Curt and Chris engage are joined by Kris McClelland from Escapetown Peoria. Kris shares her unique journey into escape rooms, highlighting her background in communications and theater and her transition from an enthusiast to a manager. The conversation delves into the operations at Escapetown, detailing the innovative escape room designs, staff management strategies, and the impact of different play modes on customer experience. Kris also discusses the challenges and memorable moments in the escape room business, illustrating her passion for puzzles and customer satisfaction.

Escapetown Peoria

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Curt and Chris focus on escape room design with escape room game designer and amusement park aficionado, Chris Moschella. Known for his humor-driven, immersive games, Chris shares his journey, inspirations, and game design philosophy. They dissect his notable works like 'Big Ma Bertha’s Fussin’ & A Feudin’ Moonshine Hill Hootenanny' and 'Professor Bleehall’s Odditorium Emporium and Pie Shoppe,' while also previewing 'The Zombie and the Witch Doctor.' The discussion extends to business aspects such as character merchandising, cost transparency, and client interaction, with Chris's website, chris.plus, serving as a resource hub. Providing some fantastic insights for both designers and enthusiasts, the episode highlights the balance between storytelling, humor, and puzzle-solving to create engaging escape room experiences.

Chris' Website

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Curt and Chris interview Andy Bauch, co-founder and CEO of Morty, an app that helps you discover, track, and review escape rooms and haunted attractions. They discuss Andy's journey from working as a software engineer at Disney to creating Morty. Andy also shares stories about his Lego art projects and how his work has occasionally intersected with celebrity scandals. The conversation covers favorite escape rooms, features and updates for the Morty app, and the importance of community in the escape room industry.

The Morty App

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In this episode Curt and Chris interview Shadd Copping, an experienced game master from Escape Ventures in Port Charlotte, FL. Shadd shares his journey from California to Florida, detailing his experiences in the escape room industry, including managing and acting in rooms. The discussion covers the role and challenges of a game master, the evolution of escape rooms, and personal stories from Shadd's experience as a game master. They delve into tips for beginner and enthusiast players, the debate on tipping game masters, and the qualities Shadd looks for in an escape room owner. Shad also provides a fascinating look at accommodating players with disabilities, the dynamics of group play, and his personal top 10 escape room list, emphasizing his love for immersive experiences. The conversation further touches on the prospect of owning an escape room, the importance of customer and employee treatment, and using platforms like Morty for escape room reviews.

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Curt and Chris discuss The Sanctuary Escape in Oklahoma City with co-owner Louie Hernandez. The discussion covers the genesis and evolution of Louie's involvement in the haunted attraction and escape room business, highlighted by the intriguing backstory of the Sanctuary Haunted Attraction and Sanctuary Escapes. The conversation offers a deep dive into the creative and operational aspects of running escape rooms, sharing insights into the industry, future project teasers, and even a glimpse into the personal cooking delights of (co-owner) Tino's family.

The Sanctuary Escape

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Curt and Chris explore the intricate world of escape rooms with special guests Will and Kim from Escape Artist Greenville. From their humble beginnings rooted in a love for Halloween and immersive experiences to the challenges of building and operating their business, they share their journey. They discuss the evolution of their escape room designs, the importance of set and puzzle integration, the impact of actors, and the formation of their unique escape games. They also reflect on the transition from classic to premium escape experiences, the balance between horror and fun, and their plans for the future as they embark on a 'year of yes'.

Escape Artist Greenville

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"To convert a new group to enthusiasts...that's the dream."

Curt and Chris spend time with guests Scott and Kaylea from Immersive Machine. The conversation navigates through their personal journeys into the escape room industry, from Scott's transition from video game events to escape rooms and Kay's DIY home haunt transformations. They discuss the technical challenges and creative processes behind building their notable escape room, 'Sal’s Cybernetics,' and tease their upcoming project, 'Neon Streets.' The episode also touches on their approach to customer experience, community building within the escape room industry, and the intriguing possibility of integrating merchandising. This is a must-listen for both escape room enthusiasts and those curious about the intersection of creativity, technology, and storytelling.

The Immersive Machine: Escape Room Adventure

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Curt and Chris speak with John Brooks from Black Mountain Escape in North Carolina. They learn all about the beginnings of Black Mountain Escape, Jon’s process in designing a game. the use of technology and actors, and the impact of community among escape room owners. They also explore the importance of historical connection and accessibility in room design. Jon provides practical advice for anyone interested in starting or enhancing an escape room business.

Links:

• Black Mountain Escape
• EscapeCustoms.com
• Playful Technology YouTube Channel