Shot In The Dark Murder Mystery Games Blog

We've moved!

noreply@blogger.com (Mystery Maiden) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Hi Folks! Our Murder Mystery Games blog have moved!

Please update your links and come view all of our mystery games today!

When Good Guests Go Bad Part 1: The No-Show

noreply@blogger.com (Mystery Maiden) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:05:00 +0000

As hosts, we can control most everything about our party like the food, the music and the atmosphere, but the one thing we can't control is the behavior of our guests. With the right invitation list, this could prove disastrous for a host with even the best intentions. How we, as Hosts On The Run, deal with these tricky situations is very important There are six identifiable types of "Good Guests Gone Bad", and we will cover each one, along with what to do with them, in our 6-part series entitled: "When Good Guests Go Bad".

In this issue we take a look at The No-Show.

In Shot In The Dark Mysteries' 2007 survey of our loyal ezine subscribers, you told us that the no-show guest is the biggest stress factor in hosting a party. In fact, most who listed the no-show guest as a stress also credited this non-committal entity with being the reason they do not host parties at all!

The no-show guest scenario happens one of two ways, the first beginning with an RSVP that they will make it and ending with a strategically-timed phone call. The conversation could continue the following way:

ring ring

Host On The Run: "Hello?"

No Show Guest: "Hello Host On The Run. About tonight - unfortunately I will not be able to make it. Tomorrow morning I have to help my grandmother move her living room furniture to the old folks home, and I can't find my watch. Without my watch, I won't know what time I need to leave tonight, so I need to stay close to home so I know what time it is."

Host On The Run: "You know, we have clocks here - wait, there's the door, the other guests are arriving, just hold on-"

No Show Guest: "I see your busy. I'll talk to you next week!"

It's not necessarily that No Show Guest has something better to do. In fact, most no-shows are well-intentioned when they RSVP, but at the last second just don't feel like going out.

Fortunately, there are three very effective ways to deal with a potential no-show guest.

Don't Invite Them

The first way is to not invite them at all. Sure, you want them there, but in the case of a murder mystery game, when you need your guests to be reliable for the game to work properly, they can't be trusted. The side-benefit to this strategy is that No-Show may realize they no longer receive invitations and realize the reason - their unreliability.

2. Bribe Them With Shiny Gifts

The second way to get these guests to show up is with bribery. This may sound ridiculous, but it's incredibly effective. As you are inviting them, mention that on the evening of the party you will give them their birthday or Christmas present. Alternatively, you could have party favors for your entire guest list, and make sure that you make mention of this upon inviting the no-show.

Confront Them

The third method is to speak with the no-show ahead of time and explain to them that you would love to invite the No Show-er, but you need them to show up to keep your murder mystery game balanced, the dinner table in line or the Christmas gift exchange numbers even. Usually, the no-show's intentions are not mean-spirited and an expression of how truly important they are to the dynamic of the party will make them realize they need to make the gathering a priority.

There are five more "Good Guests Gone Bad" in our 6-part series, including The Surprise Show, The Lush, The Never-Ending Guest, The Can't-Be-Wrong and The Destructo-Guest, and Shot In The Dark Mysteries has solutions for each and every one of them!

Quick and Easy Tips For Keeping Your Surprise Party A Surprise!

noreply@blogger.com (Mystery Maiden) — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:15:00 +0000

Quick tips for keeping your surprise party a surprise!

So, you've decided to throw a surprise party for a friend, family member or other loved one. Surprise parties are one of the trickiest parties to pull off, because the chances of your guest of honour discovering the surprise increase with the size of your guest list. Here are some tips from the Shot In The Dark Mystery Maiden to keep your surprise party a surprise!

This is probably the last thing you want to read, but try not to delegate. When the moment comes that our honouree says "Who did this?" everyone will want to say they had a part. As much as we love those who want to help us pull the party off, the more people who are involved in the process, the less control you have over the outcome. Keep control over the details and the chances of the surprise being ruined lessen.

Invite your guests in person. If you find invitations absolutely necessary, vouch for email invitations over paper invites. Anything written on paper can be discovered by the honouree, and all of your hard work will be moot! In the case of a surprise party murder mystery game (which we highly recommend), deliver character descriptions via email only. If your game includes pre-game or Top Secret clues, deliver them at the party when the guests arrive. Keep your paper trail to a minimum and you decrease your chances of your guest of honour discovering the secret.

