twenty percent off through Halloween.

Direction: Quiet and close for the first half, then relaxed and practical
What it is for: A retail read that opens like a ghost story and lands on a sale.
Coach's note: Watch out for whispering the offer. Only the opening is hushed. The turn is 'We can't help with the closet', where the voice comes back to normal.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for a clean gear change and a clear twenty percent.

Nine Pieces Ago

Halloween, gymYoung adult (18-25)Neutral AmericanOne narrator15 secondsabout 16s
You said one piece of candy. That was nine pieces ago. We're not judging. We have a bowl at the front desk. Join Ironbird Gym in November and your first month is one dollar. Ironbird. Bring the wrappers. We don't ask.

Direction: Light, teasing, on the listener's side
What it is for: A fitness read that sells without a single word of guilt.
Coach's note: Watch out for sounding like a trainer telling someone off. The gym eats candy too. The turn is 'We have a bowl at the front desk', said as a small confession.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for a friendly voice that makes a gym sound easy to walk into.

No Signal

Halloween, phone carrierAdult (25-40)Neutral AmericanOne narrator15 secondsabout 16s
In every scary movie, somebody's phone has no signal. That's the whole movie. One bar, and everybody's home by nine. Farbell Mobile. Coverage in the woods, the basement and the cabin by the lake. Farbell. Sorry about the plot.

Direction: Casual, amused, a friend pointing out the obvious
What it is for: A telecom read that makes a coverage claim through one joke.
Coach's note: Watch out for explaining the joke. Say 'everybody's home by nine' and move on. The turn is 'Sorry about the plot', which is a throwaway with a smile.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for an easy, unforced read and a clear list of three places.

One Cold Spot

Halloween, candle shopAdult (30-45)Neutral AmericanOne narrator15 secondsabout 14s
Our new candle is called Haunted Library. It smells like old paper, wood smoke and one unexplained cold spot. We don't know how we did the cold spot. Emberlow Candle Company. Halloween scents, in store now.

Direction: Soft, cozy, then honestly puzzled
What it is for: A gentle lifestyle read with a deadpan second line.
Coach's note: Watch out for playing the second line for a laugh. She really does not know how they did it. The turn is 'We don't know how we did the cold spot', said flat and a little worried.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for a warm, textured voice and a straight face.

The Skeleton Can Stay

Halloween, lawn careAdult (40-55)Midwestern USOne narrator15 secondsabout 16s
The scariest thing in your yard is not the plastic skeleton. It's the leaves. There are so many leaves. Greenstride Lawn Crew does a full fall cleanup in one visit, starting at ninety-nine dollars. Greenstride. The skeleton can stay.

Direction: Plain-spoken and steady, a man looking at a lot of leaves
What it is for: A local service read with one price and one small joke at the end.
Coach's note: Watch out for hurrying past 'There are so many leaves'. That line is the tired sigh that sells the service. The turn is 'The skeleton can stay', which is kind, not clever.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for a trustworthy local voice and a price you hear the first time.

Put the Scissors Down

Halloween, hair salonAdult (25-40)Southern USOne narrator15 secondsabout 15s
Nothing on Halloween is scarier than bangs you cut yourself at midnight. Honey, put the scissors down. Copper Comb Salon takes walk-ins all Halloween week. Costume hair, color and repairs. Copper Comb. We won't ask what happened.

Direction: A stylist talking a friend out of a bad idea, warm and firm
What it is for: A character-flavored local read where one line is spoken straight to one person.
Coach's note: Watch out for pushing the accent on 'Honey'. Keep it easy. The turn is 'put the scissors down', which is quiet, slow and completely serious.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for charm and a real person behind the chair.

Caller Thirteen

Halloween, radio station contestAdult (25-40)Neutral AmericanOne narrator15 secondsabout 16s
This is Ridge Ninety-Eight Five. Sometime this hour, you're going to hear a wolf howl. When you do, be caller thirteen and win five hundred dollars. If you hear a wolf and the radio's off, that's a different problem.

