Murder dinners are becoming more and more popular. While you can hire a theater company to organize the whole event somewhere other than your home, below you will find instructions for a "do-it-yourself" party, which are only suitable for occasions when guests themselves play the various roles. The success of the dinner and the degree of fun will obviously vary based on the personality and acting skills of your guests! The more time and money you invest in the organization, the better the results will be.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: The Organization
Step 1. Decide if you would like to purchase a kit for this event or do everything yourself
Most kits contain a script, game rules, costume ideas, and suggestions for dishes to offer. You should also try to include these elements in your project.
- If you'd rather organize everything from scratch, make sure the story is believable, scary, and interesting.
- Break the story down into scenes that can be acted out as the evening progresses.
- Give each character their own narrative premise, which must not only be unique, but also consistent with the clues.
- Check that you can find the culprit by writing down the clues, asking questions to the other protagonists and putting the whole "puzzle" back together. Of course, even if there will be several suspects, only one person will match the profile of the perpetrator.
Step 2. Choose the topic
Don't be afraid to try some unconventional ideas, like a murder in an epic or post-apocalyptic fantasy setting. Of course, if you have decided to rely on a ready-made kit, you will have limits in choosing the theme, so look for one that suits your needs.
Step 3. Choose the venue for the party
For a small dinner with no more than 8-10 people, your home should suffice. However, if you prefer to have a party with multiple attendees, then you will need to rent a hall or other public space.
When choosing the location, take into consideration the time of year. Unless you live in a warm, temperate climate all year round, avoid organizing outdoor dining in the winter months
Step 4. Gather the decorations and props for dinner
The theme you have chosen will determine which items you will need to purchase or build to define the setting for the crime. You can use items you have around the house, such as old shoes to leave footprints or knives as a murder weapon. Alternatively, there are thrift shops and flea markets where you can find everything you need at relatively low prices.
Step 5. Determine how to award prizes
Some people decide to give one prize to the person who solves the mystery, while others prefer to award several when various goals are achieved. The fact that there is only one award stimulates the competitive instinct of the guests, while more awards encourage people to agree and compromise in order to reach the goal.
You can offer a prize for the best costume, the best acting, the player who won the most, and so on
Step 6. Establish the menu
Murder dinners are best done if, in fact, there is something to dine with; you can organize a buffet or each guest can bring a plate instead of preparing a formal meal. This way each diner is free to focus on acting and action, knowing that all the food has already been prepared and is ready.
- Plan as many main dishes as there are crime scenes.
- If you prefer to offer a formal dinner, you should get someone to help you serve it or play a fringe role so you won't be overwhelmed with your tasks.
Step 7. Choose the date of the party
Ask your friends, well in advance, when they might be free before setting a specific day. This detail is particularly important especially if you organize dinner during the busiest times of the year, for example close to the Christmas holidays.
Step 8. Make the guest list
Only invite people you are sure will get involved in the fun. All participants must play a part enthusiastically. They don't need to be fantastic actors, they just have to let go of their inhibitions and pretend to be someone else for a few hours.
- You need to know which of your guests will appreciate having to play a character who has a lot to say and which one prefers a small, marginal role instead.
- The best way to make sure everyone will have a great time is to ask your friends who is interested in attending; their answers will be excellent guidelines.
Step 9. Send out the invitations
Give your guests at least three to six weeks notice. If you've decided to organize dinner at a busy time, you need to send out your invitations early. The more time you give guests, the easier it will be to get organized.
- Get the cast to arrive at the dinner venue earlier than the other guests, so they'll be ready when dinner starts.
- Remind all actors that they must keep a secret about their character and not even reveal it to their spouses or partners! The party will have a really great start, if no one knows the character of the other guests until the last minute.
Part 2 of 3: The Preparations
Step 1. Begin your preparations early
If you have decided to organize dinner at home, you can decorate it the day before. If the location is different then you will need to go there early to set it up and make sure everything is ready.
Step 2. Arrange the table (s)
Try to create an intimate setting instead of limiting yourself to a single long table. In this way, guests will be able to exchange ideas and considerations as the plot develops.
You can also place candles on the table or tables to heighten the atmosphere
Step 3. Place the clues where people can find them
Since most of the action will take place around the dinner tables or where you have decided that guests will gather, the best places to hide clues are under plates, sofa cushions, or diners' chairs. If you have decided that people can move freely around the room, then you can place some other suggestions in unexpected places, such as the bookcase or the drawers of the desk.
Step 4. Prepare the food
If you have decided on a formal meal instead of a buffet or sharing plates, then you will need to cook most of the foods well in advance so that you can join the guests and play the game too.
Part 3 of 3: The Supper
Step 1. Welcome guests as they arrive
Offer them a drink and some appetizers. Theoretically, you should gather all the guests in one area, so that the performance begins as soon as everyone has arrived.
Step 2. Let the guests mingle with the cast
Allow everyone to get to know each other, connect with each other and ask questions. This is a great way to break the ice and allow everyone to relate to the story.
Step 3. Give the invitees some time to think
Don't pester them with the various courses, but allow them to chat and linger while they eat and try to guess who the killer is.
Be careful and watch out that conversations don't wander too far on other topics. It is quite normal for a chat to touch on different themes, but try to limit this phenomenon
Step 4. Leave the guests in doubt until the end
You must allow the actors to join and mingle with the guests between the various scenes, based on their role, so that they give useful or misleading clues. Don't let guests feel too sure they've solved the mystery!
Step 5. Play some background music
The right music will not only improve the mood, it will fill any gaps in conversation. Set your MP3 or CD player to "shuffle" so that the music is not missing.
Step 6. Gather all your diners once the killer has been revealed and the prizes have been distributed
It is always a lot of fun to all sit together and reveal each other's secrets and the plans that each was following.
Everyone will be very surprised at what was happening under their noses during dinner
Advice
- Make sure all participants are involved, regardless of their role in the crime, because no one likes to be excluded.
- If you are concerned about spoiling the surprise effect, ask a sibling who is not involved in the play to give some clues randomly! It will be more fun for you too.
- You can always assign each guest a character who has a personality different from his own, for example you can have a shy guest play the role of the extrovert, so that he opens up a little and comes out of his "shell". Make sure, however, that there are no major differences and that they share the same interests.
- Attend a few murder dinners before planning one, so you'll have an idea of what to expect.
- Spread fingerprints, shoe prints, and other "evidence" for invitees to find.
- Be careful if you decide to write your own game. It takes a lot of time, and if you leave something unfinished, the party will fail.
- If you have decided to organize a large dinner or party, rely on a cast of professional actors complete with set design, lights and sounds. You can do an internet search by typing the words "theater for dinner with crime" and the name of your city.