When you speak with a potential guest about the party, make sure you include the word "surprise party" three times in the communication. Studies have shown that hearing a certain detail three times makes it stick in our minds, so you can be sure Aunt Gertrude, although wildly excited about the party, understands it's to be kept a secret.

In every party there are always late-comers. To combat this, advise people to arrive an hour early. Most people plan to have guests arrive 30 minutes early, but I've found this is not enough time. One hour ahead of time allows for people to be late, find parking away from the venue and catch up before the guest of honour arrives.

The hardest part of keeping a surprise party a surprise is preventing others from slipping up. If you are inviting someone who is notorious for blabbing, invite them only a few days or a week ahead of time, thereby decreasing the time they have to suffer with the secret. When you do invite them, don't give them too many details. For someone who tends to spread secrets, the devil is in the details. Keep them to a minimum, telling the guest only the time and place, and you'll ensure even the most well-intentioned chatterbox will keep your surprise party a surprise!

Leigh Clements, the Shot In The Dark Mysteries / Your Date With Death Mystery Maiden, writes murder mysteries, non-murder mysteries and custom mysteries for Shot In The Dark Mysteries, and coordinates, hosts and facilitates local events both for Shot In The Dark Mysteries and Your Date With Death Murder Mystery Speed Dating. She can be contacted at mysterymaiden@shotinthedarkmysteries.com or mysterymaiden@yourdatewithdeath.com. Aside from plotting murder, she enjoys yoga, reading and hanging with her golden lab.

Happy Halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (Mystery Maiden) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 05:40:00 +0000

Things have been crazy here, but The Fundraiser Fatality at Ceili's was a great success and Murder At The Book Signing was fantastic! Thanks to everyone who attended or helped out with the event - we couldn't have done it without you! If you were part of the Facebook group for The Fundraiser Fatality, you will be able to view pictures tomorrow. If not, I will put a selection of the "best of" on this blog for everyone to peek at.

Something else terribly exciting has happened though, and I'm so pumped. Viki Vertel, AKA The Business Buddha (and my humble biz advisor) has taken on an alternate identity - and that's The Digital Buddha! With her new cape and hat, she has made me a promo video that makes my heart pound with excitement. Take a look, comment and pass it on. And may I ask that you also imbed it in your blog if you think it's as great as I do?

I hope everyone has or has had a fantastic Halloween! Leave me a comment and let me know if you dressed up, and if so, as what! Did you go to a Halloween party?

Thursday 13, Mystery Style!

noreply@blogger.com (Mystery Maiden) — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 06:28:00 +0000

What kind of business blog does a meme? This one! I'll get into the game characters and more later, but here's a good one to get going.

Thirteen Things about Shot In The Dark Mysteries

1…. We launched in January, 2007 with five games.
2. We have 13 games in the process of being written.
3. Shot In The Dark Mysteries likes to make hosts lives easier, so we offer host tips and professional articles, which can be found all over the internet and on our site in the Host Help section.
4. The Mystery Maiden (that's me!) has been writing murder mystery games and kid-friendly mystery games for five years.
5. We are based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada
6. The Mystery Maiden facilitates games dressed as the Grim Reaper - scythe included!
7. There is a Mystery Mutt, named Coburn, who also likes to run around in the reaper outfit, although it doesn't quite fit him, and he leaves hair all over it.
8. Shot In The Dark Mysteries publishes a bi-weekly ezine, called The Reaper Reader, in which we have mini-mysteries, Host Help articles, jokes and other fun stuff!
9. The Mystery Maiden spends most of her time locked in a cold, dark basement, surrounded by spiders. Spooky music is pumped into the basement, and she is only allowed to eat Snackwells Oreo cookies and drink mint tea until she comes up with a stellar mystery plot.
10. Our favourite day of the week is Friday. We're all about the party!
11. We sometimes work in conjunction with GrassRoutes Adventures, and are throwing a Halloween bash in Calgary this year.
12. Our original site was pretty crappy, but now it's awesome!
And Finally...
13. We love killing people for a living!

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

What is your biggest party planning concern?

noreply@blogger.com (Mystery Maiden) — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 06:31:00 +0000

Hello faithful readers! This week I'm asking you for your imput on party planning, and your answers will help us launch a fantastic new part of our website which is, at present moment, TOP SECRET! The question I'm looking to have answered is:

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST PARTY PLANNING CONCERN? Or, alternatively, what holds you back from hosting a party?

I look forward to reading your replies, and thanks for your help! Keep checking back to the Shot In The Dark Mystery Games blog for more on this exciting launch!

