Behind the Scenes: Life of an Escape Room Game Master
Ever wondered what it's like to be the puppet master behind a fiendishly clever escape rooms? Well, buckle up, puzzle enthusiasts, because I’m about to take you on a wild ride through the secret life of an escape room game master. It's a job that's part Sherlock Holmes, part circus ringmaster, and part therapist - with a dash of MacGyver thrown in for good measure. (For those reading this, that remember MacGyver
The Morning Ritual: Puzzles and Pickles
Our day starts bright and early, before the first eager escapees arrive. We meticulously check every lock, reset every puzzle, and ensure all the props are in their proper places. It's like a twisted version of "The Night Before Christmas," where instead of visions of sugar plums, we have nightmares about misplaced keys and malfunctioning gadgets.
Oh, and sometimes we hide jars of pickles. Why, you ask? Well, when a customer calls and says their friend's nickname is "Pickles" and requests a jar of pickles as the final clue, who are we to deny such a dill-lightful surprise?
Welcome to the Madhouse
As the first group arrives, we switch into our customer service personas faster than you can say "You have 60 minutes to escape." We're part storyteller, part rules enforcer, and part fortune teller - trying to gauge whether this group will be the next Houdini or if they'll spend an hour trying to solve the fire exit sign.
The Game is Afoot!
Once the players are in the escape room, our real job begins. We transform into omniscient observers, watching our subjects through cameras like some benevolent Big Brother. It's a bit like being a god, if gods wore headsets and munched on snacks while watching humans struggle with padlocks.
We've seen it all:
Teams twerking on tables (please don't)
Players kissing soccer balls (we don't judge)
Groups doing interpretive dances to background music (10/10 for creativity, 2/10 for puzzle-solving)
The Art of Hint-Giving
Knowing when to give a hint is like knowing when to fold 'em in poker. Too soon, and you rob them of the "Aha!" moment. Too late, and you might witness a full-grown adult have a meltdown over a riddle.
Sometimes, we have to get creative. Like the time we ran a game during a power outage, armed with only flashlights and our wits. It was like hosting a séance, but with more panicked whispering and less communing with spirits.
The Grand Finale
As the clock ticks down, we prepare for every possible outcome:
The victorious escape (cue the triumphant music)
The narrow miss (bring out the consolation lollipops)
The "we went insane" group (offer sympathy and maybe a straitjacket)
Reset and Repeat
After bidding farewell to our latest batch of puzzle-solvers (or puzzle-attempters), it's time to reset. We scurry around like caffeinated squirrels, putting everything back in its place, ready for the next group to dismantle.
And just when we think we've seen it all, a new group walks in and surprises us. Like the "wine moms" who turned the Voodoo room into a meditation retreat, complete with interpretive dance and carpet-rolling. Or the group that almost started a brawl over a missed high-five. Never a dull moment in the life of a game master!
So next time you're scratching your head over a particularly devious puzzle, remember: there's a game master watching, probably munching on popcorn, and silently cheering you on. Unless you're trying to disassemble the furniture. Then we're probably just sighing and reaching for the superglue.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go hide a jar of pickles in a 17th-century London setting. All in a day's work for an escape room game master. Happy escaping!