For private parties and corporate events looking for entertaining options, we provide a variety of fun approaches for Des Moines murder mystery dinners across Iowa for various groups and gatherings. We have choices that range from using participants in the show to strictly using our actors. Below you will find some of our more frequently asked questions for shows in Iowa.
The classic format for very large groups with all kinds of added elements. This includes shows for charities as part of our Justifiable Homicide program and are catered to high society. These meet even the most particular of guests.
The industry standard bring 4-7 actors interacting with your crowd leading up to a murder and a comedic investigation. Meet and talk with the crazy cast of characters, witness a crime and then work together to solve it!
We create a scenario where the audience is unaware that a murder mystery show is taking place. Up until the dead body hits the floor, they think it is really happening. The relief lets them break loose and have a great time!
With both Clue Parties, where everyone at your party is a character, and Cambridge Solution Mysteries, where we use roughly one participant from your group per table, we have great interactive mysteries to get your people directly involved!
People are often looking for new ways to have their nuptials. A mystery evening is a great way to have a unique and memorable experience with friends and family. We do REHEARSAL DINNERS and RECEPTIONS.
More of a stand-up comedy routine, this involves one or two detectives investigating an improvised whodunit while directly involving your audience members in the crime. This creates a personalized show that could never be repeated!
WE LOOK OUT FOR YOU We have a variety of techniques that we can use to promote social distancing and safety during our shows. We can discuss these items with you and develop a strategy to work at your location in a relatively safe environment.
WE CAN THEME YOUR PARTY
We have many themes and can customize to just about any other that you can think of. Some of the more common themes include: The 1920's or 1930's for a Prohibition Era party, A Millionaire's Mansion, A Movie Mogul, Mobsters, A Wedding and many others. We have conducted Des Moines murder mystery dinner shows with everything from the Versace Mansion to Gilligan's Island. If you want to have a particular theme, just let us know!
Younger or more sensitive audience members should have no problem enjoying a night of fun and clean comedy when we takes the stage. We are predisposed to performing clean comedy shows. If, however, we are requested to become more lively in our performance, we may do so. After all, our murder mysteries are custom-tailored for the audience involved. If you have more than just a couple of children but are instead throwing a gathering for a group of kids, we have specific themes written for children. To ensure a great evening simply inform us at the time of contracting for the show.
Smaller groups can get cost-prohibitive for Des Moines murder mysteries, but we may still be able to help. Although our more standard murder mysteries have custom-tailored scripts and 4-8 actors, we do have other options to bring the cost down. This can be even more important for non-profit organizations looking to have a fundraiser. There are two additional approaches we can take. First, is our Cambridge Solution. This is called the Cambridge Solution because we considered it to be Harvard smart when we developed it. It uses 4-10 of your group as characters in the murder. More information is on our Cambridge Murder Mystery Page. For even smaller groups we have our Dartmouth Plan. It's really the Cambridge Solution redesigned to either use everyone as a character in more of a Speed Dating setup or using half of the people as characters. Our second option is what we refer to as Murder Mystery Mayhem or a Clue Party. This is where everyone is a character and they mix and mingle randomly. It comes down to Means, Motive and Opportunity, much like a game of Clue. More information is available on our Murder Mystery Game Show page.
While we prefer the immersive experience, we can perform "Presentational Murder Mysteries." This is performed on a stage or raised area with sound system like a play and with limited audience interaction. This is usually done for much larger groups and is more heavily scripted. This tends to have a higher cost because of the writing involved.
We have a variety of offerings. Some of our offerings are designed as a mix and mingle party that allows your participants to interview each other to try to determine the culprit. Another offering allows some of your people to play the roles being interrogated by our detective and the audience to determine the culprit. But for our signature immersive murder mystery dinners, you want to limit the exposure of your people as performers. Quite frankly, they're simply not professional, and our people are. But we will customize any event to you and follow your lead as to who you want to participate. So the short answer? Yes, but it isn't our recommendation.
