Murder in Sin City

Click here to download a Gambling Glossary filled with terms and phrases to help you with
your night at the Paramount Casino!

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Bobbie Flynn: Casino Owner. Ronald is the owner of the Paramount Casino. Ronald is a powerful man that you don’t want to betray—the result could be deadly!

Alanna Flynn: Casino Owner’s Wife. A former beauty queen, Iguana now rules the entertainment side of the Paramount. Her time in the lounge has made her knowledgeable about much more than show tunes.

Madison Flynn: Floor Manager. Precious, Ronald’s daughter, is aware that the profits from the casino are dwindling…and they can’t be attributed to gambling losses. Her job may be on the line if she can’t find the thief.

Cole Conway: Booking Manager. Working in the casino sports book allows Cole to monitor everyone’s sports bets. Cole knows who is truly winning (and losing) at the Paramount.

Jack Black: Blackjack Dealer. Jack is an unpopular employee at the Paramount, but he is trying to change that. He has been spotted in some secured areas of the casino. Could he be the thief or was he tracking one?

Paul Piano: Lounge Singer. Late nights in the lounge leave Paul singing a lonely tune. Trouble is Paul wants something his bankroll can’t afford.

Elvis: Elvis Impersonator. Elvis can impersonate a lot of personalities, which has gotten him far in life. Even Elvis’ closest confidants don’t even know who he truly is.

Mimi Martini: Cocktail Waitress. A money-hungry cocktail waitress, Mimi will do anything (and use anyone) to advance herself out of the casino lounge.

Jim Beam: Bartender. Although known to be a ladies man, lately Jim has been out of luck with love.

Lucy Legs: Showgirl. Lucy is a cruise line performer who has dropped anchor in Las Vegas. It is no secret that she wants to be married to Elvis rather than by him to someone else.

Clean Jean: Hotel concierge. As the manager of guest relations, they know more about some of the guests than their significant others do! Will their inside knowledge condemn or save them?

Security Sam: Security Manager. Sam polices who goes into and out of the casino and is ultimately responsible for any thefts the casino may incur. Their job is on the line if someone is not caught for the recent heists.

Senator Justice: US Senator. A senator who spends a lot of time in Las Vegas. He has some ties to convicts, but that doesn’t make him one.

Jacquelyn Justice: Senator’s Wife. Jacquelyn will do anything to save her husband’s career. Some say she cares more about being a senator’s wife more than she cares about the senator.

Ace High: Gambler. Known for his large bets and his big money, whatever lucky lady lands him as her husband will have hit the jackpot. Will Ace’s past come back to haunt him?

Hot-Slot Sal: Gambler. Sal spends their gambling time at the slots and never seems to leave empty-handed. Could the casino losses be attributed to their successes?

Full House Frank: Gambler. As one of the wealthiest men in Vegas, Frank feels he doesn’t get the respect he deserves. How far will he go to get it?

Hustling Hailey: Gambler. A hustler at heart, Hailey will do anything for money. Although she has been spending a lot of time in the lounge with Paul, her latest conquer has been gaining Ace High as a husband.

Colleen Candy: Classy Call Girl. Colleen’s clients are plenty and plenty rich. What may be more shocking than who is paying her salary may be who can’t afford the rates she’s charging.

Agent Avery: FBI Agent. Agent Avery is here doing a random check on the casino. If anything goes wrong at the Paramount party, they will be the one to take care of business.

Jamie Journalist: Reporter. Jamie needs to stay a step ahead of the rest if they hope to break the story that is about to happen tonight.

** Guest list can be dependent on the version of mystery you order, so check your invitation for exact details!

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COSTUMES

Murder in Sin City is a fun mystery to costume for since
you can dress up as much or as little as you desire.
Like everything in Vegas, we suggest that you go “over the top” in your outfit — whether that means a brightly colored wig or a full-fledged jumpsuit is totally up to you! We just feel that in a mystery like Sin City, you should try to be as outrageous as the city you are (supposedly) in!

Some ideas to get you started on accessories are…

Gamblers:

• Fancy outfits
• Anything to show wealth –
  • gold cane
  • expensive jewelry
  • mink stolls
  • fur coats
  • feather boas
  • watch piece
• Suit with jacket
• Bowtie
• Top hat
• Money tucked into places, like a lapel, hatband, etc.
• Cards tucked into places like a lapel, hatband, etc.

