Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Organizing a Murder Mystery Party
Choose the murder mystery scenario. This is the most important step, as it determines everything from the venue to the guest list. Some murder mysteries may be too scary or gory for younger guests, but if you're set on a family affair there are plenty of non-murder mysteries you can offer. For those who do want a scary evening, you can choose a cruise-ship murder, a Clue-style mansion murder or an Agatha Christie-style murder on a train.
Decide if you want the party to be a dinner party. This will work better with some scenarios than others. You can also choose to have dinner before or after the mystery and only serve scenario-specific refreshments during the action. Try cocktails for the cruise ship or a bubbling cauldron punch for a Halloween mystery.
Choosing to have a full dinner may mean forgoing alcoholic beverages to cut costs. You can still create fun "mocktails" using online recipes and simple ingredients. Use online circulars for local grocery stores and superstores to compare prices without wasting time and gas, and look for coupons in weekend newspapers--often the $1.50-$2 cost of a newspaper is worth the money-saving coupons. Serving appetizers can be more cost-effective, but compare costs before writing off a full dinner--some appetizer choices may end up costing almost as much as a more filling dinner.
Plan a menu based on your coupons and the weekly ads, and give regular, inexpensive dishes creative names--try Murderous Meatloaf, a Deadly Deli Platter, or Victim's Victuals. You can also make the party a potluck, and if your guests know that it is a murder mystery party you can challenge them to create a dish that fits with the theme and take turns naming the dishes.
Make the guest list, then create and send invitations. Use the theme of the party as a basis for the invites--perhaps a pirate's treasure chest for a murder at sea. If you prefer to surprise guests with either the theme or the entire murder mystery part, use a generic invitation. You might also choose an email invitation, which can keep you from spilling the beans. If you choose to surprise guests with the murder mystery, be sure to have costume elements on hand so everyone feels included.
Email invitations come in a variety of templates, and if you can't find a template that fits your needs you can send a plain email. Since this is the free option, most people prefer this for cost cutting. If email invites aren't your style, look for bulk invitations at local office supply stores, or try local dollar/discount stores. You can often find less popular designs or off-season designs on clearance at party supply stores as well. Be sure the cost of postage is worth the paper invitation, though. At nearly 50 cents a stamp, the cost of the invitations may cause a shortage in another part of your budget.
Download free files, purchase an electronic or hard copy murder mystery kit or borrow books from the local library to begin assembling your murder mystery. Some electronic files can be more expensive than others, so compare prices before purchase and always check other resources before making the purchase. If your local library has a book that can help, you can allocate that money to refreshments or props.
Creating your own mystery is also an option, and is the best price of all--free. You might involve friends and family here, particularly if you can drum up assistance from the more creative types. If not, take cues from board games like Clue and mystery novels. Use the resources offered here as a springboard, and remember that you can always use online forums for suggestions and guidance. Creating your own mystery adds a personal touch while saving money.
Contact your local community or school theater departments to borrow props. You can also raid your kids' toy chests for fake swords and costume pieces. Most importantly, shop clearance sections of party stores, toy stores and superstores. If you have enough time before your mystery game, you can take advantage of post-Halloween sales. Find out if friends and family members have anything you can borrow, and don't forget how helpful secondhand stores and garage sales can be.
Purchase or make the decorations you need after shopping sales and talking to friends. Be creative with poster board, cardboard and craft paper. A craft paper mural can add more atmosphere to the party than some purchased decorations.
Prepare the menu. By now you should have all the RSVPs, or at least a general idea of the number of guests to expect. Hunt for coupons, compare deals in local circulars and work out a menu based on the specials and sales. Often one store will match sale prices of other stores, which can save gas and time. Buying paper products or certain foods in bulk can also cut costs, as long as the local bulk store (like Costco or Sam's Club) is within reasonable driving distance. Check the cost of gas and the time you'll spend driving against the money you'll save in bulk purchases.
Find recipes online by searching "inexpensive appetizers," "cheap dinner ideas" and similar phrases. These often give you a price point, so you can compare--would making a mini pizza at home be more cost effective than purchasing them pre-made? Don't forget to calculate the cost of your time when figuring ways to save.
Assemble everything--decorations, props, refreshments--in the venue you have selected and do a walk-through to make sure you and your guests will have enough space to move around, improvise your roles, and that there is a place for the "murder victim" to wait while the mystery is solved. A quick run-through of the setup by yourself will give you a feel for what decorations need to be added, removed or rearranged, as well as give you the opportunity to change the venue if necessary. While your living room may seem spacious with only a few people present, putting 25 people in the room could quash your plans for an entertaining evening. Giving yourself time to check the flow of the room beforehand prevents last minute meltdowns when you realize, right after decorating, that there is no room and guests are on the way.
Throw a wonderful party. Watch all the pieces come together and know that you managed to host a great event without breaking the bank.