Behind the Curtain: How a Mystery Night Comes to Life

Ever wonder what goes into putting on one of our killer events? At Skills Murder Mysteries, our nights of suspense, secrets, and sleuthing don’t come together by magic—though it might feel that way once you’re caught up in the story. Behind every twist and turn is a whole lot of planning, collaboration, and passion. Here’s a peek behind the curtain at what it takes to bring one of our interactive murder mystery events to life.

Step One: Securing the Scene of the Crime

It all starts with a venue. We reach out to local businesses, restaurants, and unique spaces to find the perfect spot to host each game. Once we have a potential location, we work closely with them to finalize the event details:

• Date and time

• Meal plans (Will dinner be served? Is it included in the ticket price?)

• Ticketing logistics (Who’s handling the sales? Us or the venue?)

• Game selection (Which mystery best suits the vibe of the venue?)

  
  

From the start, we’re mindful of making sure everyone benefits—our pricing structure always ensures essentials are covered, from printing and prize costs to our custom photo booth software. And if meals are included, we make sure our partnering venue is profiting too. Collaboration is key.

Step Two: Tickets, Flyers, and Promotion

Once the logistics are nailed down, we build out the event infrastructure:

• Our online ticketing portal goes live

• We design flyers and an event page

• Social media starts buzzing with promotions, countdowns, and special offers

Throughout ticket sales, we carefully monitor the balance of character tickets (for guests who want to act in the story) and general admission tickets (for those who prefer to play detective). We roll out targeted alerts and deals to keep the momentum going—and we don’t stop there.

Step Three: Building the Buzz

In the weeks leading up to the event, we post regularly on the event page and across socials to build excitement:

• Sneak peeks into the game’s characters

• Costume inspo and theme suggestions

• Detective tips and tricks to help players sharpen their skills

These posts help guests step into the world before they even arrive, and it’s part of what makes our events so immersive.

Step Four: The Prep Work Nobody Sees

While promoting the event, we’re also deep into preparation mode:

• Gathering and assembling prizes

• Printing, cutting, and organizing all game materials

• Creating themed photo booth frames

• Reaching out to each character ticket holder with their custom role details

This is the part where our office starts to look like a mini detective agency—papers everywhere, suspect lists pinned, props being assembled. Every little detail matters.

Step Five: Showtime

On the big day, we arrive early at the venue and get to work:

• Setting up the photo booth and themed props

• Laying out nametags and character booklets

• Organizing any bonus “side quests” or hidden clues for extra immersion

As guests begin to arrive, we check them in, hand out character info, and welcome the general admission detectives with their mission instructions. Once everyone’s in, we kick off the night with the game’s intro and a little mingling... and then? The mystery begins.

Bodies drop. Secrets emerge. Accusations fly. It’s a night of unforgettable fun, and no two events are ever the same.

Running a murder mystery event takes time, care, and a lot of behind-the-scenes hustle. But when we see guests fully immersed in the story, laughing, solving puzzles, and bonding with strangers over a shared mystery—it’s all worth it. Whether you're playing a suspect or cracking the case, you’re part of something special.

Want us to bring the mystery to your business or event? Let’s talk.