Dealers/Staff:

• Visors
• Cards tucked into hats, lapels, etc.
• Bowtie
• Vests
• Aprons
• Dressed in green, red, black
• Name tags
• Feathers in your hair (showgirls and cocktail waitresses)

Add to any outfit!

• Boas
• Wigs (think any variety)
• Facial hair
• BLING!
• Gold or silver accessories of any type
• Fancy headdress
• Cigarette extension holders
• Props of any sort!
• LARGE hats
• Fake eyelashes
• Money tucked into places, like a lapel, hatband, etc.
• Cards tucked into places like a lapel, hatband, etc.

ENTRANCE

• Create a grand entrance to your casino with a long, red carpet.

• Consider an entryway with an arch of balloons or giant cards.

• Design a large banner or sign for the Paramount with glitter and glue and hang it over your entrance.

• Use large dice as design elements or columns by your entrance. Create dice by covering boxes with white paper and adding black dots.

• Enlarge the “Welcome To The Paramount” sign, included in mystery, and place in your entrance.

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WITHIN THE PARTY SPACE

• Have the noise of ringing bells in the background to simulate a casino.

• Use signs (included in mystery) to highlight the different characters in your mystery – Showgirl sign for Lucy Legs and Lounge sign for Paul Piano.

• Set up your venue like a casino:
• Have an area for each of the games– poker, blackjack, roulette, craps. Use signs (included with mystery) to mark them.

• Mark the other areas of your casino with Vegas-y signs as well (included in mystery) – Lounge, Bar, Buffet, etc.

• Use a scene setter to easily convert your room into a casino. Including slot machines for the walls!

• Create a Chapel of Love for quickie Vegas weddings!

•  Cover tables with black or green felt and use a white paint marker or colored tape to make blackjack, craps, and baccarat lines (or buy premade game layouts).

• Outline game tables, doorways, signs, etc. in white lights (making sure to hide the cords so no one trips on them). Set them in flashing mode.

• Create a lounge area for music and dancing.

• Play a “show” in the background on the t.v. Drape fabric around your entertainment center to simulate a small theater stage. Play a Vegas show on the t.v. (Pictured)

• Decorating with a few token Vegas items – cards, gambling chips, fake money and/or dice. You can use these items in a lot of different ways to decorate and pull your theme through your whole party!

• String a few decks of playing cards and stacks of play money (purchased at a dollar store) with clear fishing line. These make great streamers to hang from ceilings! The clear fishing line to gives the illusion of them dangling in space.

• Create poker chip danglers! Designs and directions included with the purchase of the mystery. (Pictured)

• Make a card banner using a deck of cards. String with decorative ribbon and hang. (Pictured)

• Glue together some “hands” of poker in a fan arrangement (full houses, royal flush, four-of-kind with an ace, etc) and layout or stand-up on tables as decorations.

• Get creative with some boxes. Cover them with white paper and add black dots to create large dice!

• Create table decorations by filling oversized martini glasses with dice, poker chips, cards or fake money.

• Print card symbol templates (included with mystery) onto cardstock, cut out and string on fishing line (clear) or decorative ribbon to make a banner.

• Use a color copier to enlarge regular playing cards and mount on cardstock to hang on your walls.

• Scatter your items throughout your party space, on table tops, as table decorations, on walls, etc. to pull your theme throughout.

• Other red and black items that you can use to decorate:
– Feathers
– Beads
– Cards
– Dice
– Gambling Chips
– Flowers (a perfect accent)
– Candy
– Sequins or confetti

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HOW TO DECORATE YOUR FOOD TABLE:

Perhaps one of the best ways to pull your theme through is with your appetizer/dinner/dessert table.
Create the perfect table by pulling your color scheme through.

• Consider a green, red or black tablecloth/s

• Plastic partyware that is red and/or black goes a long way.

• Use green felt for your tablecloth and mark on it with paint markers to make it look like a craps table.

• Scatter cards, dice and/or poker chips on the table to give it a more party feel.

• Use cards as napkin rings and/or wine charms (pictured below – directions included with mystery).

• Print out the card symbols on colored cardstock (included in mystery) and scatter on the table. Alongside, you can scatter red and black confetti.

— Name your dishes to give them a casino flare. Use adjectives that will go with the theme:
• Elvis’ Egg Rolls
• Clams Casino
• Caesar’s Palace Salad
• Full House Ham Sammies
The options are endless!

