In this episode, Curt introduces Sean Nash from Escape Room Novi in Michigan. With co-host Chris absent, Curt and Sean dive into Sean's journey from England to Michigan, his experience as a general manager, and his passion for puzzles and immersive gameplay. Sean shares the history of Escape Room Novi, discussing their wide array of themed rooms. They also talk about the challenges of maintaining and running escape rooms, the joy of watching players' 'Eureka moments', and the innovative ways they engage customers with unique party packages and mobile escape rooms. The episode concludes with a fun speed round where Sean reveals his favorite books, escape room experiences, and aspirations for the future.

Escape Room Novi

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Curt and Chris welcome Mark Bloom from Keystone Escape Games in Reno to the show. Mark shares his journey from being an elevator mechanic to an escape room owner and talks about his future projects, including a large Area 51-themed escape room and a unique elevator game. The conversation covers various topics such as set design, puzzle creation, and the importance of creating an unforgettable customer experience. There's also an engaging speed round and a couple of memorable stories, including a heartfelt marriage proposal that took place in one of Mark's escape rooms.

Keystone Escape Games

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Curt and Chris engage in a lively and detailed conversation with Robert and Joe from Giant Dream Productions. These two design and build turn-key escape rooms. Curt has played a handful of their games and really enjoyed them. The discussion covers various topics, including the creative processes behind designing immersive escape rooms, the unique challenges they face, and how their background in art and haunted houses influences their work. They also share anecdotes about their favorite escape rooms, the evolving industry landscape, and their collaborative method of constantly improving game designs.

Giant Dream Productions

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Curt and Chris chat with Katie and Audrey, the artistic minds behind Daydream Adventures, an immersive art escape room in Toronto. They discuss the origins of their business, their unique design process involving a team of artists, and the challenges they've faced, including opening just before the pandemic. Katie and Audrey provide insights into their creative themes, the tech they use, and the supportive community that has helped them build their whimsical escape rooms. They also share amusing stories from running an escape room business and offer advice for aspiring owners.

Daydream Adventures

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Curt and Chris welcome Byron Delmonico, co-owner and CEO of RI Riddle Room, to discuss his journey in the escape room industry. Byron shares his passion for creativity and the importance of family, as well as his achievements, including being named the 2022 Rhode Island Small Business Person of the Year. The conversation touches upon the evolution of his escape rooms, the significance of collaboration, and Byron's innovative approach to storytelling and technology. You'll also hear about his favorite escape rooms, marketing strategies, and an amusing on-the-job mishap.

RI Riddle Room

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Curt and Chris welcome Tanya and Paul from Lock, Clock, and Peril Escape Rooms. They discuss their journey from running a loan business and car audio shop to diving into the world of escape rooms. They talk about topics such as the design process for their self-built escape rooms, the importance of creating family-friendly experiences, and the challenges of running an escape room business. They also share amusing anecdotes, the impact of leaderboards on player experiences, and their future plans, including the development of a new fairy-tale themed escape room.

Lock, Clock, and Peril

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Curt and Chris start off Season 2 with their red flags and dealbreakers in an escape room experience. From the annoyance of having to lock up phones and poor lighting to overly difficult rooms and crawling requirements. Then they move into what they want to see more of in an escape room experience. From discounts for multiple games and themed restrooms to fun hint systems and providing parting gifts. They cover it all. This episode provides a comprehensive list for both escape room enthusiasts and owners to enhance their experiences and services.

In the season one finale of the Mystery Soup podcast, hosts Curt and Chris discuss wrapping up their first season, which includes reflections on key episodes and their favorite takeaways. They consider implementing seasons for their show, share insights from their interviews with escape room experts, and delve into the importance of fun, theming, and accessibility in escape room design. The conversation also covers strategies for marketing, staffing, and enhancing customer experiences.