Congratulations on deciding to take your party by the horns and act as the host. Now that you’ve stepped up to being the facilitator, it is important to bring both enthusiasm and direction to your party for a memorable game.
Once you’ve sent out the costume ideas to your guests, the next step is decorating your home or office to set the scene for your upcoming murder mystery. Props, music and food all play an important role in bringing your party to life.
Props for your game can be purchased at party stores, resale shops or vintage stores depending on the mystery theme, and are inexpensive when key items are used. Use your imagination when thinking of what to buy for the scene–does the game’s setting take place in a specific era? Try to mimic that era as closely as possible to get your guests in a party mood.
What’s a murder mystery without a victim? A victim for the game isn’t necessary, but sets the scene and definitely gets your guests into character mode. The victim’s body can be created before the party by stuffing clothes into a dress or suit, and placing a white sheet over the “body.” If you have a friend who’s willing to be the victim, you can also have him or her play possum during the beginning of the game.
Music is a cheap yet effective scene setter, and should be set to continuous play during the game. If you don’t already have era-specific music and not too keen on Internet radio, your local library is a treasure trove of music. Most libraries have a large CD collection, and allow you to check out a number of discs using your library card.
For the enthusiastic host, providing appetizers that complement the party’s theme is a surefire way to take your party to the next level. The type of food is entirely up to you, but it’s helpful to make sure the food can be eaten within one to two bites to prevent distracting your party attendees from the game!
Once the scene is ready, you’re well on your way to having an enjoyable murder mystery experience!
