Planning a murder mystery party for a big group can feel like solving a case before the game even begins. But don’t worry—we at The Murder Mystery Company have cracked the code on how to host an unforgettable event. Whether it’s a corporate gathering, a milestone birthday, or just an excuse to bring everyone together for a night of mystery and mayhem, we’ll walk you through every step of the process.
How big is a murder mystery party?
The average murder mystery party size for an intimate gathering is twelve guests including the host. For medium sized parties, most average at 45 guests. While we have done parties ranging from eight guests to hundreds, after performing more than 8,000 shows in this past year, we’ve seen that large parties perform most successful with 120-300 attendees.
How do you plan a large murder mystery party?
Planning a large murder mystery party requires a mix of creativity, organization, and attention to detail. Here’s a step-by-step guide to make sure your event runs smoothly and keeps guests entertained from start to finish.
Choosing the Right Mystery Format
Before diving into the details, it’s important to choose the right format for your murder mystery party. The size of your group can often play a role in this decision:
- Scripted Games: Best for groups that enjoy a structured storyline where guests follow a set script and solve the crime together. These work well in a seated dinner setting.
- Freeform Roleplay: Great for guests who love improvisation. Each player gets a character with goals and secrets, making it feel more like a live-action game.
- Professional-Hosted Events: This is where we come in. The ultimate stress-free option! This combines both a scripted game and freeform roleplay, while also being able to accommodate a plethora of group sizes. Our team brings everything—actors, clues, and guidance—so you can sit back and enjoy the night. This is the best choice for large party planning because we ensure everything runs smoothly while also keeping every guest in the room entertained throughout the whole experience.
Selecting a Theme and Setting
Every great murder mystery party needs an intriguing theme. Do you want a roaring ‘20s speakeasy where gangsters and flappers clash? A midnight masquerade where billionaires are the suspects? Or maybe a Hollywood whodunit filled with glitz and scandal?
Once you’ve picked the theme, you’ll need a venue that can handle a crowd. Consider renting a banquet hall, a private event space, or even an outdoor venue if weather permits. Make sure the space allows for easy movement, so guests can mingle and uncover clues throughout the night.
Assigning Roles and Managing Characters
One of the trickiest parts of hosting a big murder mystery party is ensuring that everyone has a role to play. For smaller groups, you might be able to assign fully developed characters to each guest. For larger parties, a tiered system works best:
- A handful of guests get major character roles with key information and motives.
- Detective characters interact with clues and provide misdirection.
- General guests participate in solving the mystery and enjoying the show.
Luckily, there is no need to assign roles ahead of time. Our actors will do that work during the actual mystery! Splitting everyone into teams will make it easier for our actors to assign roles come the day of the show. Sort of like a team vs team, or table vs table event. Each group will likely have a few different personality types making it smoother for us to delegate roles, so everyone can participate!
Invitations and Pre-Party Prep
To build excitement, send out invitations early! Digital invitations with costume suggestions, and a brief backstory of your theme make for an immersive experience. Encourage guests to dress the part—costumes bring the theme to life and make for fantastic photos. Luckily we provide editable Invitations, so you can fill in your information easily, or simply use these as inspiration for your own invitation design!
It’s also helpful to let guests know how interactive the event will be. Some people love being the center of attention, while others prefer to observe and solve the mystery from the sidelines. A little preparation goes a long way to ensure everyone enjoys themselves.
Coordinating Clues and Game Flow
A great murder mystery party unfolds like a thrilling novel, with twists and turns that keep guests engaged. The key to keeping a large group entertained is a well-structured game flow. Our actors will always make sure to:
- Set the Scene: Introduce the setting, main characters, and the mystery at hand.
- Reveal Clues Over Time: We won’t dump all the information on you at once. Timed clue releases keep the energy up and allow guests to piece together the puzzle.
- Encourage Interaction: We have scripted (and improvised) moments where key players must interact or deliver information.
- The Big Reveal: We always allow time for final accusations before the solution is unveiled in a dramatic conclusion.
Décor and Ambiance
Atmosphere is everything! Transform your space with themed props, music, and lighting that fit the setting. A speakeasy might have dim lighting, jazz music, and vintage table settings, while an 80’s Battle of the Bands might have flashy stage lighting, streamers, and head-bangers playing in the background. The more immersive the setting, the more engaged your guests will be.
Food and Drink Planning
Serving food that fits the theme adds an extra layer of fun. A masquerade-themed mystery could feature fancy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, while an old Hollywood theme could feature Shirley Temples and a popcorn machine. For large parties, buffet-style service is often the easiest way to keep everyone fed without disrupting the game flow. If you’re hosting a formal dinner, plan for gameplay to happen alongside 3 courses. Signature cocktails named after suspects or themed to the mystery also make for a fun touch. Just be sure to have plenty of non-alcoholic options as well.
Ready to Host the Ultimate Murder Mystery Party?
Planning a big party doesn’t have to be a mystery! Whether you want a hands-on approach or prefer to leave the logistics to the professionals, The Murder Mystery Company is here to help. We specialize in hosting engaging, interactive events for groups of all sizes.
Let us take care of the details so you can focus on enjoying the evening. Call us at 888-643-2583 or fill out a contact form on our page to start planning your unforgettable murder mystery party today!
Host your own Mystery Party!
Our Murder Mystery Experts are excited to talk to you about your personalized party plans.