Wizards: Wands of Procyon launches!

noreply@blogger.com (Mystery Maiden) — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 03:52:00 +0000

Last week was an exciting time at SITD - we launched yet another mystery game, this time a kid-friendly mystery game called Wizards: The Wands of Procyon.

In the grand tradition of Harry Potter, Wizards: The Wands of Procyon takes place in a magical school called Hyades School for Wizarding. The legendary Wands of Procyon, forged from the power of Procyon's twin stars, have been stolen from their display spot in the Torchwood Room of the school. The magical logs tell of eight students who were inside the Torchwood Room around the time of the theft. Who is powerful enough to cast a memory modification spell on the security troll, get past the advanced magic and steal the wands? Everyone is a suspect!

As with all of our kid-friendly mystery games, there is a ninth optional player named Professor Pyxis, who can be played by an adult in order to make sure the game runs smoothly.

I can't decide what was more fun - writing the game, testing it out or promoting it. We launched the game the same week the final Harry Potter book launched, and I attended a Harry Potter Midnight Madness event at my favourite Chapters. With my favourite Starbucks drink in hand (Venti Skim Vanilla Green Tea Latte) I got to browse books in my Grim Reaper outfit while sucking in the excitement of the book launch.

To add to the fun, we held a contest called "Who Will Die". Subscribers to our bi-weekly ezine, The Reaper Reader, submitted their prediction for who would die in the final book of Harry Potter to win a prize pack. The winner will be announced in the next edition of The Reaper Reader. If you haven't subscribed yet, CLICK HERE.

Check out Wizards: The Wands of Procyon and dress up like a wizard to add some magic to your next kid's party, and stay tuned - we've got our LOST-themed murder mystery game, entitled MAROONED, launching quick on Wizards' heels.

5 Electric Tips for Creating a Buzz about Your Party

noreply@blogger.com (Mystery Maiden) — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 00:31:00 +0000

You’ve purchased your murder mystery game of choice. You’ve set a date. You have your guest list in mind. Now, how do you get all of your guests as excited as you are? Here are a few tips from Shot In The Dark Mystery Games’ Mystery Maiden to create a buzz about your murder mystery game party.

Send invitations describing each guest’s character
Invitations that include the suspects, descriptions and those playing them will get your guests thinking and wondering ahead of time – who could the killer be? What’s going to happen? All of this creates excitement. This can be done via email, hand delivery, or regular mail.

Call your guests ahead of time to hype your party
Sounds simple, right? It’s amazing how many guests neglect this easy step. About a week before your party, call your guests and tell them you’re thrilled they’re coming! Tell them a little more about the plot and discuss others attending. Share any little extras you are adding into your game. Your excitement will easily rub off, and discussing the party will get your guests talking about your party with their spouse or other guests.

Submit a press release
If your party is in honor of something – a 60th birthday party, an anniversary or a celebration of any kind, submit a press release to your local newspaper and TV station. It’s common for journalists to have slow news days, and you are offering them a local story their readers will love. There is no guarantee it will be published or aired, but if it is, the buzz over your party will heighten. Look especially to local independent publications and society pages. There are also many free online press release services, such as 24-7PressRelease.com. Your guests can search for the release online and get excited reading about your fabulous party on the World Wide Web.

Create a web space for your party
Sure, reading and writing HTML is about as simple as deciphering hieroglyphs and creating your own website can be time-consuming and frustrating. However, there are easy ways to create your own murder mystery game party web space containing the latest updates, as well as after party guest reactions. Myspace.com is an excellent place to create a web space. It’s easy to set up, and with a simple Myspace account one can also start a private group about their party. Yahoo 360 is also an excellent place for beginners harness their own little spot on the web. For those up for a challenge, create a blog about the party where guests can comment. Whatever web space you choose, make sure you update it often so your guests can share in your excitement.

Distribute a gossip email a few days before your party
This email will work best if sent three or four days before your murder mystery game party. Write things like, “I heard a rumor that someone was going to be murdered on Saturday night…” Make sure you include references and jokes to your guests, i.e. “I’ve always thought that Billy Joe looked a bit shifty – anyone else think he could be the killer?” Create a dialogue about the party ahead of time and watch the excitement about your murder mystery game heighten!

Mystery Maiden writes and facilitates murder mystery, general mystery, forensics and custom mystery games for Shot In The Dark Mysteries. For more party host tips, quizzes and more, visit http://www.shotinthedarkmysteries.com/. The Mystery Maiden can also be reached via email at mysterymaiden@shotinthedarkmysteries.com.

