Poll of the Day > Opened an escape room last weekend.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Mom found a cheap building for rent in a good location and we rented it. It also had an attached apartment next door, which I rented for myself. We got an even better deal for renting both, so that was great.

I was originally going to move there, but instead someone suggested making it an escape room, which would be great to have here since the area is starved for things to do.

It was surprisingly easy and relatively cheap to set up. It's just a bit barebones at the moment, we need more decorations and distractions but it's good to start with. Everyone that's tried it has had a fun time, even the ones that utterly failed at figuring things out.

It has had a lot of interest on Facebook and through word of mouth, but that hasn't translated into many customers yet. Have 1 for tomorrow night, and another figuring out which night would be good for them in the next few weeks. But hey, it just takes a few per month to cover the cost, so hopefully it gains traction. And if not, I'll have a weird apartment to move into. lol

That sounds fun and cool!

Do you have to worry about any legal/business issues? like if someone gets hurt during the experience, or whatever?

MrMelodramatic posted...

That sounds fun and cool!

Do you have to worry about any legal/business issues? like if someone gets hurt during the experience, or whatever?

I don't think so. We were told to draw up a waiver just to be on the safe side, which we did. It's just a simple one saying we're not responsible for injuries and such, but there's nothing dangerous anyway. They'd pretty much have to hurt each other or trip onto a table or something to get hurt.

Had a group today, and they seemed to have a good time. It was some of mom's younger coworkers. They seemed fun, one guy was twerking in front of the camera, another mooned us.

They did make it out in 45 minutes, but they needed 3 hunts to do so. It's a lot of fun just to see them figuring things out.

KogaSteelfang posted...

Opened an escape room last weekend

Your murder basement doesn't count as an escape room, no matter how many times the people you bring there keep trying to escape.

Why not move out? You need to get away from your toxic ass family IMO. Maybe that would be a good first step.

Yoo nice one, good luck !

ParanoidObsessive posted...

Your murder basement doesn't count as an escape room, no matter how many times the people you bring there keep trying to escape.

Trust me, it counts.

ZayKayWill posted...

Why not move out? You need to get away from your toxic ass family IMO. Maybe that would be a good first step.

That was the original plan, but done things made me a bit worried about living there. I know you think that's just an excuse, though.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Yes!

Do you bury the bodies, or just burn them?

If the latter, how do you cover up the smell?

Asking for a friend.

Metalsonic66 posted...

Do you bury the bodies, or just burn them?

If the latter, how do you cover up the smell?

Asking for a friend.

Just some clear coat and leave as decorations.

How are you doing the control systems? Legit curious.

AwesomeTurtwig posted...

How are you doing the control systems? Legit curious.

We're not doing anything advanced at all yet. Right now it's just a bunch of clues, riddles, and puzzles that lead them from A to B to C and eventually grants them the combination to open the exit.

We will eventually try to integrate more advanced stuff as we progress, but for now that's it. With some dead end leads, and jokes scattered about for them to find as well.

We give them an hour, and 3 hints. So far no one's made it out without using all 3 hints, but all the ones that did made it pretty much exactly 45 minutes every time. So, we're thinking another step or two to follow before reaching the combination would be good. Just have to figure out an interesting puzzle to add and how to slot it into our existing chain of events.

This is awesome.

good luck

Ife heard of break rooms - Patrons are given a chosen implementation to destroy cheap props to let out destructive energy.

Firewood18 posted...

This is awesome.

good luck

Ife heard of break rooms - Patrons are given a chosen implementation to destroy cheap props to let out destructive energy.

Thanks.

That break room sounds interesting too. Not sure that's be a good idea in a rental property though, I'd be afraid of floor and wall damage. Also, I'm kinda struggling to find enough props to fill just this one room already. I don't think I'd ever have a steady supply of breakables.

But hey, if any of you guys have access to that stuff. Sounds like that could be pretty successful, and fairly easy to get going.

That's creative. I wish I could try to escape room.

fishy071 posted...

That's creative. I wish I could try to escape room.

My brother took me to one for my birthday a few years back, and he's been aching to start one ever since. He's having pretty bad financial problems though, so it hasn't been an option for him.

It kinda came out of the blue for me, but the opportunity arose and I decided to take it. The plan was that if it earned enough of a profit to try and set him one up where he lives(an hour away).

