Top ten murder mystery party tips
Jollirog has hosted many of our murder mystery parties and offers her top ten murder mystery party tips.
Tip #1: Don’t be afraid to invite newbies
Reassure them that this is a great way to talk to and get to know others and that it’s not a test—at the end of the day, we’re all there to have fun. Every year, we invite folk who’ve never done anything like this before. They’re always a little nervous, but they always have a wonderful time (I have letters and e-mails to prove it) and come back for more.
Tip #2: Consider your characters
I spend the most time on this. Freeform Games provide loads of detailed information, and I always think carefully about matching partners with each other, giving newbies more minor characters, and making sure the ‘murderer’ is a) someone who will definitely be there (we’ve had one not make it before!) and b) someone who will relish the part. Be ready to make changes; most guests are okay with swapping characters at the last minute.
Tip #4: Decor
We don’t go to extremes with decor, but the little touches make a huge difference. Lighting creates a great atmosphere and cozy corners to chat in. We’ve used ‘scene setters’ for several—they’re pretty cheap and available online. For Arabian Nights, we pinned saris to the ceiling, threw cushions everywhere, and used black sugar paper and shiny wrapping paper to create Moroccan-style mirrors—it looked amazing.
Tip #5: Don’t be afraid to use your space.
Our murder mystery parties spread out into the kitchen, by the stairs, the hallway and the garden (most of Halloween Lies took place in the garden and this was October!) One of my favourite early Freeform moments is hearing about a guest who had retrieved some vital info while sitting on the downstairs loo and eavesdropping on other guests conspiring outside the door!)
Tip #4: Decor
We don’t go to extremes with decor, but the little touches make a huge difference. Lighting creates a great atmosphere and cozy corners to chat in. We’ve used ‘scene setters’ for several—they’re pretty cheap and available online. For Arabian Nights, we pinned saris to the ceiling, threw cushions everywhere, and used black sugar paper and shiny wrapping paper to create Moroccan-style mirrors—it looked amazing.
Tip #5: Don’t be afraid to use your space.
Our murder mystery parties spread out into the kitchen, by the stairs, the hallway and the garden (most of Halloween Lies took place in the garden and this was October!) One of my favourite early Freeform moments is hearing about a guest who had retrieved some vital info while sitting on the downstairs loo and eavesdropping on other guests conspiring outside the door!)
Tip #6: Compliment your guests
Make a point to thank them for the effort they have put into their costumes. We have seen outstanding efforts with costumes over the years, and I always make a point of speaking to everyone and telling them how amazing they look.
Tip #7: Take LOTS of photos
Even better, appoint someone else to take photos. If you’re hosting, you probably won’t remember, and it’s great to have the pictures to look back on. Plus, guests love seeing pictures of themselves and others in the aftermath.
Tip #8 BUFFET
A buffet is the best way to do the food. That way, your guests can help themselves as and when, and the flow of the evening doesn’t get interrupted. We’ve always asked guests to contribute food/drink towards the night, and the amount is staggering (and keeps my kids fed for at least a week after!).
Tip #9: Keep tabs but also be creative
I love hosting; it’s like directing a play. It helps to keep as much game info to hand as possible (either in a file or, as I did this last time, use a laptop), but you also need to sound confident. Most guests will do what you tell them, so long as you sound like you know what you’re doing.
Tip #10: HAVE FUN
At the end of the day, it’s a party. It’s meant to be fun, and if it all goes t**s up, then what does it matter? When I’m ‘selling’ a Freeform Game party to newbies, my line is usually ‘It’s a chance to dress up, have a laugh and talk to people without really worrying what to talk about.’ We’ve been through all the dramas and yet survived. Our Freeform Games murder mystery parties have become legendary amongst our friends, but we’ve not run a ‘perfect’ one yet!
Happy Murrrrrrderrrrrrs, one and all 🙂