Direction: Bright station voice, then one dry aside
What it is for: A radio contest read: station name, how to win, the prize, and a button.
Coach's note: Watch out for staying in announcer mode for the last line. The first two paragraphs are the station voice. The turn is 'that's a different problem', which drops to a normal speaking voice.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for clean numbers and a station voice that can still be funny.

Five Movies, One Blanket

Halloween, movie theaterYoung adult (18-25)Neutral AmericanOne narrator30 secondsabout 30s
Starling Cinemas presents the All-Night Fright Marathon. Five scary movies, from eight at night until the sun comes up. There is a creature. There is a cabin. There is a doll that should not be in that chair. Tickets are twenty-five dollars, and that includes unlimited popcorn and coffee. Bring a blanket. Bring a friend who screams. We keep the lobby lights on, in case you need a minute. Friday, October thirtieth. Starling Cinemas.

Direction: Mock-trailer for the first half, then a friendly usher
What it is for: An event read that borrows the trailer voice and then lets it go.
Coach's note: Watch out for holding the trailer voice to the end. It belongs to the three 'There is' lines only. The turn is 'in case you need a minute', which is kind and a little amused.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for control of two registers and a clear price and date.

Cider Donut Season

Halloween, orchard and ciderMature (55+)Midwestern USOne narrator30 secondsabout 29s
I'll be honest with you. Nobody drives forty minutes for the apples. They come for the cider donuts. We make them every morning in October, and we put them out warm. By noon on a Saturday, there's a line past the barn. We also have fresh-pressed cider, eleven kinds of apples and a scarecrow contest the kids judge themselves. They are harsh. Pennyfield Orchard. Open daily through Halloween. Come early. I mean that.

Direction: The owner, frank and fond, talking over a counter
What it is for: A small-business read built on one honest admission.
Coach's note: Watch out for selling the donuts too hard. She is stating facts. The turn is 'They are harsh', a dry aside about the kids, and then 'I mean that' is a real warning.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for a lived-in voice with humor underneath it.

A Real Volcano

Halloween, craft storeAdult (30-45)Neutral AmericanOne narrator30 secondsabout 32s
Your son has announced that he will be a volcano for Halloween. Not a store-bought volcano. A real one. With lava. You have four days, no pattern and a strong feeling about cardboard. Thimble and Twine has the felt, the red tissue paper, the battery lights and the hot glue. We also have a staff member named Carol who has built two volcanoes and a working lighthouse. Thimble and Twine. All costume supplies are thirty percent off this week.

Direction: A parent briefing another parent, calm on top and worried underneath
What it is for: A retail read where a product list is rescued by one very specific person.
Coach's note: Watch out for rushing the supply list. Felt, tissue paper, lights, glue: each one solves a problem. The turn is Carol, so slow down for 'two volcanoes and a working lighthouse'.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for a storyteller who can make a shopping list sound like help arriving.

Not Too Scary Story Night

Halloween, public libraryAdult (40-55)Neutral AmericanOne narrator30 secondsabout 32s
This Thursday is Not Too Scary Story Night at the Elmwood Public Library. We turn the lights down. Not off. Down. There will be a story about a ghost who is afraid of children, and one about a witch who can't find her other sock. Nobody gets eaten. We checked. It's for ages four to eight, it starts at six thirty, and it's free. Pajamas are welcome. The Elmwood Public Library. The only thing we haunt is the returns desk.

Direction: A children's librarian: gentle, precise, quietly funny
What it is for: A community read aimed at parents of small children, with an age, a time and a price to land.
Coach's note: Watch out for using a story-time voice on the grown-ups. She is talking to parents. The turn is 'Nobody gets eaten. We checked', which is a calm reassurance, not a punchline.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for warmth, clear details and a voice a four-year-old would trust.