I would think making them would be hard Ive always wanted to try one. And I think there is one around me. But I would need people to go with Not sure if many of my friends like them. And many of the ones that do have already went

KogaSteelfang posted...

We're not doing anything advanced at all yet. Right now it's just a bunch of clues, riddles, and puzzles that lead them from A to B to C and eventually grants them the combination to open the exit.

We will eventually try to integrate more advanced stuff as we progress, but for now that's it. With some dead end leads, and jokes scattered about for them to find as well.

We give them an hour, and 3 hints. So far no one's made it out without using all 3 hints, but all the ones that did made it pretty much exactly 45 minutes every time. So, we're thinking another step or two to follow before reaching the combination would be good. Just have to figure out an interesting puzzle to add and how to slot it into our existing chain of events.

How much would you be willing to spend on basic control systems for your escape room eventually?

Like ball park it? $2000/room, $500/room, etc.

AwesomeTurtwig posted...

How much would you be willing to spend on basic control systems for your escape room eventually?

Like ball park it? $2000/room, $500/room, etc.

Hm, I'm not really sure on that part. I don't have a huge budget. It would depend on how well it does, if it does well is be willing to put a lot more into it. If not, I'd have to be much more conservative about spending anything.

Though, assuming it does well, I'd be willing to drop several k on improving things.

I always support entrepreneurship. Good luck! It seems like it would need to be changed every so often to get return customers.

FellWolf posted...

I always support entrepreneurship. Good luck! It seems like it would need to be changed every so often to get return customers.

Yeah, we're going to have to change things up every so often.

KogaSteelfang posted...

Hm, I'm not really sure on that part. I don't have a huge budget. It would depend on how well it does, if it does well is be willing to put a lot more into it. If not, I'd have to be much more conservative about spending anything.

Though, assuming it does well, I'd be willing to drop several k on improving things.

I've been making IoT sensors, switches, and motors with small form factors on the side. Intent is to sell to escape rooms some day. Each board is cheap to develop.

AwesomeTurtwig posted...

I've been making IoT sensors, switches, and motors with small form factors on the side. Intent is to sell to escape rooms some day. Each board is cheap to develop.

That's really cool. A friend of mom's is supposed to be making props for us, but we didn't actually have any kind of electronics set up outside of a cheap camera to see into the room. He's seen where he can make a lot of money from props too and is going to help us out while selling on the side too.

So instead of having an apartment, you have a dubious business prospect? Are you at least living there the rest of the time?

Count_Drachma posted...

So instead of having an apartment, you have a dubious business prospect? Are you at least living there the rest of the time?

Right, instead of a straight up money sink eating my money that I work for at my other job, I now have a gun and interesting second income.

Also, I could also live there, but things seem a little sketchy with the neighbors. I only just got the key today, but everyone else there has access and helps themselves to my apartment. Coming and going as they please, and the upstairs neighbor stole a ton of stuff from it(not my stuff, the landlord's, but it was meant to be used in the apartment).

So, until today I didn't even have my own way to get in, but will now set better locks from the inside.

KogaSteelfang posted...

interesting second income.

A potential second income, assuming it covers the costs of the rental.

KogaSteelfang posted...

Also, I could also live there, but things seem a little sketchy with the neighbors. I only just got the key today, but everyone else there has access and helps themselves to my apartment. Coming and going as they please, and the upstairs neighbor stole a ton of stuff from it(not my stuff, the landlord's, but it was meant to be used in the apartment).

So, until today I didn't even have my own way to get in, but will now set better locks from the inside.

That's just a crazy situation.

Count_Drachma posted...

A potential second income, assuming it covers the costs of the rental.

True, but with mom's side and mine, it covered everything. I might be out like $50 for stuff I bought online to use, but I count this a win. Besides, just living there and doing nothing with it definitely wouldn't cover the cost. I'm also not fully set up, I'm planning on opening a gift shop in the entrance as well. Already got most of what I need for that.

Count_Drachma posted...

That's just a crazy situation.

And very uncomfortable for me. It's very unnerving to walk into "my" apartment and find some guy I don't know hanging out in there. Or go to open it to let people go through the escape room to find that it's been unlocked from some person who went in at some point the night before. >_>

It's been rented for a month, and the landlord thought I was living there, and was still bringing people in and letting them for meetings with them in my dining room, and letting them use my bathroom.

Thankfully, for the escape room we've purchased plenty of locks, so if I ever do decide to stay there I'll definitely be using those.

I can escape from any room