Throw a Party in a Small Space – 8 Easy Tricks

Apartment dweller? Shoe box home? You can still entertain in your house, you just need these tips to help you make the most of your space – and help your guests feel less like they’re in a sardine can and more like they’re in a cozy mingling area.   Because of my husband’s profession, we move around a lot. We can up and move on a dime, and as a family we’ve got the technique down to an art. I’m the one in charge of finding a house in the new destination, and... 

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Junior Sleuths – Involving Kids in your Murder Mystery Party

One of the most common scenarios we hear from hosts that are parents or those holding family events is that there are one or two kids of varying ages. They may or may not be at the reading age and most of the time they may not have the skills required to take on a character (or “suspect”) in the mystery.  Two minute attention spans and classic childhood boredom need to be considered, as giving a child too much responsibility can not only lead to frustration for them, it can also have... 

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6 Tips for Throwing Outdoor Parties

As summer winds down, many of us will be clinging to the nice weather and entertaining outdoors. As the days become shorter though, there are new party obstacles to overcome – mosquitoes, lack of visibility and other outdoor dangers are heightened when the sun goes down, so follow these tips to ensure you have a great outdoor get-together – while you still can!   Battle of the Bugs There are only three things in life that are certain – death, taxes and mosquitoes! (Didn’t... 

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Quick and Practical Tips for Throwing Interactive Mystery Parties

An “Interactive” murder mystery party is a truly unique format. Instead of sitting around reading scripts and performing embarassing tasks, your guests are up, mingling and interroging suspects to put together the clues and determine who had the motive, means and opportunity to commit murder. It’s a very liberating and incredibly easy format, which makes it perfect for beginners – whether those beginners are the guests (having never attended a mystery party before) or the... 

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But What About the Kids at an Adult Murder Mystery Party?

There’s nothing worse than receiving a declined RSVP from someone you really want at your party simply because they have to stay home with the kids. Most times, child care issues are just as disappointing for the person missing the mystery party as they are for the host or hostess. Babysitters are expensive, and if you have a family that’s relatively new in town who aren’t settled yet with babysitters and have no family to rely on, the only answer they can give is “not attending”. But... 

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How to open a bottle of bubbly this New Years Eve

Did you know there’s actually a proper way to open a bottle of Champagne or Sparkling Wine that will not only limit potential damage to your venue and guests, but also maintain the integrity of the bubbly? We should hope this is obvious, but just in case, step one is to remove the metal foil covering the wired cork. Keep your hand firmly over the cork while doing this, in case the cork has the desire to “pop” on its own. Hold the bottle at a 45 degree angle and remove the cork... 

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So You’re Attending a Mystery Party…

Mystery parties are a lot of fun. If you have been invited to a mystery for the first time, you’re in for a real treat. How to play a murder mystery game at a party There has been a murder or a theft! (*gasp*!) But we all know that – that’s the reason we’re getting together, after all. The suspects, anywhere between 5 and 20, will quickly make themselves known. Perhaps you’re a suspect yourself, but you may just be an ‘investigator’ or ‘sleuth’,... 

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Party Planning Saviours – the new mystery party podcast from Shot In The Dark Mysteries!

Introducing Party Planning Saviours, the new mystery party podcast from Shot In The Dark Mysteries! Party Planning Saviours is hosted by Leigh Clements, president and head writer of Shot In The Dark Mysteries, the premiere online provider of mystery-themed parties, events and do-it-yourself, downloadable mystery party kits. Each week, Leigh provides insights and tips to anyone in need of a unique, fun and exciting theme for their next event. Shot In The Dark Mysteries’ games are ideal to jazz... 

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Last-Minute Christmas Parties – The Decorations

Let’s start by talking about decorating for your Christmas party at the last minute. At this festive time of year, Wouldn’t we all love to be a super host?  You know the ones – their Christmas parties have   been planned since  April, the house is decirated right out of Martha Stewart Living and  their dining table looks like the Lord Jesus has RSVP’d ‘attending’.  Yes, they really seem to have it all together, which can be  intimidating to the rest of us,... 

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Sorcerer’s Apprentice-Themed Scavenger Hunt Game

It was Caleb’s 10th birthday party so I used he and his friends as guinea pigs for a custom kid’s scavenger hunt mystery format I’ve been wanting to try.  The game came with a video introduction and conclusion, three locations and 6 mysteries to solve, all based around his favourite movie, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. They were so quick! I forgot how fast boys can run when they have the right motivation. I think we had more fun with the props than they did solving the mystery!... 

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Arrrrg! Why is there nay pirate speak, ye saucy wench?

Before we go any further, I would like to state for the record that I am a saucy wench. I love pirate speak. But I’d like to tell you a story. It has a little to do with piracy, and a little to do with literacy. What’s the connection? No, I’m not going to go attacking ships on Lake Simcoe and stealing their reading materials. I’m not flying a Jolly Roger with the words “Read More” as I sail around Kempenfelt Bay (although that could be a fun publicity stunt). The... 

