Many people ask me how I came up with the unique concept of  Murder for Hire as a socializing, teambuilding event instead of the typical “dinner theater” concept  that many have experienced.

It started out harmlessly enough.  Many years ago I was part of a small dinner group that played a little game designed for six or eight people.  We went to someone’s house and played a game where everybody played a character.  But there were only three mysteries in the box, and once we had done that, we were done.  I was a reporter at the Tampa Tribune at the time, and somebody said “Gee Tom, you’re a writer, why don’t you write us one?”

So I set out to write a mystery for 10 people, but I kept imagining new characters, so I ended up with 16 characters.   I decided to invite 16 friends, it was fun, and then I put it away and didn’t think about it anymore.  Six months later somebody said they had heard about my party, and asked if I could a party for their group of 20.  So I did, and then it just took off.  Soon groups of 30, 50, 80, 100 people or more were asking me for events.  And that is how Murder for Hire was born.

Today  our Tampa Bay area company has done teambuilding and corporate events for some of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area and many of them were held at some of Florida’s most prestigious hotels and resorts, including the Don Cesar, Sheraton Sand Key and Wyndham Key West.  We’re looking forward to expanding our reach into many other Southeastern markets during the upcoming year.  We’ve come a long way from that first small party of 16 people.  Now our smallest event is for 30 people.

Welcome to “Meet The Character”.  Periodically here we are going to introduce you to characters that attend our events.  Our Tampa Bay based company provides corporate events, teambuilding, fundraisers and private events in a setting where “all of the guests all play characters.”   This is a character from our Roaring 20s theme – could this be you at your next party?

Mama Kacciatore

 Mama is the grieving widow of Papa (God Rest His Soul) Kacciatore.  (Everyone at the event always says “God Rest His Soul” whenever we talk about Papa (God Rest His Soul).

 He died of a heart attack recently and all the members of his syndicate are coming from all over the country to this party to pay their respects.  There is also a power struggle between Papa’s (God Rest His Soul) brother Uncle Tony, who wants to take over the mob.  But Mama wants her oldest son Johnny – who was groomed by Papa (God Rest His Soul) – to take over the family business.  She also has a bumbling son name Tommy, who is pushed around by his girlfriend, Bossy Belinda.  Tommy’s girlfriend is Mistress Mona Malone, a former showgirl that Mama thinks is not good enough to be with her son.

 Mama is hosting the event to honor Papa (God Rest His Soul.)  She will be at the party, will you?

Many of you who have known about Murder for Hire in the past have known that I was the president, executive officer, marketing director, salesman, cook and bottle washer…hahaha.

I am very excited to announce that after more than 20 years, I have added two partners, Patty Durell and John Dunn.  Patty is our new Vice President of Marketing and John is our new Vice President of Creative Services.  We have done all the legal paperwork to make it official, and that huge sigh of relief you hear is from me – I now truly do have a team behind me and it is very exciting.

John has actually helped me behind the scene for years.  John and I worked together for several years when I was a reporter for the  Tampa Tribune, and his cutting wit and off-the-wall sense of humor really helps when we need a name for new characters and new plot twists.

I have also known Patty for a few years, and her enthusiasm for this new project is infectious.  She truly wants to help us make this company all it can be.  Patty has been teaching me that just because I have always done something one way, doesn’t necessarily mean it is the best way to do it.  Of course this is painful sometimes, since this company is “my baby” and I can frequently been opinionated.  But having somebody to tell me I’m wrong is of course a good thing if this company is to grow and become all it can be.  This was definitely the right time to make this decision and I really enjoy not having to wash all those bottles anymore!                                                                     

We will remain based out of the Tampa Bay area, and hope that the next time your company is looking for a corporate event – or just a group of friends is looking for “something different” – you will give us a call.  And finally, I really do mean “us” as in our team!

What a great time we had recently when we invited Tampa Bay meeting planners, destination management companies and other movers and shakers to the Venue Nightclub in Clearwater for a Murder for Hire party!

As we continue to revamp and improve our unique concept, it was great to see those who have known about us for years but may have never actually experienced one of our events to get a chance to do so.  Many thought our tagline of “something different” was right on the mark, since they had never experienced anything like it.

Some of these people had never considered one of our events because they got it confused with dinner theater.  Of course, once they experienced it, we were able to clear up the confusion!  Our parties are nothing like dinner theater, and are totally interactive for everybody at the party (you are not just sitting at a table and watching actors).

Our parties are mixing/mingling/socializing events where all of the guests all play characters.  Many of our clients are looking for something unusual as a teambuilding event, but we also do lots of wedding rehearsal dinners, birthday parties, fundraisers and other functions. 

We are looking forward to helping these meeting professionals the next time one of their corporate clients is looking for an affordable corporate event that is “something different!”

We are glad you found us!  Murder for Hire Mystery Parties is a unique adult party for people who want to do something different.  Your friends and co-workers play all the characters—including the villain!  Our parties are for groups that range in size of 30-200 people.

Murder for Hire Parties are great for:

Teambuilding – This party eliminates the cliques that naturally develop at most company functions.  At a Murder for Hire party, everybody relinquishes their normal title (president, head of finance) and assumes a completely new identity.  This breaks down company barriers and allows people to interact on an entirely new level.

Nobody Talks Business – Since everybody assumes a completely new identity, it becomes impossible to talk shop.  Everybody now has something new to talk about other than work – they all know the rock star, they are all pirates, etc.

Spouses/Significant Others Love It – This is the number one party of choice for spouses/significant others because they are involved at the same level as all the company employees.  They don’t feel left out.  The only thing worse than talking shop at a party is having to listen to others talk shop about a business you are not involved in.

Birthday Parties, Wedding Rehearsal Dinners, Reunions or Just For Fun! – A Murder for Hire party bridges the generation gap – its not the young adults on one side of the room talking about one thing and the senior adults on the other.  Everybody enjoys everybody else’s company.