8 Simple Ways to Draw Non-Suspect Guests into your Murder Mystery Game

noreply@blogger.com (Mystery Maiden) — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 02:10:00 +0000

Sometimes our guest lists are larger than the number of characters in our murder mystery game. Typically, as excitement grows about our parties, so do our guest lists. Follow these eight easy tips for drawing non-suspect guests into your murder mystery game so the number of people attending your party will only be limited to the size of your living room.

Assign guests to read the introduction/chapter evidence

Each chapter in your murder mystery game begins with either an introduction or general evidence to be shared with everyone. Most hosts begin the chapter by delivering the introduction/evidence themselves. If you have additional guests not playing a suspect, consider assigning one guest to share the introduction or evidence for each chapter. In the average mystery game this would engage 4-6 non-suspect guests, pulling them into the plot by getting them personally involved.

2. Assign a guest to be a clue master
A clue master delivers the clues at the start of each chapter. Clue masters always have a good time – they deliver exciting new information, drawing them into the fun – a perfect solution for those who want to attend but don’t want to be a suspect. Nine times out of ten the clue master has so much fun they elect to play a suspect upon the next murder mystery game.

Create a “Notes” page
At the start of the mystery give all murder mystery party attendees a page on which to keep notes during the mystery (or if you’re really ambitious, provide little notebooks to each guest). The notes page will help each guest remain involved with the game and keep track of clues even though they are not being accused.

Make a spectacle of the end-of-game accusations
My favorite part of facilitating or hosting mystery games are the accusations. By this point in the mystery game, everyone has loosened up and all are having fun. When it’s time to accuse one another, even the most withdrawn people find it hard to stay out of the excitement. When requesting accusations, focus on your extra guests – they are unbiased and have been watching everyone closer than you think. Ask them who they accuse and, most importantly, why. You’ll be amazed by how close extras pay attention, and accusing someone is their moment to shine!

Offer prizes for correct accusations

Display your prizes on a small table and at the beginning of the game explain their purpose. When I facilitate a game, I’m always shocked at how crazy people go over even the silliest prizes – rubber balls, hanging Halloween spiders – anything you can imagine. I always enjoy shopping for little prizes; even a dollar store offers great, cheap prize ideas. Also, as a Host Help exclusive, email mysterymaiden@shotinthedarkmysteries.com to request a FREE MURDER MYSTERY GAME GIFT CERTIFICATE. Make it your main prize and watch the excitement mount.

Asssign a Detective (if one not provided in your murder mystery game).
Certain mysteries, like Murder on the Mound, include an optional detective role, but any game can contain a detective. The detective reveals the solution at the end of the mystery. Think of this as Sherlock Holmes’ big reveal at the end of any of Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories. How little or how much your detective does is up to you, but here are some ideas. The detective could wear a badge, gather fingerprints as people arrive and read the suspects descriptions at the start of the game. As the game goes on and your guests mingle and share clues, your detective could interrogate people. Heck, at the end of your murder mystery game, the detective could even handcuff the guilty suspect and take them away.

Start some gossip

Another one of my favorite things to do when facilitating a murder mystery game is to start gossip. As my guests mingle and share clues, I get a thrill out of whispering to an extra, “That Daisy Crook seems lie she’s got something to hide…” or “Did you see the way Ester Runner glares at Nicola Drake?” It’s so devious, and more times than not the person I approach shares their gossip and suspicions with me. Go on, start some gossip.

Create a buzz

There is a very good reason I put this hint last. With the previous seven tips, your mind should be racing with ideas of your own. These ideas make it easy to create a buzz about your party. Creating a buzz is so much fun I have written an entire article on it!

Mystery Maiden writes and facilitates murder mystery, general mystery, forensics and custom mystery games for Shot In The Dark Mysteries. For more party host tips, quizzes and more, visit Shot In The Dark Mysteries. The Mystery Maiden can also be reached via email at mysterymaiden@shotinthedarkmysteries.com.

Easy Murder Mystery Game Party Prop and Decoration Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Mystery Maiden) — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 20:28:00 +0000

I wrote a pirate mystery game for a women in the US recently, who did her backyard up as a giant pirate ship and hid treasure throughout the yard for the guests to find. Conversely, I spoke to a woman at a recent game I facilitated (The Pool Hall Pummeling) who said she had so much fun, as the last murder mystery game she attended all they did was sit around a table and read clues.

