FAQ...

So what is a Murder Mystery Mixer murder mystery?

Are murder mysteries costly to put on?

Does putting on a murder mystery require lots of setup?

What about decorating in preparation for the mystery?

What do I get with a mystery purchase?

Will props be needed and what kind?

When does the murder occur? Before guest arrival or after?

Does the mystery involve reading scripts or acting?

What if number of participants decrease or increase?

What if there is an imbalance in genders?

What type support is provided?

Does Murder Mystery Mixer accomodate tour groups?

So what is a Murder Mystery Mixer murder mystery? [back to top]
A Murder Mystery Mixer is a participatory, interactive murder mystery that provides participants a chance to get all dressed up and be somebody they're not. An action packed event full of activities designed to be so memorable and fun, it will spark creative genius, camaraderie, playfulness and a sense of humor in your guests. Participants are given roles to play as they try to solve a murder.

Upon arrival participants receive details explaining who they are and why he or she is present along with what they know about other characters. They also receive goals, objectives and/or activities for their character to achieve. Information is the key to achieving objectives and solving the murder, so participants should aim to talk to everyone. A participant may need to reveal information known only to his or her character in order to get information from another character. Each character will also have an ability that gives him or her an advantage against other characters in certain situations. But, in turn, the other characters also have abilities that they may use in return!

Are murder mysteries costly to put on? [back to top]
If you are putting on a “for-profit” murder mystery, then you obviously expect to make a profit. Afterall, you’ve already invested in the purchase of the murder mystery, so it’s time to get on to the profit part. Therefore, our murder mysteries are designed with cost efficiency in mind. No troupe of actors is required and props, if any, are minimal. Specifics vary from mystery to mystery and per custom specifications. See “Will props be needed and what kind?” The expense of the personal character attire needed for the two officiators, presumably yourself and an assistant, to portray roles and interact with the guests, is up to your creative imagination and your budgeting constraints. The only other expenses involved would be those related to food service.

Does putting on a murder mystery require lots of setup? [back to top]
Extra money isn’t extra if it requires exhaustive additional work, wages, and/or wear and tear on you and others. Aside from any meal or refreshments you plan to serve, elaborate preparations are not
necessary with our mysteries. Most everything you need comes in an electronic file by email or furnished on CDrom which consist of a series of instructional documents and those to be distributed to guests before and after arrival. Your focus gets to remain primarily on your usual tasks until time for the mystery. Be prepared, however, for yourself and an assistant to portray roles and interact with guests during the mystery. So, you're not left to be a dull soul doing all work, you get to play too!

What about decorating in preparation for the mystery? [back to top]
As with any other type party, this is entirely up to the host/hostess. Murder Mystery Mixer mysteries are designed so that nothing more is needed than the natural beauty of the surroundings it’s hosted in.
However, if you order a custom mystery with a theme choice of an Hawaiian luau party and it’s the dead of winter in your area and palm trees are no where even when it’s warm – it will take more than imagination to set the scene. Therefore, for those who want the magic of a mystery without big fuss, we work with clients to design mysteries that compliment their natural setting.

What do I get with a mystery purchase? [back to top]
Host Instructions
Guest Invitation Fax
Character Bios
Clue & Solution materials
Character agendas
Activity details

Will props be needed and what kind? [back to top]
Our mysteries are designed for ease of production and cost efficiency. Therefore, props are either not required or minimal, allow lots of room for personal creativity and consist generally of items that should be readily available through inexpensive venues such as thrift shops, department stores, and perhaps your or a friend’s attic. “Three Amigos” requires no props other than the paper materials furnished. Only a cast off painting is necessary for “Art Attack”.

When does the murder occur? Before guest arrival or after? [back to top]
This is a matter of preference and style. Many participants anticipate the murder occurring sometime during the course of the mystery – not a fictitious death that occurs before arrival. Some anticipate that it will be an actual person in attendance and not a dummy. Your choice should be based on the anticipated expectations of your guests. While first timers may accept any scenario, seasoned murder mystery fans may have more definite expectations of a murder in real time with a real person. If that be the case, however, the victim will likely appreciate being able to participate in some other role through the remainder of the mystery, especially a 2 night event where the murder occurs on the first night – who wants to be sidelined for the rest of the weekend? We have mysteries written in all of these scenarios – Three Amigos involves a pre- arrival accidental death that is determined to be homicide and has a definite victim and killer. Art Attack has a variable victim and killer determined by who wins the auction and the random distribution of after death packets posing a different outcome each time. Loco Motion, a custom mystery, featured the death of Mr. Jack Ace’s, Macey the Miracle Mule, which by individual preference was a custom designed giant wooden pull toy. (An inexpensive alternative would have been a stick horse.)

Does the mystery involve reading scripts or acting? [back to top]
There are no scripts to be read and no acting skills are necessary, therefore no performance pressure. Our mysteries are free form role playing events meaning each participant has the freedom to portray their role as imaginatively as they are comfortable with, thus allowing wallflowers and
showboaters to equally enjoy.

What if number of participants decrease or increase? [back to top]
Oh, no! The killer just canceled? The victim has bowed out? There’s nothing more terrifying than to have your mystery fall apart due to cancellations or inability to fill a set number of participants. Traditional mysteries, including initially even our signature singles mixer, Three
Amigos, can easily fall prey to this trap. Requirement of 16 or more will soon be reduced to 8 or more and, as before, characters are not assigned until arrival check-in. Recognizing this as a serious problem,
Murder Mystery Mixer went one step further and designed it's most current murder mystery, "Art Attack", so it is scaleable from 6-20 characters and it doesn't ruin the show if some of them don't show up. Additionally, the victim and the killer are determined after check-in during the course of the mystery so they are always amongst the present. Neither they, nor you, know who is who until the deed is done
and the inquiry concluded. Unless requested otherwise with a custom order, we plan to use this same concept in future mysteries.

What if we have an imbalance in genders? [back to top]
Women seem to participate in murder mysteries more readily and in greater numbers than men. Therefore, we design gender-convertible characters so your mystery remains ready to go whether female participants want to show with man in tow, solo, or as a girlfriend duo.

What type support is provided? [back to top]
It is our belief that a murder mystery should not be so cumbersome to stage that it makes the purchaser dependent on the supplier for support. Therefore, Murder Mystery Mixer murder mysteries are
designed with the goals of ease and completeness so as to provide independence after the purchase. Nevertheless, support by email and phone is available should unforeseen needs arise.

Does Murder Mystery Mixer Accomodate Tour Groups? [back to top]
Murder Mystery Mixer accomodates groups with a turn key performance at any of the locations listed under Venues or a location of your choosing. See additional information under Tour Buses and contact us to discuss your specific needs.