This post expands on Step 2 of my How to Host a Murder Mystery Party Guide by going into further detail about how to plan a murder mystery party. The assumption is that you’ve already chosen a game kit for you party and now it’s time to prepare!

Let’s take a closer look at how to plan a murder mystery party.

STEP 2: Plan Your Party

The more time and effort you put into
planning your party, the more successful and memorable it will be!

Here are the steps to planning:

Read Your Script

The script is the set of instructions that came with your game kit which tells you exactly how the game should be run. It’s important to know this document inside and out.

Read Your Entire Script

A good
guidebook or party kit script will provide detailed information on every
aspect of planning and executing your party, and you will find that a
comprehensive understanding of the source material will make each of your
responsibilities as Host or Hostess much simpler and more enjoyable. Take the
time to read through your party in its entirety!

Ask Questions

A good
murder mystery company should be happy to provide you with assistance and
answer your questions.  If you find that something isn’t clear, or if you
need advice on how to make something work better, contact the author of the
mystery or the customer service department of the business that sold you the
mystery; chances are they’ll be more than happy to help you make certain your
party is a success!

Have a question? Contact me if you have any questions about hosting a murder mystery party. I’m happy to help!

Research Your Theme

If you are
planning a party that is set in a particular historical era or geographical
location, doing a little bit of research can make your party that much more
authentic.  Use online resources to find out a little bit about how people
talked during the era in which your party is set, what sort of clothes they
wore, what food they ate and what sort of music they listened to.

Use your research in your menu, decor and conversation. Adding in
a few small touches (like having a period-appropriate menu for a medieval
mystery, or handing out a cheat sheet of ’20s slang for a prohibition era
party) will really make your party stand out!

Invite Your Guests

You will need a certain number of
confirmed participants in order for your party to run properly, and your
guests will need enough time to prepare themselves for the event.

Guest List

Make sure
that you have enough people for the party you’ve chosen, and that you have
some backup plans in place in case someone has to cancel.  It’s usually a
good idea to confirm attendance with your prospective guests in advance, and
then send them their formal invitation once you already know that they are
interested in attending.

Invitations

Give your guests a few weeks notice. No
one likes to feel rushed – try to get your invitations (and character sheets
if applicable) out to your guests at least 2-4 weeks
in advance of the party.  If you are issuing formal invitations and
requesting RSVPs, set the RSVP date no later than two
weeks in advance of the party.

Tell guests to keep their secrets. Make
sure that your guests know that they shouldn’t share details about their
characters with each other before the party.  Their characters’ information
and secrets should be kept private from everyone (even spouses and partners).

Decorate Your Venue

Prepping
the party venue can make all the difference between a mystery that is a
smashing success and one that is only mediocre.  Layout your space in advance
and make sure that you have all of the props, decorations and audio that you
need.

Layout

Choose which room or rooms will be used. Many
mystery parties involve multiple areas (for example, one room might need to
serve as the captain’s quarters of an elaborate cruise ship, while another
area might need to be the main deck or the galley.)  If your mystery involves
multiple areas, decide in advance which rooms will correspond to which
areas.  Consider printing signs to help guests know exactly where they are.

Reserve space for scavenger hunt. Some
parties involve scavenger hunts or clue seeking missions.  If this is the
case with your party, you should make sure to designate an area for the
scavenger hunt in advance.

Props and Decorations

Props and decorations help set the scene. Again,
small touches make all the difference when it comes to decorating your
venue.  While no one will ever expect that you transform your home, office or
apartment into a fully functional casino, a festive beach or a creepy
mansion, a handful of props or decorations (like roulette wheel cutouts for a
casino, tiki torches for a beach party or fake cobwebs and hanging bats for a
haunted mansion) can really help convey the proper atmosphere and mood to
your guests.

A good party kit should come with suggestions for decorations
and props, and you can usually find a wide variety of appropriately themed
and inexpensive decorations at party supply stores.

Game props. How to Host a Murder Mystery Party. #murdermysteryparty www.playingwithmurder.com
Game props for party
A fedora and cigarette for the gangster-themed game Don Carrasino and the Murdered Mobster
Nametags. How to Host a Murder Mystery Party. #murdermysteryparty www.playingwithmurder.com
Nametags so guests know other people’s characters
Theme party decorations. How to Host a Murder Mystery Party. #murdermysteryparty www.playingwithmurder.com
Party decorations to set the scene.
This host created a water effect for the cruise ship-themed game Set Sail for Disaster

Audio

While
some murder mystery companies will supply you with audio effects and music
appropriate for your party, you can also add this touch on your own.  There
are numerous free sound effects available online, and a little bit of
research into period-appropriate music should allow you to create a
customized playlist that is perfect for your party.  Don’t forget about
background audio; the sound of a terrible thunderstorm or of waves crashing
on a beach can easily create some terrific ambiance for your party!

Plan Your Menu

While not
all murder mysteries are set up as dinner parties, many are.  If you
are going to serve food, you should plan the menu around the party:

Hors D'oevres. How to Host a Murder Mystery Party. #murdermysteryparty www.playingwithmurder.com

Buffet and Hors d’oevres:

If your
party is going to involve a lot of mingling between the guests, having a
buffet, finger food or hors d’oevres will probably work best.

Plated dinner. How to Host a Murder Mystery Party. #murdermysteryparty www.playingwithmurder.com

Plated Meals:

If your
party will be conducted as a seated affair, around a table, then you will
probably do best with a plated meal.

Of course, if you want to have a plated
meal as part of a mix and mingle style party, you can simply specify in
advance that there will be a formal dinner served at a particular time.  It
is up to you if you want to have your guests remain “in character” for the
meal.

Themed menu. How to Host a Murder Mystery Party. #murdermysteryparty www.playingwithmurder.com
NYC-themed cake for the game Murder in Manhattan. Black frosting portrays skyline while red frosting indicates the party’s murderous event.

Themed Menus:

Depending
on your particular party, a themed menu may add to the atmosphere.  For
example, a Mardi Gras themed murder mystery might feature Cajun food and
typical Louisiana fare, while a mystery set in a medieval castle might
include a large roast, stew and chunks of bread.  Many mystery party scripts
will include menu suggestions, so be sure to check!


Continue to Step 3: Throw Your Party for an in-depth look at how to throw your party.

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