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The 5 Minute Chocolate Cake in a Mug!

Five Minute Chocolate Cake In A Mug Okay, I saw this and I just HAD to share. All you hosts on the run out there are going to DIE when you try this. Why? Because: - it’s cake - it’s chocolate - it’s made in a mug - it’s ready in 5 minutes - it’s no BS. Why not try it for your next party? It’s become this viral phenomenon, and now all hostesses in the know are talking about this cake-miracle. DO IT! You know you want to. Then, times the mugs by your number of guests... 

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What are you doing for Earth Hour?

Next weekend is Earth Hour (March 27th between 8:30-9:30 pm), and I hope you participate in this amazing chance for the world to unite and let their voices be heard. If you don’t know what Earth Hour is, it’s a WWF-organized event that spans the globe. For one full hour, participants from all over turn off their lights to impact our earth in the most incredible way. We at Shot In The Dark Mysteries LOVE Earth Hour. We have participated since the very start. We’re awfully green over... 

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Don't worry, you won't break the game!

I facilitated a game here in Toronto this weekend – a custom game written from scratch for an old friend of my husband. Before the game started, as I was briefing the suspects, I assured them that there was no way they could “break” the game, so long as they avoided the 2 unforgiveable sins in murder mystery games: Don’t make up random information if it’s not on their sheet, and if asked directly about their “hide” information, they can not lie. Little did... 

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4 Elements of a Fabulous Party

I am often asked what makes a great party great and a horrible party – well, a “Hindenburg”. People tend to ask me this with the expectation of one simple, brilliant answer that will guarantee party success. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as cutting the crusts off your little sandwiches to ensure everyone has fun, but there are four very distinct elements each great party – elements the bombs have lacked. While defining these oh-so-important elements of a fabulous... 

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Video: The Crisis Companion

Shot In The Dark Mysteries’ Mystery Maiden, Leigh Clements, explains what a crisis companion is and why you need one when planning a party, or hosting a murder mystery party. swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.youtube.com/v/evESyOG_D4U&rel=0&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=0", "vvq-1070-youtube-1", "425", "344", "10", vvqexpressinstall, vvqflashvars, vvqparams, vvqattributes);  Read More →

Video: When Good Guests Go Bad part 6: The Destructo-Guest

You can read the rest of this series at the following links: Part 1: The No-Show Guest Article Part 1: The No-Show Guest Video Part 2: The Surprise-Show Article Part 2: The Surprise-Show Video Part 3: The Lush Article Part 3: The Lush Video Part 4: The Never-Ending Guest Article Part 4: The Never-Ending Guest Video Part 5: The Can’t-Be-Wrong Article Part 5: The Can’t-Be-Wrong Video Part 6: The Destructo-Guest Article swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.youtube.com/v/4M1eFGgyhqA&rel=0&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=0",... 

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Video: When Good Guests Go Bad Part 5

Read the rest of this series at the following links: Part 1: The No-Show Guest Article Part 1: The No-Show Guest Video Part 2: The Surprise-Show Article Part 2: The Surprise-Show Video Part 3: The Lush Article Part 3: The Lush Video Part 4: The Never-Ending Guest Article Part 4: The Never-Ending Guest Video Part 5: The Can’t-Be-Wrong Article Part 6: The Destructo-Guest Article Part 6: The Destructo-Guest Video swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.youtube.com/v/L41UFpMevhI&rel=0&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=0",... 

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When Good Guests Go Bad part 6: The Destructo-Guest

When Good Guests Go Bad Part 6: The Destructo-Guest This is the final article in our six-part series entitled, “When Good Guests Go Bad”. Today we look at the “Destructo-Guest”. If you’ve never had to deal with a destructo-guest, you’re lucky! The destructo-guest is careless in their everyday life, and brings that carelessness into your home when you entertain. This guest moves around a bit like a hurricane, leaving a path of destruction in their wake. When one... 

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When Good Guests Go Bad part 5: The Can't-Be-Wrong

Welcome to the second-last article in our six-part series on “When Good Guests Go Bad.” Unfortunately, at every gathering there always seems to be one person who has an opinion on everything, and even when they’re wrong they’re right! These are the kind of guests who bring up topics just to argue them, and if there is nothing to argue they will conjur something out of thin air. Not only do they create uncomfortable situations at every turn, they also tend to offend people,... 

