How to organise a mystery dinner?
Do you want to break the routine? I recommend an activity that is very fashionable in the United States and is gaining momentum in Spain: a mystery-themed dinner.
It's a great way to turn just another gathering of friends or family into a memorable evening, and I can assure you that if you try it, you'll end up repeating it.
It is an innovative concept that you can include in your next group meeting. You may still like the idea but you are wondering how can I organize a themed dinner? Simple, you just have to keep reading and know the essentials to spend a memorable night with friends and family.
What is a thematic dinner of mystery?
A themed dinner is about a fad in English-speaking countries in which dinner guests take on the role of characters in a crime novel and try to solve the mystery before them, usually a murder, and find out who they are the culprit, in the Cluedo style.
Themed dinners are a custom typical of Anglo-Saxon countries that have become fashionable in recent years and have spread around the world. These events consist of a dinner that begins as a conventional gastronomic gathering.
However, at one point in the night an event occurs, usually a murder.
Dinner guests who take on the role of characters from a crime novel (we recommend the use of costumes to make it even more memorable) quickly become suspicious of each other.
One of the most important roles is the game master, he or she will be in charge of directing the story so that the guests get to solve the mystery without murdering someone during the dinner, this is usually the host of the dinner or even a hired person.
And the true is that is really funny! If you are thinking about to organize your own thematic dinner, I will give you some advices in order to everything to be a success.
Advices for organising an excellent mystery dinner
A thematic mystery dinner is a safe activity that you will love. Although, you will need materials and a good planification in order to be successful. Do you want to learn how to do a mystery dinner? Follow the tips and you will succeed:
Create your own story or hire it out
My first recommendation is to give you two options: create your own themed dinner or hire a professional to supply you with everything you need and guide you through the experience.
If you go for the second option you only have to worry about the food and the guest list.
When you book a dinner mystery you include: scripts, characters, conflicts, costumes, and everything that builds it up.
However, if you want to be original and personalise your mystery dinner, here are the steps to follow:
- The story must be believable, the more realistic it seems, the more entertaining, lively and mysterious it will get.
- The story should be divided into several chapters or scenes. All should be actionable for the night to become dynamic.
- Each person invited to the thematic dinner, must have their assigned character. It must be unique and linked to the selected topic.
- You can indicate to the guests what their role in the scene will be by placing a paper under the chairs and that when they search for it they will know their roles.
- The game must have a murderer and a victim, and it must be relatively easy to discover. For this, you have to generate questions, collect clues and any other technique that allows you to lead with the guilty.
Do you want us to take care of your mystery dinner?
- Mystery Dinner: Play Cluedo Live
- 30,00€
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to follow on your holidays?
Don't miss the Mystery DinnerExperience : Play Cluedo Live
Thinking of experiencing a night of mystery and fun among friends? We propose Cluedo Live, an immersive game in which each player takes on the role of a character in a story to solve a crime.
Sit down at the table and the live cluedo show begins! Get ready to experience a dinner set in a murder in which the participants will have to represent characters that will be assigned at random and through clues and riddles they will have to discover the murderer, book for a very fun night.
What will be the theme of the mystery dinner?
It is essential to select a theme for the mystery dinner. These can range from a murder, a robbery or an unusual situation.
The aim is for the guests to try to solve the mystery generated.
Try to make the atmosphere extravagant, mysterious or fanciful. If you hire a professional, he will obviously take care of all this.
However, if you do it on your own, you should consider the setting as it is key to having a memorable dinner, although sometimes a little improvisation is good.
Where will we do our themed dinner?
The location is extremely important as it must be in accordance with the event we are going to prepare.
If it is a small meeting, with 8 or 10 people, a living room in a house may be enough. If you want something more intense and with a larger audience, a party room or a very open space is ideal.
You must have the right equipment and accessories
In this type of thematic dynamics, the key to success is in the details. And one that makes a big difference is the props and equipment to be used.
You can make them yourself or buy some ready-made ones, such as a toy gun or an investigator's badge.
It all depends on what is to be done, but these elements of attraction and realism can never be missing from a mystery dinner.
You can look for old, used and very cheap things; you don't have to invest so much money but you do have to be creative in the placement of the objects.
Will there be prizes?
Awards are characteristic of themed dinners but are not mandatory. However, you can give a symbolic gift to thank all the guests or just the winner for participating.
The important thing is to announce from the beginning that there is a reward for those who discover the mystery. This excites the participants.
Food is essential
As this is a mystery themed dinner, food is going to be the main protagonist , you don't want to leave your guests with an empty belly.
However, for convenience, you can do a buffet format, and while they are eating the event can take place.
The food can be a normal and a distracting element in a meeting and makes the guests lower their guard over the mystery that is going to be presented to them.
When can we make our theme dinner?
For the mystery dinner to make sense, you must have enough guests so that there are enough roles and suspects to make the event as memorable as possible.
That's why choosing a date where everyone can attend is important, usually good times such as birthdays, company dinners or stag and hen parties.
How many guests will go?
The number of people to invite depends on the selected theme. Many people can intervene in it. We recommend groups of minimum 6 people onwards.
Another factor that intervenes is the location and if it is suitable to receive that certain amount of individuals.
On the other hand, to find out whether or not your acquaintances want to participate in a mystery dinner, you can ask without being too invasive.
As a general enquiry, for example: Have you heard about theme dinners, it would be interesting to do one, wouldn't it? Depending on their reactions, you can have a poll of candidates.
11 Tips for your thematic mystery dinner
At this point you already have a great idea of what your mystery dinner will look like, so now we present you how to combine everything. As you can see these are very extensive steps that require separate planning internally. It's time to make our theme party:
- Decorate early in the selected location. The important thing is to be there hours before your guests.
- Set up the space where the guests will eat. Remember that this is a mystery dinner and there must be food; either at the table or a buffet.
- The atmosphere must have a touch of mystery to enhance the place. If it is a secret for your guests, try to do something conventional but with these special touches.
- Being to distribute the clues and roles with the respective functions and roles of the characters. This can be premeditated or left to improvisation.
- If the roles are random, try to make them ambiguous or versatile; or you can even place messages like - if you are a man your role will be this ...., if you are a woman you should do this .....
- When everyone arrives, try to act as normal as possible. Greet them as you always do and try not to raise suspicions that something strange is happening in the place.
- Allow a few hours for people to get in the mood, trust and relax.
- When you deem it necessary, let the magic of mystery begin and start your mystery dinner.
- If you have people hired for the themed dinner other than the guests, they can make the dynamic even stronger. They may be incognito as the catering service or waiters or spontaneously arrive at the place.
- Music always help to enter the environment and give more realism to the situation, to be according to the situation and let everything flow.
- At the end of the theme dinner, reward the winner of the meeting, thanking everyone for participating in such an entertaining dynamic.
Our experiences - Mystery Dinner: Live Cluedo
If you are interested in having a different experience dining with your friends or family, let us organize it for you. It can be at your house or in a place with dinner and open bar included anywhere in Spain and accompanied by a professional actor who will guide you during the game. Sign up!
If you have any questions, leave me a comment and I will respond as quickly as possible.
And remember that at Senda Ecoway we offer dozens of author experiences so you can forget about boredom in the best possible way.
