HOW TO HOST A MYSTERY PARTY
And Be the the Party Master in Your Circle of Friends!
By Dr. Bonnie Myer
The following is a list of easy to follow instructions for hosting a mystery dinner party for adults or teens. Children's mystery parties are very different and will be covered in a different article.
1. Choose a theme of the mystery party that you believe fits your occasion and that your friends will be the most receptive to. If you have a set of friends that are easy going and love to dress up...then you should choose a party that includes elaborate costumes and boisterous characters such as a medieval themed game. However, if you have a more formal or professional event in mind...you might go for a game that focuses more on the mystery and less on the characters like a haunted manor theme.
2. After you've chosen your theme, you need to find the most appropriate game. Clue-based mysteries are appropriate for groups under 30 people. Above 30 people, you really need to hire actors to act out a script-based mystery to the rest of the group. If you tried to have more than 30 characters that had plot twists, it might be too chaotic for the guests!
3. So, you have your game and list of people you plan to invite - now you need to assign the character roles. Be sure to fill the 'required' characters first with your most solid guests that will stick to their RSVP. Then, fill the optional roles with those guests who may be tentative.
4. Send out the invitations and tell each guest what character you have selected for them to play. Games typically come with costume suggestions for each guests. Encourage your guests to select a costume that fits their assigned character as the costumes will increase the excitement and fun!
5. Manage your RSVP list. If for any reason, one of the required characters cannot make the event...then quickly switch one of the optional characters into their slot and notify that guest immediately.
6. The day of the party, decorate your party room/area in the theme of the mystery. For example, if you are having a '70s disco themed party, decorate the room as a '70s disco, play '70s disco music softly in the background and even play Saturday Night Fever on the television without the sound.
7. As the guest arrive, greet them with a cocktail and appetizers. Take their individual pictures and give them the guest instructions along with the mystery synopsis and character list for them to review while they await the other guests' arrivals.
8. Once everyone has arrived, take a group picture immediately. Your guests have taken the time to gather a costume together and everyone...I mean everyone will want a picture of the group after the party!!
9. Allow time for everyone to get acquainted with each other, ask any questions about the mechanics of the mystery party, and then pass out the round one envelopes containing the round one clue cards to get the mystery started. Tell everyone to remain in their character for the duration of the party!
10. During round one, make sure that the party is flowing properly by encouraging your guests to mingle in character as they would in real life. Check to be sure they are using their clue cards for information to discuss with the other guests. There are typically some sort of ice breakers on the round one clue cards that the guests can 'break the ice' with - like trivia questions or riddles within the theme of the party. This can get your guests to start talking! Once you see that everyone has implemented all of the actions and topics on their clue cards, you can progress the game to round two. Round one should take about 45 minutes to an hour. Never rush this round! This is a common mistake for newbies and can prove very confusing for the next round if clues were rushed during round one. Round one is used to set up the mystery and lay the foundation of the characters and their motives. Most games will have side bonus games within the theme of the mystery to play - these are optional but fun!
11. Round two is typically when the murder occurs but first, you will want to serve dinner. During dinner, there might be a side bonus game to play or if not, just instruct your guests to remain in character until dinner is over. Some games have the victim already disclosed before the mystery party begins and the guests arrive knowing who was or will be murdered. We have found that you can increase suspense and excitement by making one of your guests the victim. Some mystery games have one of the guests as the victim. This guest will be notified via their clue card to go to the nearest restroom and 'become the victim.' It can be as simple as putting on a 'victim sign' or they also sell props such as a victim t-shirt, white face makeup, and crime scene tape. Now, that is hysterical when a party guest comes back into the room in full force as a victim! So, after the victim arrives, the investigation begins. No worries as the victim still plays the game...but as a ghost so they can only communicate by sign language or writing (this is optional - you can also just ask that they speak like a ghost). Some games will have a forensic analysis report (a certain guests called upon a favor from a detective friend) and other games might have additional evidence like emails, contracts, etc. that were found. Once everyone has completed their investigation and filtered through the information, round three can begin.
12. Take up the mystery investigation sheets or other 'guess ballots' from the guests. At this time, serve coffee and dessert to the guests and ask them to sit in a circle. One by one, allow them to accuse who they believe the murderer is and tell them to include the motive in their accusation. After the accusations, pass out the final clue cards for round three. These will typically have the solution in it and one-by-one, the guest will read their solution which will contain any involvement that their character had with the murder. The murderer will confess at this time and will disclose all of the details. Yes, the murderers are always honest in the end! There is typically another side bonus game, like charades, within the theme of the party to play as the finale. After that...your party is done and your obligations as the host are over!!!
Remember...life is one fabulous party at a time...let My Mystery Party take care of your next!!
Contact us via email at: support@mymysteryparty.com (24/7) or by phone at 1-800-714-3951 (M-F, 10-3PM Central). Dallas, Texas USA