Sure, both methods work, but really, which party would you rather attend? There’s no need to go all out like the woman with the pirate mystery game (unless you want to, of course), however there is something to be said for adding in little extras to make your party special. Here are some ideas I like to include when I facilitate or host my own murder mystery game party.

- Create pamphlets with the pictures of each suspect.
I love this idea because there is so much potential to stir up some fun. In a recent game I facilitated for a family member’s 60th birthday party, I created pamphlets in Paint, including pictures of each of the suspects. Only, instead of including nice pictures of my family members, I sifted through years of photo albums and selected the most menacing pictures of each person I could find. I distributed the pamphlets as everyone arrived, and the room was instantly filled with laughter over the photos. Cries of “where did you get this picture?” were accompanied with shrieks of joy, and even those not playing a suspect had a good time making fun of everyone’s most murderous looking profile pics.

-Set up a mock murder scene
When playing a murder mystery game, nothing matters more than having a good imagination. Help your guests along by setting up a mock crime scene. I wrote a custom mystery for a baby shower of over 50 guests in which the nanny was stabbed. The hostess set up her spare bedroom as a crime scene and, as everyone entered, they were showed through the crime scene. That detail was listed as her guest’s favorite moment of the party! How does one do this? Well, first you need to read ahead a bit in your Game Kit (not too far or you’ll spoil the mystery) until you find the crime scene description. For this reason, Shot In The Dark Mystery Games always feature the crime scene description within the first few pages, usually as a Chapter One introduction. Once you have the details, set up a corner of the room or a whole room as the murder scene. You can use a dummy for the body, or simply lay out a chalk outline. This gives your visitors a visual, and something to talk about as they mingle before the murder mystery game begins.

- Give your visitors notebooks
The cheapest and easiest way of doing this is to visit a dollar store. Dollar stores have lots of stationary in all sizes, and the small notebooks (3”x5” will do) are inexpensive. You could even go so far as to have the notebooks specially printed if you chose! The notebooks serve as a great way for suspects and extra guests to keep track of clues as the murder mystery game unfolds and is a great keepsake for after the party. Don’t forget to provide pens!

- Put the murder weapon in a Ziploc “Evidence” bag
At The Pool Hall Pummeling event I recently facilitated, I went to a billiard supply store and asked them for a single cue ball. They were happy to oblige and gave me many used cue balls to choose from. I picked the oldest, most worn cue ball, and they became curious why I picked that one. I told them it was to be used as a murder weapon. Through strange looks, they told me just to take it, that I didn’t have to pay for it. I went home, squirted some red paint on my Halloween pumpkin and pummeled away! It made a great prop for the party, and as the Detective read the opening clues, he passed around the “bloody” cue ball in a Ziploc bag for everyone to view part of the evidence.

- Print off “I Accuse” sheets
The end of your murder mystery game contains a section where everyone gets to accuse a suspect and explain why they think that person was the murderer. Printing of “I accuse” forms allows everyone to write down their vote (a la Survivor) and then, when it comes their turn to accuse, flip their sheet over and show everyone who they think is the killer.

- Encourage your guests to dress their character
Characters come with descriptions, and using that description it’s not hard to imagine what each character might wear. For extra characters, they can follow the theme. For example, while playing Murder on the Mound, have the suspects dress their character. The extra guests can come dressed as ball players, or even fans sporting foam fingers!

- Create Nametags
It’s a common school of thought these days that name tags at a party are a pretty lame idea (think Ross from Friends as he threw the party in his new apartment). The only time it IS acceptable to have nametags is when hosting a murder mystery game party. At first, while guests are getting to know the suspects, the nametags will come in handy. Of course, you are not labeling these nametags with their real names, but the names of the character they play. Nametags can be as simple as the sticky “Hello My Name Is” ones available in stationary stores the world over, or as complex as tags you have made yourself on your computer, to professionally made name tags.

- Create forensic props
This prop idea works especially well for the Death Scene Investigation games, where forensics are the main focus of the game. But forensic props can be added to any murder mystery game you choose. The best place to find forensic game props are, believe it or not, toy stores. Forensic Labs, Handwriting Analysis Kits and DNA Laboratories are common in toy stores or any store that has a game section. I recently picked up a Fingerprint Examination Kit, which came with evidence bags, an alternate light source, fingerprinting brush and dust, crime scene tape and more. Whenever I facilitate a game, everyone oohs and aahs over my evidence bags and ALS. I don’t tell them where I got it, but I’ll tell you if you promise to keep it between us.