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Video: When Good Guests Go Bad part 4: The Never-Ending Guest

You can read and watch the videos for the rest of this series at the following links: Part 1: The No-Show Guest Article Part 1: The No-Show Guest Video Part 2: The Surprise-Show Article Part 2: The Surprise-Show Video Part 3: The Lush Article Part 3: The Lush Video Part 4: The Never-Ending Guest Article Part 5: The Can’t-Be-Wrong Article Part 5: The Can’t-Be-Wrong Video Part 6: The Destructo-Guest Article Part 6: The Destructo-Guest Video swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.youtube.com/v/hulTQ4U-3Rc&rel=0&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=0",... 

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Video: When Good Guests Go Bad part 3: The Lush!

You can read and watch the videos for the rest of this series at these links: Part 1: The No-Show Guest Article Part 1: The No-Show Guest Video Part 2: The Surprise-Show Article Part 2: The Surprise-Show Video Part 3: The Lush Article Part 4: The Never-Ending Guest Article Part 4: The Never-Ending Guest Video Part 5: The Can’t-Be-Wrong Article Part 5: The Can’t-Be-Wrong Video Part 6: The Destructo-Guest Article Part 6: The Destructo-Guest Video http://www.shotinthedarkmysteries.com/blog/video-when-good-guests-go-bad-part-6-the-destructo-guest/ swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.youtube.com/v/2a53j2qUQl4&rel=0&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=0",... 

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Video: When Good Guests Go Bad Part 2: The Surprise Show

You can watch the rest of the videos and read the articles from this series at the following links: Part 1: The No-Show Guest Article Part 1: The No-Show Guest Video Part 2: The Surprise-Show Article Part 3: The Lush Article Part 3: The Lush Video Part 4: The Never-Ending Guest Article Part 4: The Never-Ending Guest Video Part 5: The Can’t-Be-Wrong Article Part 5: The Can’t-Be-Wrong Video Part 6: The Destructo-Guest Article Part 6: The Destructo-Guest Video swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.youtube.com/v/p2bCbgctbGY&rel=0&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=0",... 

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Video: When Good Guests Go Bad Part 1: The No-Show Guest

You can read the rest of the articles from this series, and watch the videos, at the following links: Part 1: The No-Show Guest Article Part 2: The Surprise-Show Article Part 2: The Surprise-Show Video Part 3: The Lush Article Part 3: The Lush Video Part 4: The Never-Ending Guest Article Part 4: The Never-Ending Guest Video Part 5: The Can’t-Be-Wrong Article Part 5: The Can’t-Be-Wrong Video Part 6: The Destructo-Guest Article Part 6: The Destructo-Guest Video swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.youtube.com/v/p2bCbgctbGY&rel=0&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=0",... 

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When Good Guests Go Bad part 4: The Never-Ending Guest

Sometimes, Hosts On The Run can do too good a job of entertaining – so good, in fact, that some people don’t ever want to leave! In this issue, number 4 in our 6-part series entitled, “When Good Guests Go Bad”, we discuss the “Never-Ending Guest”, also known as the guest who just doesn’t know when to leave. Whenever I think of The Never-Ending Guest, I’m reminded of the Seinfeld episode when George leaves Elaine and Jerry stranded at a house in Long... 

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When Good Guests Go Bad part 3: The Lush!

As hosts, we want people to drink and be merry. But when Mary drinks too much, the party can take a turn for the worse.  In this article, the third in our 6-part series entitled, “When Good Guests Go Bad”, we look at how to properly deal with “The Lush”. Just like our previous two Good Guests Gone Bad articles (The No-Show and the Surprise-Show), a drunken guest situation can begin one of two ways.  Either Mary gets drunk and ends up with a lampshade on her head at most... 

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When Good Guests Go Bad Part 2: The Surprise-Show

In this world there are hosts and then everyone else. Hosts make a boring weekend exciting and put the “special” in “Special Occasion”. It’s not an easy job, and it doesn’t get any easier when guests aren’t courteous. In part 2 of our 6-part series entitled, “When Good Guests Go Bad”, we explore “The Surprise-Show”, also known as “The Unexpected Guest”, and how to deal with this person while keeping your cool. The “Surprise-Show”... 

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When Good Guests Go Bad Part 1: The No-Show

WATCH THE VIDEO DERIVED FROM THIS ARTICLE HERE: VIDEO: WHEN GOOD GUESTS GO BAD PART 1: THE NO-SHOW As hosts, we can control most everything about our party like the food, the music and the atmosphere, but the one thing we can’t control is the behavior of our guests. With the right invitation list, this could prove disastrous for a host with even the best intentions. How we, as Hosts On The Run, deal with these tricky situations is very important There are six identifiable types of “Good... 

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4 Elements of a Fabulous Party

I am often asked what makes a great party great and a horrible party – well, a “Hindenburg”. People tend to ask me this with the expectation of one simple, brilliant answer that will guarantee party success. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as cutting the crusts off your little sandwiches to ensure everyone has fun, but there are four very distinct elements each great party – elements the bombs have lacked. While defining these oh-so-important elements of a fabulous... 

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