How to Host an Unforgettable Murder Mystery Party
If you've ever wondered how to spice up your gatherings and leave your friends raving? In this post, my friend Jennifer Hennessey spills the beans on creating a night of suspense, laughs, and unforgettable memories.
Whether you're a party pro or a newbie to hosting, Jennifer's tips will have you creating a murder mystery bash that'll be the talk of the town.
Let's dive into the secrets of throwing a killer party – pun intended!
Do you need some unique themes or ideas for an office or family gathering? Consider hosting a murder mystery party.
It's all the rage these days since it's a fun and creative way for people to express themselves while interacting with friends or co-workers. As a result, murder mystery parties have become a relevant part of modern pop culture, and streaming services are even making movies about it.
In an interview to promote Netflix's “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” actress Janelle Monae said that the cast, which includes Daniel Craig, would play murder mystery games together while they were on set. “I would dress up, have a mustache on with a little curl at the end, a cane, and a top hat,” she adds.
Indeed, role-playing while solving a mystery is a unique way to bond with the people who are close to you and see them in a new light. To make this party a success though, you'll need to carefully plan out all the important aspects of the game, from the story, down to the food and drinks.
Here's how to host an unforgettable murder mystery party.
PICK A THEME AND WRITE THE STORY
If this is your first time planning a murder mystery party, you probably have no idea why a game that involves fake danger or violence can be appealing. According to researchers, playing games like this can enhance our mental and emotional skills, and it teaches us not to ignore important evidence.
University of Chicago behavioral scientist Coltan Scrivner says that MMPs allow us to engage in fake threats in a safe setting. “The basic idea is that we are using them as a way to simulate threatening scenarios, and then play around with how we would respond to that,” he adds.
Experts say that when planning a party that's as elaborate as a wedding, a corporate event, or a murder mystery party, you need to start by picking a theme. You can get some inspiration from your favorite novels or TV shows, or go with classic MMP themes such as:
The Roaring 20s
Mafia Wedding Day Murder
The Class Reunion
Casino Heist Murder
Whatever theme you choose, make sure that it will encourage all the participants to dress up and get into their respective roles, since that's half the fun of MMPs.
Once you've got a theme, the next thing you need to do is write the story. You need to make up characters for your guests, so decide how many guests you'll want to invite, and make sure that each of them has a name, age, friends, enemies, occupation, relationship to the murder victim, and a backstory.
You also need to give all the players a motive or a purpose for the night– obviously, one of them will be the murderer, while another can be an accomplice, and so on.
The characters should also have a legitimate alibi, but you don't need to make one for the murderer.
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WEAVE IN SOME PLOT TWISTS AND SECRETS
For the story to work, all the characters need to be connected in some way to the others. Although conventional relationships, such as a husband and wife or a worker and their boss, may be written into the story, some of the connections could be part of a plot twist or a juicy secret.
Perhaps one of them is a secret love child of the victim, or maybe one of them is blackmailing another person. Adding elements like these can result in a lot of surprising reveals as the party goes on.
To help your guests stay in character, you'll need to divide the story into rounds, and each round ends with the reveal of a secret or twist.
Each of your guests should have a script of things to do or say in each round. You can include their demeanor and mannerisms too, if you think that'll throw off people and make it harder to guess who the real killer is.
Everyone can gather clues throughout the venue before each round ends, and plan on having no less than five rounds to make things exciting.
End the game by revealing who the murderer is.
BOOK THE VENUE
Sure, you can always have the party at your home or office, but booking the right venue can give your murder mystery party an air of authenticity.
You can book a Victorian house for the night, or even a vintage mansion if you think you'll need more space. Airbnb has listings on properties where you can host MMPs, so see what you can find that will fit your theme and budget. If you can visit the site before booking, that'll ensure that you've got the perfect place for your event.
Once it's booked, refer to your story and map out how it will play out at the party.
The day before the party, make sure to plant the appropriate clues and props throughout the property for your guests to find.
Another fun touch is adding personalized birthday yard signs to set the scene if you’re celebrating someone’s special day. It’s an easy way to blend the mystery theme with a festive vibe, plus your guests will know they’re in for an unforgettable time as soon as they arrive.
GIVE YOUR GUESTS ENOUGH TIME TO PREPARE
Once you've finalized the script for the rounds, print them out on elegant cardstock or a booklet, whichever is more appropriate for your theme.
Send them out, plus the invitations, at least two weeks before the party to give your guests enough time to prepare. Remember, they'll need to get into character, and they'll also have to look for an outfit and props to complete their look.
If you're inviting couples or people who live in one place together, consider sending out the scripts and invitations separately– this prevents the plot from getting spoiled.
DON’T FORGET THE FOOD AND MUSIC
Every party needs food and music, even if there's a “murder” in the building. You can use a retro vinyl record player, or hire a piano player for the party. If you opt for the latter, make sure to tell them about the story so they can react appropriately to the reveals.
As for the food and drinks, it's always a good idea to have champagne and water for thirsty guests, and some finger food for snacking.
After the game ends, you can all sit down to have dinner or have a buffet to reward everyone for their performances.
Don't forget to give each guest a goodie bag. Each bag can have a handwritten letter addressed to their character, a mini bottle of champagne or any other liquor, a personalized shot glass, and chocolate or candy cigars.
A murder mystery party is a fun way to let loose and play games with your friends. Create new memories by hosting an MMP, and make sure to plan it well so that everyone will have a great time!
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