Although many people have heard about murder mystery parties, the percentage of people who have attended one is relatively low. We always ask at our events how many people have participated in a murder mystery event, and only a few hands go up.
Murder mystery parties seem to be one of those things that people think would be fun and want to try but rarely do.
People enjoy dinner theater alternatives because they provide a fun and interactive way to socialize with friends or family. Participants can take on different roles, solve puzzles, and work together to uncover the truth behind a fictional murder. It’s a unique and engaging experience that allows people to use their creativity and problem-solving skills in a playful setting. Plus, the suspense and surprise add an extra layer of excitement to the event.
Another advantage is that mystery parties are pretty flexible – they can be hosted in various venues, such as private homes, restaurants, hotels, event spaces, and even outdoor locations like parks or gardens.
And now they seem to be getting more popular because, as anybody who is involved in role-playing games will tell you, it is just plain fun to pretend to be a character for the evening.
According to a study conducted by the American Psychological Association, murder mystery parties have become increasingly popular in recent years, with a 20% increase in attendance over the past decade. Additionally, a survey by Eventbrite found that 65% of attendees reported feeling more engaged and connected with others after participating in a murder mystery event.
Here is the difference between a mystery party and a typical party. We once went to a Halloween Party and noticed Superman and The Lone Ranger standing beside each other. These characters did not have anything to talk about—their costumes were excellent, but The Lone Ranger has nothing in common with Superman.
At a mystery party, the characters are connected because everybody knows the victim and may have clues about the crime. While solving the mystery is the reason for the event, the real value of a mystery party is in playing make-believe. This is the adult version of the games of make-believe we all played as children.
We once did a party for a Big 8 Accounting Firm. The firm’s president was a stick in the mud who was perceived by the staff as having no sense of humor. We did our holiday mystery party (relax, we don’t kill Santa Claus; our holiday mystery is grand theft). But the firm’s president showed up dressed head to pointy toes in a Grinch costume and played it up. His employees were stunned. It’s not the kind of thing that happens at most corporate events.
So, if you are interested in attending a mystery event, you must first decide which type of murder mystery party is right for you.
Are you looking for a murder mystery event that will be an evening out for you and your date? Do you want to host a mystery party for a dozen people in your home? Or are you looking for a more significant event with a group of 50 or 60 people or more? First, let’s look at the “date night” scenario.
When people start to consider a murder mystery party, they typically think of the “dinner theater scenario.”
These are usually held in hotels or resorts. You will typically be seated at a large table with six or eight other guests who will also be trying to solve the mystery while you dine on a delicious meal, usually with multiple courses. Usually, your tablemates become a team and help each other sift through the clues.
In this type of event, some standard rules include revealing who you think did it at the end of the evening. It is best to make a final decision at the end of the evening anyway so you can take advantage of clues that may be given later in the evening. But it is considered a bad form to blurt out that you know who did it. That’s not a terrible faux pas if you are wrong. But if you do happen to be correct, your guess could impact the enjoyment of the evening for other guests, especially if you have figured out a critical clue that others have not yet discovered and you reveal it to them.
The advantage of this murder mystery evening is that you don’t have to do anything other than enjoy yourself. But there are disadvantages. A typical dinner murder mystery evening in the Tampa Bay area can range anywhere from $60 – $80 per person, so they are not cheap.
One disadvantage is that you spend all that money to be stuck with six or eight strangers at your table. You may end up with a great table of people, but the opposite can also happen. By random selection, you may sit next to someone you would rather not spend the evening with. Moving to a new table halfway through the meal can be awkward – and probably impossible – once you have found that your tablemate is an insufferable bore.
Still, if you are looking for an unusual night out, this is the evening most people picture when they think of a murder mystery evening.
During the first part of the evening, the murder takes place. This is usually done when the lights go out, and other sounds (frequently including a fake gunshot and a scream) happen. The first part of the evening is usually similar to watching a play.
Approximately a half dozen actors will drive the show, and the quality of the evening will be determined by their performance and the script’s quality.
Throughout the evening, the actors reveal clues that eventually lead to the killer. The audience is usually dressed in business attire. There will be plenty of jokes and fun, but you will not participate as a character. Your job is to solve the mystery.
Chances are, when somebody asks about a murder mystery event, they are talking about this date night scenario.
But what if you want to host a murder mystery event in your home for a small group of friends? Many boxed games will help you perform your own murder mystery game that you can order online. These are typically designed for six to 10 people and range from $50 – $80, depending on your chosen online company.
Although, according to the boxes, the games can be “expanded,” sometimes the newly added characters are not characters at all. Some games don’t give these additional people character names; they show up at the event and try to solve the crime. So they don’t add any value to the event because they aren’t playing a character at all; they are playing themselves.
(Some of these boxed games say they can be expanded to 100 people, but do you want to be the emcee in charge of 100 people who are all asking all kinds of questions?)
The advantage of this type of game is the cost, plus the convenience of doing it in your home. Of course, that means you are hosting an event, so in addition to the typical hosting duties of having a dinner party, you have to answer all the questions that guests may throw at you. If you are hosting this type of event, you will also typically be the “emcee” or the person “running the show.”
And as good as these games are, there are inevitably questions that can’t be answered because nobody associated with the game is at your party.
Most people think of those two scenarios when they consider holding a murder mystery event, but there is a third option.
Imagine an event where 35-60 people, even the killer, play characters! They get complete character summaries ten days ahead of time, so they have plenty of time to study their part and get into character. That is the kind of event we do at Mystery Mixers.
Our events are not like dinner theater; they are more like cocktail parties. All our parties are written so that the guests are all going to an event. So, if it is the rock and roll party, it is the backstage party to kick off the World Tour for a rock star. And if it is the Roaring 20s party, it is the annual meeting of the crime syndicate in Chicago. So you are walking into a party, not waiting for somebody to reveal a crime.
The advantage of our event is that it is reasonably priced at $20 per person. The disadvantage is that we only do parties for 35-60 people in groups. But you don’t always have to have a group that large. We also do parties for groups that are “sign-up events” at local pubs. Individuals or couples can sign up for the event, and when we get enough people, we schedule the event.
We have found that because our event is more of a cocktail party, we need that many people to keep everybody buzzing and involved. There is an energy that happens once more than 30 people participate in an event that dinner theater events can’t emulate.
So today’s post was just an overview, but watch this space in the future. We will get into more specifics about what is available in the Tampa Bay area for your next murder mystery event, regardless of whether it is a date night, a boxed game, or a Mystery Mixers event.
If you are ready to host your next party with Mystery Mixers, email [email protected] or call 727-430-5908 to plan your murder mystery party event!
