Make a Murder Mystery Night Go With a Bang
How to Host a Fancy Dress Role Play Party Guests Will Remember
Aug 16, 2009
Ensuring the game runs smoothly is paramount, so the host should stay sober and be quietly aware of everything that is going on to make sure all guests are playing properly. It only takes one person to opt out for the whole game to fall apart if that person has a key part.
This is why it is essential for the host to learn all the parts beforehand so they can jump in and get the game back on track if needs be. If a guest appears to be going off piste, the host can nudge them gently back by prompting them about their character.
Getting Guests to Play the Murder Mystery Game
Danielle, from Glasgow explains: ‘When I hosted my first murder mystery I noticed a knot of people had started to play drinking games instead of the murder mystery game, so I quietly joined in, but in character. I asked them things about their characters which got them interested again and in fact all fired up and determined to solve the crime!’
When Party Planning is not Important
However, it’s important not to crush guests’ creativity if they want to take things in a different, unexpected direction.
Danielle recalls: ‘I had fake money and fake bags of cocaine at my party and some guests got really competitive. They started splitting the bags in the bathroom and soon a black market for flour wrapped in cling film had sprung up. It was hilarious.’
Props for a Role Play Party
There are also some useful props which add to the fun of the event, but by far the most invaluable is a landline telephone, which can get a host out of a tight corner if they forget a plot point or need to tell guests of new developments.
Danielle says: ‘Once all the guests had arrived I needed a way to signal the start of the murder mystery game. I have an old-fashioned telephone from the 1970s so I plugged it in and went outside and called it from my mobile. It had a lovely ring and the whole room went quiet. I told the guest who answered that I was an officer from the local police station and that he had to announce to the room that there had been a murder.
‘Everyone burst out laughing and the party really got off to a bang. I used this tactic several times throughout the night, for example to announce that there was a piece of evidence, a will, which I had forgotten about. No-one realised I had made a mistake, they thought it was part of the game.’
Create a Fake Crime Scene
Another fun thing to do is to create a ‘crime scene’ for guests to walk past as they arrive at the party. A hallway, the front path, or driveway are all ideal places for this. Fake crime scene tape can be obtained over the Internet or from joke shops.
Danielle says: ‘I cordoned off a section of the downstairs hallway with the ‘Crime Scene Do Not Cross’ tape, and inside drew the classic outline of a body with white gaffer tape.
‘I also knocked over a plant pot and had a TV playing to an empty chair. It got everyone talking as they arrived.’
Hints for Hosting a Great Party
The host can also throw in a few red herrings of their own, for example, Danielle wrapped up a toy gun and placed it under the Christmas tree.
She plans an incident room for her next party. ‘I’m going to take a Polaroid of everyone when they arrive and set up a secret incident room. This will make the ‘big reveal’ when the murderer is exposed a lot more fun and dramatic.’
Murder mystery top tips: Avoid the pitfalls
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