If you have a clever idea you’re adding to your own Shot In The Dark Mysteries Game, please share it with us! And don’t forget to send us pictures of your event for our upcoming picture gallery!

Mystery Maiden writes and facilitates murder mystery, general mystery, forensics and custom mystery games for Shot In The Dark Mysteries. For more party host tips, quizzes and more, visit Shot In The Dark Mysteries. The Mystery Maiden can also be reached via email at mysterymaiden@shotinthedarkmysteries.com.

Introducing... ARACHNOGUY!

noreply@blogger.com (Mystery Maiden) — Tue, 22 May 2007 22:09:00 +0000

Arachnoguy is one of the Superheroes committed to finally finding peace between the Superheroes and Supervillains of the city. He's young, fit and looks good in spandex! And yes, ladies, he is SINGLE!

Arachnoguy has spider DNA, can climb walls, spin webs and is incredibly strong. Following his Arachno-sense, Arachnoguy is able to sense impending danger. For more on Arachnoguy and to find out if he's actually a murderer in disguise, visit Shot In The Dark Mysteries!

Meet Rex Ruthless

noreply@blogger.com (Mystery Maiden) — Wed, 16 May 2007 22:32:00 +0000

Rex Ruthless is one of the diabolical supervillains in the newest Shot In The Dark Mysteries Murder Mystery Game - Murder at the Superhero Peace Convention! Here's your chance to get up close and personal with the baddest of the bad guys!

Rex Ruthless, Ultraman’s arch-enemy, is a prominent businessman and runs the multi-trillion dollar business, RuthlessCorp. When he’s not running his business he enjoys blowing things up, demeaning those of lesser intelligence and plotting world domination. Sure, he's evil, but is he capable of killing Nergal?

For more information about about Murder at the Superhero Peace Convention, CLICK HERE! Stay tuned to meet more of the super-powerful cast!

Seven Sanity Savers for Savvy Hosts

noreply@blogger.com (Mystery Maiden) — Thu, 10 May 2007 18:10:00 +0000

7 Sanity Savers for Savvy Hosts from Shot In The Dark Mystery Games

For most of us, throwing a party means pressure. Many people find the stress of organizing a gathering enough to burst their balloon, so to speak. The Shot In The Dark Mystery Maiden insists that need not be the case. Everyone should be able to throw a murder mystery, birthday, anniversary or dinner party with confidence! Here are seven tips from Mystery to ensure the planning process is not a painful practice.

Keep lists
When planning a party, keep a list of preparations in your pocket, purse or wallet. It’s instant peace of mind! Some people prefer to keep their lists on a computer, but there are benefits to choosing a notebook instead, which you can keep with you at all times. First, don’t underestimate the power of striking an item off your list. Items you accomplish are tiny triumphs that keep you motivated. Also, ideas come at the most inconvenient times. With your piece of paper and a pen at the ready, you will be sure not to forget a moment of creative genius! Third, the act of writing something down on a piece of paper clears it from your mind, and you will find it easier to think, relax, sleep and be ultimately more productive.

Plan “buffer days”
When I host a party or facilitate someone else’s murder mystery game, I allow myself one or two “buffer days” before the party. To create buffer days, you must plan to have the pre-party tasks completed one or two days before the party. Then, if something does go wrong, you have time to enact a contingency plan. For example, a vital guest cancels at the last minute leaving you with a character (or a place at the dining table) to fill. Because you’ve planned buffer days, you now have two whole days to find someone to take their place. Buffer days also help with food preparation, cleaning – anything else that could go wrong. If the heavens smile on you and everything goes to plan, you now have two days to relax so you greet your guests with a friendly smile rather than a forehead full of worry lines.

Be assertive with RSVPs.
Some parties, including mystery game parties, require the host to know who is attending ahead of time so she can assign characters or create place cards. Many hosts feel uncomfortable calling guests who are on the fence to ask if they will be attending definitively. Remember, you do not have to be aggressive, but you do want to be assertive. There is nothing wrong with calling your guests who haven’t committed and asking them for a solid answer. If they can’t commit, tell them you’re sorry to hear that, but you’ll have to move someone else into their place. With the guest list solidified, you will have one less thing to worry about in the final hours before your party.

Make the dress code clear to your guests.
Picture it: you’re hosting a late-October murder mystery party. You put on dress clothes, light candles and set the table nicely. Your first guests arrive in jeans and t-shirts. The next guests arrive dressed up as their character. Your third group of guests arrives in zombie costumes, assuming it was a Halloween theme. You’re not the only one who can be embarrassed in this situation. Guests also worry about being under-dressed, over-dressed or inappropriately dressed. This can all be avoided with a simple “formal dress” or “dress as your character” notation on your invitations.

