How Private Mystery Parties Work

FIRST, WE NEED TO KNOW WHICH TYPE OF MYSTERY PARTY GROUP ARE YOU?

REGULAR MYSTERY GROUPS

Most groups who host a murder mystery party know approximately how many people will attend their mystery party. The point person for the group first selects a theme, and then we provide a character list and she casts her guests like she is casting a movie, giving the big parts to extroverts and the minor parts and bit parts to those who are not so outgoing.

SIGN UP TO HOST A MYSTERY PARTY EVENT

We also do “sign-up events.” Most of these mystery party events are done in bars, restaurants, country clubs, etc.

Six to eight weeks before the event, we put a casting book out (for example, at the clubhouse) with the date of the event and a list of characters broken down into major, minor, and bit parts. Live wires typically sign up for the major parts and shy people usually take bit parts. If not enough people sign up for the event two weeks before the selected date, it is canceled. There would be no fee for this type of cancellation.

WE TAKE CARE OF THE INTROVERTS DURING THE CASTING PROCESS

We know from experience that in every group of 35-80 people, there are going to be people who “just want to watch,” when you host a murder mystery party.

That is not possible at our mystery party events – there is no audience. They would not have a good time anyway because it would be like going to a cocktail party with a bunch of people you have nothing in common with (because everybody else is in character.) Plus if we let them attend, they are going to want to talk about their local sports team or news or whatever – they pull other people “out of character.”

We solve this issue by giving these people bit parts. So if it is the rock and roll theme, for example, they might just play a roadie. They could be an electrician for the band, and they just arrived a few hours ago to get ready to set up the stage for tomorrow.

So they don’t know the rock star or any of the central characters – they won’t be asked a lot of questions. They can still participate just as much as other characters, walking around trying to solve the mystery. But if he or she just wants to hang out at the bar we don’t care – but we do ask that everybody stay in character

It is not unusual at our events to see somebody who everybody thought was so quiet and shy “come out of their shell.”

OK, SO MYSTERY PARTS HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED. NOW WHAT?

We ask that you prepare an Excel sheet with the name of each mystery party player, plus the character they will be playing, and their contact information. Two weeks before the party, they will receive their complete character summary which will tell them everything they need to know, including who they know, what they have done recently, and if they are the killer. We will work with the point person of the group to make sure everybody has received their character summaries well in advance of the event.

But then they have a week or so to think about how they want to play it. This is part of the fun (parents have told us their kids had a ball, giving them all kinds of great ideas on how to dress and play their characters.) It is not unusual at our events for characters to show up with professional business cards for their characters.

AT THE EVENT

All of the character summaries are written so that the characters are going to a party. If it is the rock and roll theme, it is a backstage party; if it is the Roaring 20s, it is a meeting of the crime syndicate; if it is the pirate party, they are meeting on an island to turn their gold into cash. So the last thing in each character summary says “You are now on your way to a party to celebrate — (fill in the blank).

When guests arrive in character – we immediately give them a nametag. Everybody leaves their real identities outside. There is typically about 30 minutes of mixing/mingling and socializing as the guests arrive just like any other social event.

Then we get everyone together as a group and give them a few guidelines, and briefly allow mystery party guests to introduce themselves. Next, we tell them that a murder has occurred offsite and who the victim is – there is no skit. We let them know we will be giving them updates as they become available but that is all the information we have at this time. Then the party goes back to mixing/mingling/socializing with everyone shocked about the turn of events of course. About every 15-20 minutes, we introduce clues that might have information about fingerprints, the murder weapon, etc.

After all the clues have been introduced, we get everyone together in a group again and ask guests to guess who did it and why. This is usually hysterical, as guests (sometimes prodded by alcohol) make wild accusations and come up with theories that are bizarre.

After everybody who wants to has made their accusation, then we solve the mystery and disclose the killer.

(NOTE: Our holiday party is not a murder mystery. We try to catch a thief who has stolen something from Santa.)

Tom Denham, Mystery Mixers, 727-430-5908 www.mysterymixers.com

Interested in HOSTING a Virtual MYSTERY PARTY Event?

We will work with you to create one of our events in your hometown for a reasonable budget. Check out our Facebook to see what others who hosted a murder mystery party have to say! Contact us to host your party today.

Private Mystery Parties for groups of 35+ members

Contact Us to Get Started

To book one of our murder mystery parties for your group, we’ll need to know some possible dates and times, the address of where you’d like to hold your event, and the approximate number of guests. We must have a minimum of 35 guests to make our parties work and we can accommodate up to 70. Almost any venue can work (bar, restaurant, club house, private home, etc.) as long as our party is contained in a separate area.

You’ll also need to select a theme for your party.

Our murder mystery party themes include Roaring 20’s, Science Fiction, Pirate, Soap Opera, Rock & Roll, and Holiday. (Relax, we don’t kill Santa Claus. Somebody has stolen something from Santa at the North Pole so we try to catch a thief.)

Email us at [email protected], or text/call us at 727.430.5908. You can also provide details about your party on this contact us form and we’ll get back with you shortly.

Our Parties Are Not Shows

They are mystery parties where everyone dresses up as a character, mixes and mingles with others to find clues and solve the mystery. There is no audience. And there are no lines or script to memorize. Everyone will receive a detailed character summary a week before the party, which gives them the background info about their character, who they know and some initial information so they can come to the party ready to follow clues. If you liked playing Clue as a child, you’ll love our parties!

Cost and Cancellations

Depending on the number of guests, our private parties typically range between $25 – $35 per person. If at least 35 people aren’t signed up for your event at least two weeks before, the party will be cancelled. Full refunds will be issued at that time.

Casting Your Guests

There are two ways to handle the event’s casting. You can assign guests to a character or let them choose their own. Most people prefer to let their guests choose their own. We set up a portal on our website for your event. When guests click on your event, they will see a list of major and minor characters, plus “bit parts.”

So live wires take the big parts, and shy folks take the bit parts. Once they select their character, the website will direct them to the ticket payment page.

Music & PA System

We bring our own music and microphone so we can make announcements and play through our small PA system. We have pirate music for our pirate theme, roaring 20s music etc., plus we need a microphone for announcements, etc.

Bring-A-Dish Events

We also can bring our parties to “bring a dish” events at private homes. Remember, you don’t need a chair for every guest because this is not a sit-down dinner, it is a cocktail party. We have held several parties at 3/2 pool homes with lanais that are big enough for our events.

What Happens at the Event

Guests arrive at the site in character, and we immediately give them character nametags. There is about half an hour of mixing and mingling as guests arrive. Once everybody is there, we do introductions and then we reveal the specifics of the crime. The party then breaks into a mixing/mingling/socializing event. About every 15 minutes we reveal a new clue.

After the clues have all been distributed, we ask for people to make their guesses, which is always hysterical. Then we solve the crime. We then give out trophies for best actor, best actress and best costume.

Interested in HOSTING a Virtual MYSTERY PARTY Event?

Contact us to host your party today. We will work with you to create one of our events in your hometown for a reasonable budget. Be sure to follow us on Facebook to get exclusive news and notices about upcoming events in your area.