Before and After

Halloween, pharmacyAdult (40-55)Neutral AmericanOne narrator30 secondsabout 28s
Halloween has a before and an after. Pellam's Pharmacy has an aisle for both. Before: glow sticks, reflective tape, flashlight batteries and face paint that actually washes off. After: makeup remover, bandages for the new-shoe blisters, and something gentle for a stomach that met a pillowcase full of chocolate. We've seen it all. We've been on this corner for thirty years. Pellam's Pharmacy. Open until ten on Halloween night.

Direction: The neighborhood pharmacist, unhurried, seen it all
What it is for: A two-part retail read. Practise making 'Before' and 'After' sound like two different evenings.
Coach's note: Watch out for reading both lists at one energy. 'Before' is brisk and organized. The turn is 'After', where everything slows down and gets sympathetic.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for a steady, trusted voice and a list where every item is heard.

It Is Always the Cape

Halloween, urgent careAdult (30-45)Neutral AmericanOne narrator30 secondsabout 32s
Every Halloween, Quickmend Urgent Care sees the same three things. A twisted ankle from a costume that was too long. A bumped head from a mask with no eye holes. And one grown man who tried to jump a hedge in a cape. It is always the cape. We're open until midnight on October thirty-first, no appointment needed. So hem the costume, cut the eye holes bigger and walk around the hedge. Quickmend Urgent Care. Here if you need us.

Direction: A nurse at the end of a long shift, kind and very dry
What it is for: A healthcare read that stays reassuring while it gets a laugh.
Coach's note: Watch out for making the injuries sound alarming. These are small, ordinary bumps and she has seen them all. The turn is 'It is always the cape', said with total certainty.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for calm and warmth. The listener should feel looked after, not teased.

Out by Friday

Halloween, moving companyAdult (40-55)ScottishOne narrator30 secondsabout 30s
You bought the house in April. Lovely place. Big staircase. Very reasonable price. Nobody mentioned the piano. You don't own a piano. Two Oaks Moving can have you packed, loaded and out by Friday. We wrap the furniture, we carry the boxes, and we do not ask why you're leaving in such a hurry. We've moved four families out of that street this October. Nice people. Very pale. Two Oaks Moving. Call for a free quote.

Direction: Deadpan and practical, a mover who has stopped being surprised
What it is for: A character read where the humor comes from saying strange things in a working voice.
Coach's note: Watch out for playing it spooky. He is quoting for a job. The turn is 'You don't own a piano', and after it he goes straight back to business.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for a natural accent, dry timing and a clear call to action.

The Inflatable Pumpkin

Halloween, insuranceAdult (30-45)Neutral AmericanTwo narrators (duet)30 secondsabout 30s

Cast: AGENTDEB

AGENTStillwater Mutual, claims. How can I help?
DEBHi. My inflatable pumpkin got loose in the wind.
AGENTOkay. How big is the pumpkin?
DEBFourteen feet.
AGENTAnd where is it now?
DEBOn my neighbor's car. And his fence. It's still smiling.
AGENTYou're covered. Home and auto, same policy. I'll send someone tomorrow morning.
DEBThank you. Should I let the air out?
AGENTI would. Stillwater Mutual. Whatever October blows in.

Direction: A real phone call: she is embarrassed, he has heard worse
What it is for: A two-voice spot. Practise answering your partner instead of waiting for your line.
Coach's note: Watch out for playing the comedy at each other. Deb is mortified and the agent is simply doing his job. The turn is 'You're covered', where her shoulders drop. The agent's last line turns out to the listener.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for two people who sound like they are on the same call, and an agent you would want to get.

A Pirate Should Not Drive

Halloween, safe ride homeAdult (25-40)AustralianOne narrator30 secondsabout 29s
Right. You're dressed as a pirate. It's one in the morning, and you've had a lovely night. A pirate should not be driving. Neither should a zombie, a disco ball or whatever your mate Kev is meant to be. Open the Lanternway app and a driver will be with you in minutes. Halloween night, every ride home is half price until three. Leave the car. Keep the hat. Lanternway Rides. Everybody gets home.