5. Craft a fabulous guest list
With a fantastic guest list, your party will undertake a life of its own. With a dull guest list… well, your party will follow suit. Think of the people you know. Though they are all your friends, some may thrive as a murder mystery game character, slinging accusations as fast as they do martinis, while others may thrive in a quiet dinner party setting. Craft your guest list to your party theme, sit back and watch the magic.

6. Prevent anticipatory anxiety
Hosting an event can create anxiety and tension. Anticipatory anxiety – that is, anticipating every possible outcome, is the number one reason throwing parties can be stressful. Remember – not everything has to be perfect. The only person expecting perfection is you – your guests are probably just delighted to see you and excited about playing the murder mystery game. So ease up on yourself and don’t expect perfection. If you begin to feel anxious when you think of your upcoming murder mystery party or dinner event, relax. Sit down for fifteen minutes and read a book, or do something you like to do. You will recharge your body batteries instantly and prevent a physical reaction that is harmful to your health.

7. Keep a crisis companion
Designate a crisis companion – someone who can be on-call at the last minute in case things go horribly wrong. This could be a spouse, an older child or a friend. Your crisis companion can help you by running last minute errands, finding more chairs when your guest list suddenly doubles, or even reminding you to remain calm if you freak out. If you chose a friend as your crisis companion, you can return the favour and become her crisis companion for her next event. Even though you may not use your crisis companion, knowing they are there to help will make your preparations less stressful.

Mystery Maiden writes and facilitates murder mystery, general mystery, forensics and custom mystery games for Shot In The Dark Mysteries. For more party host tips, quizzes and more, visit www.shotinthedarkmysteries.com. The Mystery Maiden can also be reached via email at mysterymaiden@shotinthedarkmysteries.com.

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... Batdude?

noreply@blogger.com (Mystery Maiden) — Sat, 05 May 2007 05:12:00 +0000

Shot In The Dark Mysteries is excited to launch our newest murder mystery game, Murder at the Superhero Peace Convention! This clue-based, comic themed murder mystery game is perfect to play at your next party, giving you and your friends the best excuse to dress up in tights this side of Halloween!

It’s the first ever superhero/supervillain peace convention, a step toward bringing crime and vigilantism under control. Yet when Nergal, the most powerful supervillain of our time, is murdered, the world’s hope for peace is shattered. It’s up to the superheroes, along with their villainous enemies, to discover the murderer in their midst.

Become your favourite superhero or supervillain with our action-packed cast!

THE SUPERHEROES:

Arachnoguy
Awegirl
The Streak
Jane Blue
Ultraman
Batdude

THE SUPERVILLAINS:

Rex Ruthless
Nucleo
Intrigue
Catnip
The Green Gargoyle

THE INVESTIGATOR:
Detective Friar

Click here now for more information and to receive your instant download of Murder at the Superhero Peace Convention, guaranteed to give you and your guests a night you’ll never forget!

An Online Success!

noreply@blogger.com (Mystery Maiden) — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 05:22:00 +0000

Murder at the Book Signing was a great success! I haven't had that much fun in a really long time. There were points during the mystery, as I was delivering clues, I couldn't type because I was laughing so hard! All of the attendees really got into their roles, which always makes for a great time in a murder mystery game. The Romance Galleria was decked out with a book signing desk, a dead body and many other great features.

It was really after the game when we received the most exciting news, though. Those who hung around for the meet and greet discovered (thanks to one of our attendees) that Michelle Miles' first book in the Adventures of Ransom and Fortune trilogy, A Bend In Time, is available for pre-order at Amazon.com! Even the author herself was surprised!

The newest edition of the Reaper Reader (the Shot In The Dark Mysteries email newsletter) was sent out last week, chocked full of all sorts of mysterious fun. Included were tips for savvy hosts (and hostesses), a challenging Mini-Mystery, our ever-popular Sleuth Joke and Mystery Trivia! If you aren't receiving the Reaper Reader yourself, sign up now on the right!

That's all the mysterious news that's fit to print! Talk to you all soon!