We is capable of performing anywhere. After all, we are improvisational. We are used to making do and reacting to what is at hand. Generally we perform in banquet spaces and dining rooms, though we've been known to operate in bars, in patio areas or even out on a golf course. The question usually comes down to an ability to be seen and heard by the audience. The real answer is that you should contact us if you have a venue that you have a question about and we are certain that we can find a way to make it work.
We are happy to help with some publicity. We'll share our graphics and make them available to you and will brainstorm with you to provide fun themes to help get media attention. But we can not take responsibility for the ability to market a show, will not guarantee any level of attendance and will not directly handle any ticket sales for legal reasons.
We are one of the fastest growing murder mystery companies in Iowa. Right now we provide Des Moines murder mystery dinner shows in Beaverdale, Chautauqua Park, Clive, Downtown, Drake, Glen Oaks, Highland Park, Historic East Village, Prospect Park, Riverbend, Riverview Park, Sherman Hill, South of Grand, the Street of Presidents, Urbandale, Waukee. We can also serve Clive and Jordan Creek in the West, Green Meadows West in Johnston, around DSM Airport, the Fairgrounds and Pleasant Hill, Urbandale and Merle Hay, Ankeny, the Racetrack and Amusement Park area as well as everywhere else you can think of. Most locations do not even have a travel fee associated with it as we have performers all over the place. There are, of course, some places that are more out of the way or don't have a large acting community nearby. This may require some travel, but would be included in any quote that we provide for you.
Because every show is custom designed you have to contact us directly to receive a quote for your banquet. Prices range based on the costs for a show. The more actors, the more props, the larger the event, the more the writing or rehearsal, the higher the cost. When we provide a quote, the prices are usually independent of venue, food and technical equipment such as lights and sound. Contact us for a detailed quote.
Even though we call them dinners, the reality is that a lot of our events take place during the day. Lunch is quite common and it operates basically the same, though often there is no cocktail hour. It can be a great idea to entertain your employees without keeping them after hours. Likewise, an ambush at lunch works well with our people to look like a regular team building group or lecturer. Contact us to find ideas that might work for your group based on your timing.
Generally no, but we work based on our direction from our clients. Based on the desires of the client, we may have gunshots (blanks, of course), stabbings, etc. All such things are usually done to comedic effect and may require authorization of the venue and appropriate security staffs. Likewise, the Client must indemnify us and indicate to potential guests with any conditions the inherent issues or concerns. If you are the one hiring us for a private party or corporate event, then whether there are gunshots is up to you. But as mentioned, we'd recommend not to have them.
We can accept most forms of payment including checks, credit cards, ACH, cash, PayPal and just about anything else that you can come up with. Usually we require 50% up front with a follow-up of the final 50% one-week prior to the event.
Contact us by email at info@THEYimprov.com or call (866) 219-4386.
The first step is to determine your needs. This includes potential goals, desires and concerns. Is it more than just entertainment? If you are looking to show appreciation to clients or employees, for example, then we would take one approach. If it is family and friends, we might approach it differently. The more we know about what has already been decided can allow us to narrow the conversation to approaches that interest you.
We need to know the type of venue you will have and where it will be in the area. A date, or date range, for when you would like to have this and what time frame you are looking for will help to determine our commitment and availability. Knowing the size of your group, though that will likely just be an estimate, will allow us to choose approprate options for the performance and have a better feel for the resources required.
If you know budget limitations, that can allow us to restrict the conversations to those options that will be within your financial constraints. This works in both directions. We don't want to overbuild and propose options that can't be done. Also, we don't want to underbuild and not provide a large enough of a show to achieve the show that will exceed your expectations.
The classic format for entertaining groups of all types getting people working together to solve a crime.
A great way to get a show that is completely customized to the group and keeps the audience engaged.
Comedians can come to your group and can provide a traditional night of comedic entertainment.
We get everyone and interacting in a variety of games ranging from those associated with TV shows and specialty items.
Our magicians can bewilder you for an evening of close-up magic, mentalism, psychics or full stage shows.
We can add a little flavor to any event by bringing characters that can create memorable moments.