Direction: The sensible friend at the end of the party, cheerful and not budging
What it is for: A responsible-message read that never sounds like a warning.
Coach's note: Watch out for lecturing. She had a great night too. The turn is 'A pirate should not be driving', which is plain and friendly, and the real message is 'Everybody gets home'.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for an easy accent, good humor and a tag that lands with some weight.

The Skeleton Shuffle

Halloween, kids' dance studioYoung adult (18-25)Neutral AmericanOne narrator30 secondsabout 32s
Do you have a small ghost at home with too much energy? Bring them to the Skeleton Shuffle at Tiptoe Dance Studio. It's a Halloween dance party for ages three to ten. We'll teach the zombie walk, the bat flap and a move called the wobbly pumpkin. Most of our dancers fall over on purpose. Saturday, October twenty-fourth, two to four. Ten dollars a dancer. Costumes on, tap shoes optional. Tiptoe Dance Studio. We'll wear them out for you.

Direction: A young dance teacher, bright and a bit out of breath
What it is for: A kids' event read addressed to tired parents, with a date, a time and a price.
Coach's note: Watch out for talking to the children. The parents are the ones listening. The turn is 'We'll wear them out for you', which is the real offer and gets a knowing smile.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for energy that stays conversational and details that stay clear.

Room Fourteen

Halloween, hotelAdult (40-55)Neutral BritishOne narrator30 secondsabout 31s
Guests at the Mossgrave Hotel occasionally report a knocking in room fourteen. We have looked into it. It is the radiator. It is almost certainly the radiator. This October, join us for the Haunted Weekend. Two nights, a candlelit dinner, a tour of the old wing and a full breakfast for those who slept. From two hundred and forty dollars per couple. Room fourteen is available on request. It usually is. The Mossgrave Hotel. Checkout is at eleven.

Direction: A hotel manager: gracious, composed, not entirely convinced by her own answer
What it is for: A travel read where good manners do the comedy.
Coach's note: Watch out for signalling the joke. She believes it is the radiator, mostly. The turn is the second 'radiator' line, where 'almost certainly' lets a little doubt in.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for poise, crisp diction and understatement.

Four Hundred Pounds of Pumpkin

Halloween, craft breweryAdult (30-45)Neutral AmericanOne narrator60 secondsabout 63s
Every fall, somebody walks into Crooked Fence Brewing and asks if our pumpkin ale has real pumpkin in it. Yes. It has four hundred pounds of real pumpkin in it. I know, because I roasted them. Myself. In an oven that fits six at a time. I did the math on that later. I don't recommend doing the math. We call it Last Lantern. It's a pumpkin ale with cinnamon, a little ginger and brown sugar, and it tastes like the last warm afternoon in October. We make one batch a year. When it's gone, it's gone, and then people get upset with me personally. So here's my advice. Come by the taproom this weekend. We've got a fire pit, a food truck and a man with a banjo who takes requests, within reason. Last Lantern pumpkin ale, from Crooked Fence Brewing. On tap and in cans through Halloween. Must be twenty-one or older. Please drink responsibly.

Direction: The brewer himself, tired, proud and funny without trying
What it is for: A first-person maker's spot. Practise carrying a full minute on personality, then switching cleanly to a legal tag.
Coach's note: Watch out for performing the jokes. He is just telling you what happened with the oven. The turn is 'So here's my advice', where the story stops and the invitation starts. Read the last line straight and unhurried.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for an authentic, unpolished voice and a responsibility tag that sounds like the same person.

The Mayor Is in the Pumpkin

Halloween, city paradeAnyNeutral AmericanTwo narrators (duet)60 secondsabout 71s

Cast: DANAROY

DANAThe Marlow Creek Halloween Parade is back, Saturday, October thirty-first, at four o'clock.
ROYRight down Main Street. Same as every year.
DANANot the same. This year there are thirty floats.
ROYThirty?
DANAThirty floats, six marching bands and the high school drumline dressed as skeletons.
ROYAnd the mayor?
DANAThe mayor will be riding in a giant pumpkin.
ROYDoes the mayor know that?
DANAHe does now.
ROYOkay, what do folks need to know?
DANAThe parade starts at the library and ends at Founders Park. Main Street closes to cars at three, so park on Elm or at the fairgrounds and take the free shuttle.
ROYAnd the kids?
DANAAny child in costume can walk in the parade. Just be at the library by three thirty.
ROYCan I walk in the parade?
DANAAre you a child in costume?
ROYI could be in costume.
DANAThe Marlow Creek Halloween Parade. Saturday at four. It's free, and so is the cider.
ROYI'm coming as the mayor.