Mystery

www.shotinthedarkmysteries.com

Murder at the Book Signing - an online murder mystery game!

noreply@blogger.com (Mystery Maiden) — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 02:48:00 +0000

Shot In The Dark Mysteries would like to invite everyone to our upcoming online murder mystery game event, MURDER AT THE BOOK SIGNING, presented by Shot in The Dark Mysteries, The Romance Galleria and author Michelle Miles. Step into the virtual, 3D world of The Romance Galleria on SATURDAY, APRIL 21 at 8 p.m. ( Eastern , US ) and join us in the Galleria Cafe for an evening of fun, mystery and -- of course! -- murder in this, the first investigation of its kind anywhere!

THE SCENE:
Romance author Michelle Miles is kicking off her book tour at The Romance Galleria and her fans are eager to meet her. Michelle's best-selling novel, A Bend In Time, has established a cult following, and her fans are eagerly awaiting the second book in the Adventures of Ransom and Fortune Trilogy, A Break In Time.

REGISTER NOW

THE CRIME:
Michelles' agent is found dead, murdered in the midst of the book signing! But who could have committed such a heinous deed? The list of suspects is thick -- and may include YOU!

THE SUSPECTS:
As a participant in the mystery, you can choose to be yourself in the virtual world of The Romance Galleria, or assume the role of any of these terrific characters:

Fletcher Fleming - Michelle's publisher
Angel DiTosto - Mistress to Michelle's agent
Risto Rasmussen - Michelle's fan club president
Sonia Sparrow - Michelle's friend
Sophia Bernesque - a rival author to Michelle
Sally Mustard - friendly staff member from The Romance Galleria
Horrace Halliday - an unpublished author

Or any of these other great characters on the night's guest list:

Marilyn Paradise
Ian Kristofferson
Rose Seabrook
Ross Westcott
Vivaine Vincente
Germain Leblanc
Brenda Calhoun

(HINT: Characters are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis, so be sure to put your reservations in early!)

Remember -- no matter your character, it's up to YOU to solve the murder mystery and find out who committed the Murder at The Book Signing! In addition, you'll have the chance to try and identify which character is really a sinister stalker who's been harrassing Michelle! It's two mysteries in one!

GO AHEAD! REGISTER NOW!

We'll be awarding fantastic prizes all evening long to guests at Murder at The Book Signing. The Grand Prize -- for the lucky detective who nabs the murderer -- includes a free Shot in The Dark Murder Mystery download of your choosing from any of the exciting, fast-paced adult, children's or forensic-based games available (a $32.99 value) and an official "Ransom & Fortune Survival Guide" prize pack from author Michelle Miles that contains everything you need to survive your own time-travel adventure -- a compass, collapsible cups, a CD of Celtic music favorites, plus a signed trade paperback copy of A Bend in Time!

Michelle has also promised an autographed copy of the book to the participant who finds her mysterious stalker. "Heck," she says. "I'll give away another copy, too, to be chosen at random from all Mystery Night participants." Other prizes to be awarded include three $10 Amazon.com gift certificates, compliments of The Romance Galleria; a CD-Rom of FREE ebooks, compliments of the Southern Fried Chicas authors group and more! That's more than $100 worth of prizes up for grabs all night long!

Tickets for Murder at The Book Signing are only $10 per person -- a full night of fun for less than the cost of a visit to the movies! Why watch someone else have all of the fun when you can BE A PART OF IT? Visit Shot In The Dark Mysteries to register for this exciting event, but don't delay - spaces are limited!

Shot in The Dark Mysteries opened its virtual doors in September, 2006, but its owner and designer, the mysterious "Mystery Maiden" has been crafting and orchestrating murder-mystery games for more than four years. Each game is a downloadable, interactive evening of fun that you and your friends and family can enjoy together. For a complete list of games, plus more information, visit them online at www.shotinthedarkmysteries.com.

The Romance Galleria is the internet's first and only interactive, real-time romance forum, where readers and authors can interact face-to-face in a 3D virtual world that's unlike anything else out there. Guests to the Galleria simply download a free, easy-to-use, completely safe software program that allows them to enter this virtual conference center 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Launched in February of this year, The Romance Galleria has already played host to The Romance Studio's annual CAPA Awards ceremony, and features such best-selling authors as Lori Foster. Now here's your chance to join in the fun! For more information, visit www.theromancegalleria.com.

HINT: We've recently undertaken some terrific new updates at the Galleria, and while that means you have even more fun things to see and explore while you're in our virtual world, it also means the program's initial download, and update loading times will be slightly increased. Please arrive 10-15 minutes early for the Murder Mystery if you've never visited us before, or haven't joined us in awhile -- especially if you're on dial up! -- to allow for these new program updates!