• Use the menu and food tents (included in mystery) to accentuate the foods that you will be serving.

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Creating a Photo Spot

Give your guests an unforgettable souvenier by setting up a photo area where they can capture a picture of themselves in character.

A few suggestions:
• Pick a place where there will be good lighting.

• You can make it as elaborate or simple as you want.

• Accessories and decorations can make a difference. Have some extra props on hand that your guests can pose with. Consider feather boas, tiaras, top hats, large sunglasses, weapon props, etc.

• An easy way to create a background is to use a “scene setter.” These affordable rolls of images transform your room instantly and make for a good backdrop to your picture.

• Make sure there is enough room to fit everyone into the frame.

• For individual shots of guests, designate someone to be in charge of pictures as your guests arrive.
o Consider your character list and which character would fit the role of taking the picture. Ie, if you want mug shots, perhaps ask the investigator to be in charge of taking the pictures.

• For a group picture, take one just before the introduction is read or right after the solution is read (before people may start heading out).
o These are two times when you can count on everyone being around and attentive.

BACKDROP IDEAS for your Murder in Sin City photo spot

• Create a line-up board and take pictures of all of your suspects. 

• Use scene setters to make a simple background.
**You can find many with a casino background or the Vegas skyline

• Use props to enhance the photos. Have things like top hats, boas, big sunglasses, etc. for your guests to pose with.

• Paint your own backdrop to pose in front of!

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Vegas is known for its elaborate buffets, create the perfect one for your guests. You can have your buffet filled with dinner foods or appetizers and sweets – your choice!

Having your food available by buffet not only goes with the Vegas theme but allows you the flexibility to plan for appetizers, a full dinner, desserts or any combination of. Additionally, it helps with food serving and allows ample time for your guests to mingle while eating.

Check out some tips and recipes for making buffets here.

Being that red and black are the way to go in Vegas, consider serving red and black foods! This may be easiest if you are serving strictly sweets.

No matter what you do for your food, there are plenty of ways
to make it fit in with your casino/Vegas theme.

Create the perfect table by pulling your color scheme through.

• Consider a green, red or black table cloth/s

• Plastic partyware that is red and/or black goes a long way.

• Use green felt for your table cloth and mark on it with paint markers to make it look like a blackjack table.

• Scatter cards, dice and/or poker chips on the table to give it a more party feel.

• Use cards as napkin rings (pictured below – directions included with mystery).

• Print out the card symbols on colored cardstock (included in mystery) and scatter on table. Alongside, you can scatter red and black confetti.

• Name your dishes to give them a casino flare. Use adjectives that will go with the theme:

• Elvis’ Egg Rolls
• Clams Casino
• Caesar’s Palace Salad
• Full House Ham Sammies
• … and more!

• Use the menu and food tents (included in mystery) to accentuate the foods that you will be serving.

• Table decorations – create simple decorations out of anything you have (dice, money, black and red candles, etc.) to pull the theme through.

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Casino Themed Drinks! This clever bartender renamed some classic drinks to serve: Up Till Sunrise (Tequila Sunrise), Royal Flush (Cranberry and Vodka), Rummy Punch, Black Jack (Bacardi and Coke) and more! See how she did it here.

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Create a Lounge for music and dancing. Use the signs (included in the mystery – pictured below) to mark it.

Mob Music: Pay tribute to Bugsy Siegel (who founded the first casino in Vegas) and the others that made the town prosperous with soundtracks from Casino, GoodFellas, The Godfather, and other mob hits.

The Rat Pack: Consisting of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford. The Rat Pack often performed in Vegas in the ’60s and were instrumental in the rise of Vegas as an entertainment destination.

Elvis: Performing live in Vegas in the late 60s and early 70s. Elvis made popular his trademarked jumpsuits and capes on the Vegas stages.

Wayne Newton: Possibly the most famous Vegas entertainer of all time!

Make your own mix: Be sure to include such songs as Viva Las Vegas (Elvis), Luck Be a Lady (Frank Sinatra) and The Gambler (Kenny Rogers).

For FREE Music– Visit your local library to borrow copies of any of the music above or your own picks!

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With this mystery theme, you have a unique opportunity to make specially themed invitations and save the date postcards to help create even more excitement for your party!