Direction: Two local radio hosts: she has the facts, he has the questions
What it is for: A two-voice event spot. Dana drives and carries every detail. Roy's job is to react and keep it moving.
Coach's note: Watch out for stepping on the information. Roy's lines are short, so keep them light and quick, and let Dana's long paragraph breathe: start point, end point, road closing, parking. The turn is 'Are you a child in costume?', where Dana finally plays along.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for chemistry and overlap that never buries a time or a place.

I Said Yes in May

Halloween, school fundraiserAdult (30-45)Neutral AmericanOne narrator60 secondsabout 64s
Hi. I'm the parent who said yes to running the Juniper Hill Elementary Halloween Carnival. I said yes in May. May is a very easy month to say yes in. So here is what forty volunteers and one very long extension cord have built for you. There's a haunted hallway, designed by the fifth grade. It is mostly streamers, and it is still more frightening than I expected. There's a cake walk, a ring toss, a pumpkin bowling lane and a booth where you can throw a wet sponge at the principal. He volunteered. I want that on the record. It's Friday, October twenty-third, from five to eight in the school gym. Tickets are fifty cents each, or twenty-five for ten dollars. Every dollar goes to the library. Last year we bought six hundred new books. This year we would like shelves to put them on. The Juniper Hill Halloween Carnival. Come hungry. Bring quarters. Aim for the principal.

Direction: A volunteer parent, frazzled, funny and secretly proud
What it is for: A real-person fundraiser read that has to carry a date, a place, a price and a reason to give.
Coach's note: Watch out for staying in the comedy when the money comes up. The turn is 'Every dollar goes to the library', which is sincere and simple. 'Shelves to put them on' is the ask, so let it land before the tag.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for a believable parent with timing, and for details that stay clear in the rush.

The Late Forecast

Halloween, audio dramaMature (55+)Neutral AmericanOne narrator60 secondsabout 65s
Turn off the lights. No, go on. I'll wait. Good. Now listen. In the town of Harrow Bay, the radio station went off the air in 1974. The tower is still there. The building is locked. And every night in October, at eleven minutes past eleven, somebody reads the weather. It is never tonight's weather. The Late Forecast is a new audio drama in ten parts, from Lamplit Audio. No pictures. No screen. Just a voice, a storm and a town that would rather you didn't ask. You can listen in the car. You can listen on a walk. We would suggest that you not listen alone in a house that makes noises, but people do, and they write to us about it. The letters are very polite. The handwriting is not steady. The Late Forecast. All ten episodes, free, starting October first, wherever you get your podcasts. From Lamplit Audio. You can turn the lights back on now. If they'll come on.

Direction: A late-night radio voice, very close to the mic, in no hurry at all
What it is for: A promo for an audio drama. Practise holding stillness for a full minute and letting silence do the work.
Coach's note: Watch out for putting on a spooky voice. He is friendly, and that is what unsettles people. The first turn is 'It is never tonight's weather'. The second is the last line, 'If they'll come on', which is nearly a whisper.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for a storyteller with a rich, calm voice who can be clear at low volume.

Three Pumpkins Scary

Halloween, kids' book fairAdult (25-40)Neutral AmericanOne narrator60 secondsabout 61s
The Dogear Halloween Book Fair is coming to your child's school, and we would like to prepare you. Your child will come home with a list. The list will have nine books on it. One of them will be about a skeleton who plays the trombone. You will say, 'Pick two.' Your child will pick five. This is normal. Here's the good news. Every book at the fair is sorted by how scary it is. One pumpkin means not scary at all. Two pumpkins means a little shivery. Three pumpkins means read it with a grown-up, preferably one who is brave. Picture books start at four dollars. Chapter books start at six. And every book you buy sends one free book to a classroom that needs it. So say yes to the trombone skeleton. It's reading. You're allowed to give in. The Dogear Halloween Book Fair. All this week in the school library.

