Featured Party: Carmen’s 1920s Murder on the High Note Night
At Foulplay, we love seeing our games come to life in creative and unexpected ways, and today’s featured host, Carmen, brought the roaring twenties to life with impeccable style. After seeing a video about Foulplay Games on TikTok, she decided to host her own murder mystery game night with Murder on the High Note, and it turned out to be a hit!
Read on for Carmen’s story, her clever custom characters, and her best advice for first-time hosts looking to plan their own unforgettable night of mystery and intrigue!
Dress to kill—literally! See how Carmen’s guests celebrated in flapper style and mobster flair during her 1920s Murder on the High Note night.
Why did you decide to host a murder mystery party?
“I decided to host a party after seeing a video of Foulplay on TikTok! I went to the website and made my purchase.”
We love hearing that TikTok inspiration led Carmen straight to her first Foulplay experience! She jumped right in with Murder on the High Note, our glamorous 1920s jazz lounge mystery filled with plenty of speakeasy secrets, scandals, and suspects!
Serve dinner with a side of intrigue! Carmen’s guests dined in style at her 1920s jazz-themed murder mystery party with gold decor and champagne.
How did the game go overall?
“It was FANTASTIC!!!”
Carmen and her guests had an incredible time stepping into the glitz and glamor of the infamous decade. The drama, the deception, and the laughter kept everyone entertained all night long. We loved that she couldn’t wait and reach out and share her experience with us!
Carmen set the stage for her 1920s murder mystery party with vintage-style appetizers, seafood towers, and art-deco touches her guests loved!
Did you add any extra touches or memorable moments?
“I did add two characters to the party because I had two people wanting to participate.
HERBET VANDERHOEF - Raye’s butler and driver for a decade who sees and hears everything in the shadows.
FRANCES ST.CLAIRE -The reliable bootlegger for the Velvet Note Lounge. They bring a “special bottle” for Raye.
I had pencil-whipped them [out] in two days before the party But the bootlegger was a nice touch!!!”
Carmen got creative and expanded her cast with two custom roles that fit perfectly into the world of Murder on the High Note. Her bootlegger and butler characters added even more intrigue to the story and helped her include more players for her party. We love seeing the creativity hosts use to adapt their Foulplay game to accomodate their needs!
Carmen transformed her home bar into a Prohibition-era speakeasy!
Any tips or advice for other hosts?
“For tips, I would definitely advise the host to read everyone’s roles. I tried to stay oblivious to the murderer so I could play, but the ultimate gossiper should be the host just to help motivate inexperienced players to speak up!”
Carmen’s advice is spot on--the host doesn’t have to spoil the ending, but having a general sense of each role can help if your group is a little shy or nervous. As the evening goes on, you can gently prompt players to participate and help keep the story flowing as you watch people interact.
She also suggested offering more variations of the same theme for repeat players:
“I would love to see four different stories under the 1920s theme so people can reuse their decorations and keep playing!”
And we love that idea! (Also, shoutout to Carmen’s teen daughter for suggesting a Hamilton-inspired mystery—maybe one day!)
Where to find Carmen’s party
You can see photos from Carmen’s 1920s murder mystery night below and follow her on @carmenmanry for more glimpses of her creative events.
Host Your Own 1920s Murder Mystery Night
Want to recreate Carmen’s roaring success? Check out Murder on the High Note—a gender-neutral murder mystery party set in a swanky 1920s jazz lounge. Though, as the party roars on, dark secrets lurk beneath the glitz and glam, and the only thing that may stop the hot music is cold-blooded murder!
[Explore Murder on the High Note →]
Step into the Roaring Twenties with this featured Foulplay host! See how Carmen transformed her home into a glamorous speakeasy for a 1920s murder mystery night filled with intrigue, laughter, and style.
