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FAQsIs It Live Or Is It
Memorex?
Is It Live or Is It Memorex? One of the first questions guests ask us when inquiring about the Murder Mystery Weekends is, "Is it dinner theatre or are there secret actors in the group of participants or are we (the guests) the actors and actresses?" The answer to that is that you, the guests, are the actors. There are no professional actors/actresses and it is entirely acted out by you, the crazy guests. How do I know if this is the right one for me? Ahhh.... the Murder Mystery Weekend.
Country Inns and Bed & Breakfasts have been running Murder Mystery Weekends since the concept first started way back when. The properties are usually small with unique twists and turns that lend themselves to the intimate little discussions that are part and parcel to figuring out "who dunnit". Having a Murder Mystery Weekend at a large hotel just doesn't seem...well, intimate, for lack of a better word. A Murder Mystery Weekend works best if the characters are able to meet face-to-face and one-on-one which isn't possible if the characters number in the dozens and dozens. Murder Mystery Weekends at a small establishment provide for more individualized attention and hence inclusion rather than exclusion. When the body is discovered at a Murder Mystery Weekend (and there MUST be a body for a true Murder Mystery Weekend - none of this, "Oh, Uncle Albert died yesterday and so his body has been removed." as some Murder Mystery Weekend providers will establish), everyone will be able to obtain a first hand viewing of the victim to use his/her own powers of observation. A Murder Mystery weekend should not be a test of one's ability to memorize lines. The character packet should provide general clues, secrets and suggestions to a character's identity and purpose. Some Murder Mystery Weekend packets require the person to memorize lines, in effect, to become an actor or actress. That's too much work. The goal of a Murder Mystery Wekend is to have fun, plain and simple. Some Murder Mystery Weekends don't even provide character packets - just a circle of chairs and a hat. The Murder Mystery Weekend theme is then primarily played out by the host with minimal interaction by the actual guests until its time to accuse a character. Other Murder Mystery Weekends do provide character packets but not until the guest is actually at the property. By then it is too late to obtain a costume...and costumes are one of the prime elements of fun for a true Murder Mystery Weekend. And then there are the Murder Mystery Weekends where the property hires professional actors to do the work while you enjoy a dinner and observe. Which is fine, but... So, when it comes to a Murder Mystery Weekend, ask the appropriate questions before committing yourself to one specific Murder Mystery Weekend. Are there actors or do I play a character? Do I have to memorize lines? Do I get to wear a costume? Do I get the Murder Mystery Weekend packet in advance? How many people will be participating in the Murder Mystery Weekend? Does the murder actually happen during the course of the Murder Mystery Weekend or has the murder already taken place prior to our arrival? Find a Murder Mystery Weekend that fits your style
and you are certain to have the time of your life... What's Included? In a bulleted list, here's what is included
When To Reserve A Room? Typically reservations are made at least six to eight weeks prior to a Murder Mystery Weekend and are quite frequently sold out as far in advance as eight to ten weeks. So book early. When your reservation is made with either John or Debbie, they will make some discrete notes in your reservation form such as approximate age, gender, sense of humor, introvert/extrovert and any other little tidbits that they might be able to glean. When To Expect The Packets? About one month prior to your arrival the characters are ordered from a very talented and reclusive script writer. The writer's identity will, at all times, remain a secret as he doesn't want to be held responsible for any incidental mayhem that ensues from following his plot! About 7 to 10 days prior to your arrival, you will receive your character packet in the mail. Do Not Let Anyone See The Contents - For Your Eyes Only! Do Not Try to Sneak Peeks At Your Partner's Packet! What's In The Packets? And Do I Have To Wear A Costume? The character packets contain secrets about the character you are to play as well as secrets about other characters who are in involved in the murder mystery. It will also provide suggestions as to the appropriate costume to wear. Most of the costume suggestions can be followed simply by opening your closet or attic door and rummaging around a little bit. You do not have to wear a costume. Most people do, some people don't. Do not feel obligated to dress up if it is going to make you feel uncomfortable. We do, however, ask that you show up with at least some clothes on - for propriety's sake! If you aren't sure where to obtain a costume in your local area, there is a costume shop in West Chesterfield which is about 25 miles from us. The store is called "The Costume Ladies" and it is stocked with some wonderful items. Their number is 603-256-3110 (www.costumeladies.com) . As they are closed on Sunday, please be aware that we will be more than happy to return your costumes on your behalf (there is a delivery fee of $25.00 for this service). Do I Have To Memorize Anything? One of the main reasons (aside from the fantastic plot lines) we went with the writer we did is because his scripts do not require the guests to memorize any lines. So, do not panic! There are some general details and secrets to keep in mind, but even then, on the night of the mystery dinner, you will be advised to carry the packet around with you so that it is readily available for reference purposes. So How Does The Weekend Go? The weekend starts on Friday night with a dessert reception. While the reception is not part of the mystery per se, it is a great icebreaker and allows the guests to find out who their partners-in-crime are. Because it is only a dessert reception, it is highly recommended that you eat dinner prior to this function. You don't need to dress up for it and you don't need to act and all we request is that you don't discuss your roles in too great a detail. Saturday morning there is a scrumptious breakfast served after which you are free to explore the Mount Snow Valley and the surrounding countryside. Saturday evening starts with a Wine and Cheese Reception in our small dining room. All the guests are asked to be in attendence in costume and ready to deceive! Before everyone starts acting out their parts, game rules are reviewed, additional suggestions and hints are provided and all characters are formally introduced. During the Wine and Cheese Reception, guests are encouraged to mingle and spread out around the inn in order to bribe, blackmail and, in general, be sneaky in obtaining as many secrets about the other characters as is possible. There is lots of play money to use in protecting your secrets or buying others! These secrets will come in very handy later in the evening. Everyone is then called to dinner where the guests continue to act out their characters in whatever way they feel is most appropriate (or least appropriate as the case sometimes is!). At some point in the evening, someone dies. It might be you...or maybe you are the one who did it. In any case, the evening continues with lots of finger pointing as the secrets slowly becomed revealed. Guests protest that they are being framed. Others protest...perhaps too much.Some people stay quiet, trying to think it all out amidst the noise and accusations. Beware of everyone! The evening ends typically around 11pm; although some have ended as early as 10pm and some as late as 1:30am! The evening is drawn to a close with a round of secret ballot voting on who did it and why. The ballots are read out loud (so much for secret ballots!) and the murderer is revealed. Sunday morning's breakfast is a group affair as everyone does another round of voting. This time the votes are for: Best Dressed Female, Best Dressed Male, Best Actor, Best Actress and, of course,...Most Clueless Guests are then free to enjoy the rest of the morning here at the Austin Hill Inn before commencing their journey home. Do you have costumes I can use? While we only have bits and pieces of accessories from past events, there is a wonderful shop just a short drive away that has some awesome outfits. Almost everyone who goes in to Costume Ladies exclaims at how many costumes there are and what a fun shop it is! They have more than 2,500 rental costumes ranging from cavemen to aliens and everything in between. The whole point of Costume Ladies is fun. They’re there because they love costumes and dressing up, and they have fun helping other people who love the same things. They have costumes in sizes for small children to plus-size adults. They also carry several good lines of theatrical and recreational make-up, wigs, beards, moustaches, Mardi Gras masks and beads, and lots of other hard-to-find accessories. Costume Ladies is conveniently located just off Exit 3 from Route 91 in West Chesterfield, NH. 603-256-3110. www.costumeladies.com |
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* Cancellation policy is as follows: Our murder mystery weekends are interactive, highly enjoyable, and to some, somewhat fatal. Because the guests play all the roles, each participant is vital to the success of the weekend. A last minute cancellation can negatively affect the fun and entertainment of everyone else. For this reason, we must ask that the following conditions be kept in mind should the unfortunate need to cancel come into play. For cancellation notices received within 30 days of the arrival date but outside of 14 days of your arrival, a penalty of 50% of the total charges will be retained -- if the characters and room are not resold for the weekend. If the characters and room are not resold for the entire weekend, the full cancellation penalty will be retained. For cancellation notices received within 14 days of the arrival date, a penalty of 100% of the total charges will be retained -- if the characters and room are not resold for the weekend. If the characters and room cannot be resold for the entire weekend, the full cost of the weekend will be retained. If within 30 days of the arrival date but outside of 14 days of your arrival you wish to move your reservation to another date within the same season, a $50 fee will be imposed. Date changes within the 14 day period prior to your arrival will be considered a cancellation subject to the aforementioned conditions. Please note that if you arrive after the date
specified or depart earlier than scheduled, there will be a full charge
for those lost nights. Additionally, please note that gift certificates
are non-refundable with no cash back on unused credits. |