Direction: Warm and wry, one parent preparing another for what is coming
What it is for: A family retail read that explains a simple system and then gives the listener permission to spend.
Coach's note: Watch out for rushing the pumpkin ratings. One, two, three: each is a step up and each gets its own color. The turn is 'So say yes to the trombone skeleton', where the teasing stops and the warmth comes in.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for an easy storyteller who makes parents smile and still lands two prices.

Hold Still, Dinosaur

Halloween, photo studioAdult (30-45)Neutral AmericanOne narrator60 secondsabout 64s
I have been a children's photographer for eleven years. I have photographed newborns, toddlers and a set of triplets who did not agree on anything. None of that prepared me for Halloween. Last year I photographed a dinosaur who refused to roar. A ladybug who cried because her brother was also a ladybug. And a four-year-old dressed as a tax accountant, who sat perfectly still and asked how long this would take. Best picture I took all year. Here's the thing. The costume lasts one night. In a week it's in a bag in the closet, and next October it won't fit. So bring them to Snapdragon Portrait Studio. Halloween mini sessions are fifteen minutes and forty-five dollars. You get five edited photos by email the same week. Pets are welcome. Siblings are welcome, even the ones dressed the same. Snapdragon Portrait Studio. Booking now through October thirtieth. The dinosaur did roar, by the way. Right after we finished.

Direction: A children's photographer telling stories from work, patient and amused
What it is for: A story-led small-business read with a sincere middle and a callback at the end.
Coach's note: Watch out for treating the middle as one more joke. The turn is 'The costume lasts one night', where he means it and the pace slows. Save a little smile for the dinosaur at the very end.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for a natural storyteller who can be funny and then sincere without changing voices.

Roses for Mister Doyle

Halloween, floristMature (55+)IrishOne narrator60 secondsabout 65s
People think a florist has nothing to do in October. Just mums. Those people have not met my Halloween customers. There's a woman who orders a wreath made entirely of dried thistles, and she is the most cheerful person I know. There's a boy of nine who buys one orange lily for his teacher, because she let him be a bat in the school play. And there's Mister Doyle. Every year, on the thirty-first, Mister Doyle comes in for a dozen roses, as dark as we can get them. They're for his wife. He says she's a witch. He says it very fondly. They've been married forty-one years. I've stopped asking questions. So if you'd like something for your table, your door or your own particular witch, come and see us at Fernsby Flowers. We have deep red dahlias, orange lilies and roses nearly as dark as Mister Doyle likes them. Halloween arrangements from thirty-five dollars. Fernsby Flowers. Bring her something dark.

Direction: The shop owner, soft-spoken, a born storyteller with a glint
What it is for: A portrait-style small-business read. The customers are the spot, and the offer arrives late and lightly.
Coach's note: Watch out for thickening the accent or hurrying to the sale. Take your time with each customer. The turn is 'And there's Mister Doyle', where she settles in, and 'He says it very fondly' is the heart of the piece.
What casting listens for: Casting listens for warmth, a natural lilt and a voice you would happily listen to for a minute.

Questions

How spooky should a Halloween commercial sound?

Less than you think. Most of these are fun-scary. Give the one spooky line a lower, slower voice, then come straight back to friendly for the tag.

Can I use these scripts in a demo or a social video?

Yes. They are written by us with made-up brand names, and they are free to practice with, record and post.

Which script should I start with?

Start with a 15-second one. They run 25 to 45 words, so you can do five takes in a couple of minutes and hear the difference.

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Use these freely. Every script here was written by VO Journey Academy. Practice with them, record them, post them as demos, reels or social clips, and use them in auditions. Please do not resell them or publish them as your own scripts. A credit is always welcome, never required.