I learned a lot about video recording, and this video is far from perfect, so future recordings will improve! But that’s no reason to keep a video hidden is it?

So with that being said, here I am to share a couple tips with anyone interested in putting together a costume that does not involve sewing!

Thanks for watching!

Maybe it is intimidating because you have little experience? Or maybe you are a busy person and the thought of coordinating a murder mystery party–inviting people, buying decorations, making the food–simply seems overwhelming to you right now?

I’m here to tell you that hosting a murder mystery party is simply one of the easiest and most entertaining options you have available to you–and that it doesn’t have to be difficult!

My goal is to build communities of murder mystery players all around the world! Groups of friends who love to participate in a hobby that is entertaining, challenging, educational, and socially rewarding.

Today, hosting a creatively fun party is truly a lost art!

To reach this goal means sharing some secrets. And I’m willing to do this for anyone who is interested in participating or hosting a murder mystery party, but find themselves to afraid to jump in and get both feet wet.

So to help answer your questions, stay tuned right here as I am about to launch MurderandIntrigueTV: GetAClue!

This video series will answer questions such as:
What is a host responsible for?
What do I need to know to host a game?
What is a realistic budget? and…
If I’ve never participated in a murder mystery before, how do I keep from screwing this up?!

This video series will be free and available to anyone interested–so please share this post with others and be on the lookout for the first video!

Wishing you a life of intrigue,

Amanda

P.S. Share this link! The more votes I get–the more accurate the results!

This murder mystery game has all the beautiful nostalgia of the circus in France in the middle of its peak in popularity in 1905! Combine the beautiful setting with a bit of adult humor and a few very colorful characters, and you will soon come to realize–this game will provide a memorable evening of laughs you and your friends won’t soon forget!

There is no doubt that DNA evidence, blood analysis, and so many other tools of the modern forensic trade are indispensable in determining true criminal guilt beyond the shadow of a doubt. But isn’t there also something romantically challenging about facing the daunting task of finding a culprit utilizing only your own skills in wit, observation, and logic? I think so.

Perhaps that is why the love for the character Sherlock Holmes remains so strong today. His personality celebrated a marriage of forensic science and the concept of ratiocination, defined as “the process of exact thinking or reasoning”, or “a reasoned train of thought”. He used disguises to outsmart his foes, and deductive and abductive reasoning to solve crimes. He is an almost mythical superhero figure of sorts, and yet what his character represents–while difficult–is also technically not out of the realm of difficulty for the average person. It simply requires an extra amount of effort and dedication of time.

Deep down, many of us wish we had the understanding and keen thought to catch a criminal based solely off grasping the importance of a strategically placed footprint in the dirt; to see a smudge as a clue, or detect a pattern in apparent chaos.  To solve a crime in such a way is not only clever, but it presents you as intellectually superior–and all in the name of justice! There are few things in life that can be more satisfying than looking brilliant and doing the right thing at the same time. A bit snobby perhaps, but Sherlock’s character wasn’t known for being intellectually modest. He was good and he knew it. (The character also had a raging cocaine addiction, which probably didn’t help with overcoming character flaws either!)

Many fan fiction stories have been written in honor of him, and Guinness World Records confirms he is the “most portrayed movie character” ever with over 200 films. Even the current character Shawn Spencer from the popular television show “Psych” is an intellectual nod to Holmes and his ability to solve crimes using a combination of knowledge and observation.

Most modern murder mystery games carry the torch of the spirit of that era, where crimes were solved using only minimal evidence and deductive reasoning. There are some that attempt to use more modern sleuthing techniques in their MM games, and while I respect the decision of others to do so, I shy away from that practice. While the practical side of modern advances in forensic science cannot be ignored in real life–with lives and reputations at stake–what attracts me is the romance and raw ruggedness of old-fashioned logic, intellect, and observation. There is truly no substitute!

So today, pick up a Sherlock Holmes novel, read a story or two (some of them are only pages long) and spend a few minutes in gratitude for what Sir Arthur Conan Doyle did for forensic science–and chalk one up for the good guys!

Can’t get enough Holmes? Check out the official UK-based Sherlock Holmes Museum.
http://www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk/

And even more love for Holmes…
http://classicmystery.wordpress.com/2012/04/19/sherlock-holmes-the-adventure-of-the-perfidious-mariner-by-jonathan-barnes/
http://ascandalin.wordpress.com/2012/07/31/sherlock-holmes-1854/
http://girlmeetssherlock.wordpress.com/

Wishing you a life of intrigue,

Amanda

Image courtesy of linder6580 on stock.xchng.