SAVE THE DATE
Send along special Save The Date postcards – designed like playing cards. (Directions and designs included in mystery.)

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For this theme, you could:

COOL CURRENCY 
Use poker chips instead of money provided with mystery. Consider providing each of your guests with little buckets for their winnings!

SLOT AREA
Download some slot apps to your ipad and have a slot area for your guests to play.

GAMING GALORE
If you really want to add some Vegas flare, rent casino gaming equipment from local vendors. They’ll have setups for Poker, Blackjack, Craps, Wheels of Fortune and Roulette tables. They may even have a list of dealers you can hire to run the games.

THROWING A LAST-MINUTE PARTY? OR JUST WANT TO HELP YOUR GUESTS GET INTO CHARACTER?
Provide an assortment of accessories to help your guests “get into character” include items such as mob hats, cigars, fake jewelry, feather boas, glow necklaces, etc.

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Creating a Photo Spot

Give your guests an unforgettable souvenir by setting up a photo area where they can capture a picture of themselves in character.

A few suggestions:
• Pick a place where there will be good lighting.

• You can make it as elaborate or simple as you want.

• Accessories and decorations can make a difference. Have some extra props on hand that your guests can pose with. Consider feather boas, tiaras, top hats, large sunglasses, weapon props, etc.

• An easy way to create a background is to use a “scene setter.” These affordable rolls of images transform your room instantly and make for a good backdrop to your picture.

• Make sure there is enough room to fit everyone into the frame.

• For individual shots of guests, designate someone to be in charge of pictures as your guests arrive.
o Consider your character list and which character would fit the role of taking the picture. Ie, if you want mug shots, perhaps ask the investigator to be in charge of taking the pictures.

• For a group picture, take one just before the introduction is read or right after the solution is read (before people may start heading out).
o These are two times when you can count on everyone being around and attentive.

BACKDROP IDEAS for your Murder in Sin City photo spot

• Create a line-up board and take pictures of all of your suspects. 

• Use scene setters to make a simple background.
**You can find many with a casino background or the Vegas skyline

• Use props to enhance the photos. Have things like top hats, boas, big sunglasses, etc. for your guests to pose with.

• Paint your own backdrop to pose in front of!

<<CHECK THE TABS TO THE LEFT FOR MORE IDEAS<<

Check out some of these movies or t.v. shows that depict casino life: Casino, Bugsy, Oceans Eleven, Honeymoon in Vegas, 21, The Cooler, and Magic City (series on Starz).

Check out this well-thought out blog on “How to Host a Mystery Party”. Note: this hostess hosted Murder at The Deadwood Saloon, but halfway through, she notes a number of good pointers for throwing your mystery party.

Additionally, you can always look online at our murder mystery forum to see what other hosts and hostesses have done for their parties and learn from their experience.

CHECK OUT PINTEREST

For even more party planning ideas, check out our Murder in Sin City Pinterest Board here.

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Once you order, in your mystery packet you will receive directions and/or printables to make unique and original decorations specific to your party! Included will be:

• SAVE THE DATE POSTCARD DESIGN (1 design)
• SIMPLE WAYS TO DECORATE (directions and examples)
• POSTERS (3 designs)
  • Welcome to the Paramount
  • Lucy Legs
  • Paul Piano Poster
• SIGNS (7 designs)
  • Room/Area signs
  • Gaming signs
• DESIGNED COCKTAIL AND DINNER MENUS (2 designs you can personalize with your menu items)
• FOOD TENTS
• NAME PLATES

AND MORE!!!

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You Could Win a Free Party!

Each month we highlight one of our customers who has posted on our blog and award them a FREE party!

To get your $5 coupon AND be entered in the Party Of the Month contest for a chance to win a FREE party, please email nompartyofthemonth@gmail.com

Don’t forget to add all the important details and party highlights that made your party one to remember! We love to hear about all of the hard work you, as host, put into your party. From the decor to the food, costumes, whatever. As well as how you and your guests acted (and reacted!) throughout the night! Everything that made your party one your guests will never forget — tell us about it! And be sure to attach some pictures!!!

Upon submitting, we will email you back a coupon to use for $5 off your next party AND enter you in our “Party of the Month” contest, where you could win a FREE party! Once submitted, you will not have to resubmit, but will be entered EVERY MONTH until your party wins!

Check out some of our past winners here! Night of Mystery POM Blogs

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