What do you think of this idea?

[golfing]

Tell me what you think of this idea for an events company in the leisure industry.

The idea is basically a city-wide scavenger hunt. Teams race around a city by solving a series of clues to get from one checkpoint to another. They will travel by foot or by public transport to get from various places around the city. At various checkpoints they will encounter challenges that they will have to overcome in order to receive their next clue. At the final checkpoint they will receive the location of the finish line, and the first team to cross it wins.

I know there are several companies in America that hold similar type of events. They benefit from being similar to the popular TV show, The Amazing Race, that airs in America though.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

How will you be providing a "duty of care" as these teams are racing around a city?

 

[golfing]

Hi good question. I'm going to need your help with that, would could I do aside from having one of those forms were the company accepts no responsibility for injuries or accidents caused during the race.

 

[a4nthony]

So its a treasure hunt?

 

[golfing]

Yes pretty much

 

[DazRave]

I drafted up a similar idea to this last year, had the plans all done and everything. It differed slightly in the sense that i wanted to hire a large park of some sort so i could lock the area down to the general public.

It was based off of the Slingshot Effect / 2.8 hours later guys. They run a zombie survival game that acts like a treasure hunt from A to B to C, they have a mixed of locked down areas and public areas you have to run though.

The reason i dropped the idea.. the planning was way to time consuming, to get one event off of the ground i'd need to charge hefty ticket prices.. and i didn't want to charge more then the 2.8 hour later guys.

 

[golfing]

Hi good to hear from someone who had a similar idea. I love your idea personally but did you ever face a problem where there wasn't much interest from people? Im going to test my idea out for free with friends but im worried that people just wont be that keen to take part.

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

Personally, I'd rather look at booking a location rather than people wandering the city/town.

I know of a location in Liverpool which is 99,000 square feet, over 4 floors and 4 separate buildings which is being hired out at £1000 per day or night which I believe would be a much more interesting location.

I know of this place, because I'm hiring it out myself for a Paranormal Investigation in May Belting building!

 

[golfing]

Thanks for the tip haunted worlds but as this would be a start up I wouldn't be able to afford that kind of price for a long time.

 

[RapidFormations]

As suggested above you should really consider reducing this to some kind of enclosed space, even if it is a large one. It will make it far easier to organise and keep on top of any safety concerns.

It sounds like a fun idea but from what you've said it's not clear why people would want to take part...is there some kind of prize? You probably need to find a stronger angle - the 2.8hrs events work because of the popularity of zombies and also the fun dress up element that some people will like. Also things like Tough Mudder appeal to fitness fans, people want to be able to say they've done it. I think for something like this to work you need a strong USP.

 

[golfing]

Hi rapid, you've got a good point about a usp. My first thoughts was that people would just want to take part because it was unique. There's nothing else like it in my city. Also it would be fun, right? Fitness does come into it as there will be a lot of running around so that could be a selling point. And smarts too as some of the challenges are puzzles, so its a real test of fitness and puzzle solving. I would consider a cash prize but not at this moment.

 

[DazRave]

Hi good to hear from someone who had a similar idea. I love your idea personally but did you ever face a problem where there wasn't much interest from people? Im going to test my idea out for free with friends but im worried that people just wont be that keen to take part.

Yes, i did quite a bit of market research and planning (almost to the point where i nearly booked a venue). I also 'secret shopped' and tried out Slingshot's 2.8 Hours Later to see how they did things. There's certainly a lot of interest.

HOWEVER... I found that a street game only really worked when you had a good strong idea people could relate to. The zombie apocalypse genre is massive at the moment due to the likes of computer games and TV shows. So 2.8 Hours later (completely ripping off the name of well known British zombie film) was a strong idea. Although personally, i think it's now going to slowly show decline (which is why my idea was based off of something different entirely).

Other areas of strength were towards the back end of a year, Halloween to be exact. There are lots of events all over the country nowadays based around this time. Most places that usually get loads of footfall over the summer but next to none over the shorter day winter months seem to now offer 'scare events'. Alton Towers opens late at night with actors in scary costumes wondering around, for instance.

The conclusion i came too was that the horror genre worked as it is a popular theme that people will want to experience. Other genres i looked into like basic puzzle games seemed less appealing when i discussed them with people, and unless the puzzle can be changed each year (more planning!) then it wouldn't have much reply value... there were also less none-horror street games about (which can be a negative indication more then a positive one of less competition!)

Hope this helps!

 

[golfing]

Yep I definitely saw my idea as seasonal, late spring and summer months would be ideal up until later September. Halloween would be a good time too. Then I would have to diversify. In America these companies can operate all year round because they were based in California and Florida - might be another factor in why they are so successful.

That 2.8 Hours Later thing does look like fun, but it looks as if it might be something you'd do once, maybe twice and then not again. I do have concerns about repeat customers regarding my idea.

I envisioned having a race on every Sat and Sun since they are fairly straightforward to set up. I'm not including any elaborate/expensive challenges (at least at the start) so I can keep planning fairly simple and initial costs low.

There is one area where I have a specific question though. In terms of receiving the clue, I was thinking of having a person at each checkpoint who hands them the clue - to begin with this would just be friends/family. Can anyone think of another way I could do this instead of using people that I would have to pay?

 

[DazRave]

That 2.8 Hours Later thing does look like fun, but it looks as if it might be something you'd do once, maybe twice and then not again.

My research on them indicated they had huge repeat customers and even had some customers touring with them to try out the same game in different cities. Each year the game uses a different part of a city so it is refreshed. So long as the Zombie genre is popular, so too will 2.8 hours later. I think i remember working out that they had more then doubled in size over 1 year. Taking on extra cities and extra dates.

I envisioned having a race on every Sat and Sun...

So it's about getting to the end first? Not taking your time to enjoy the experience?

Can anyone think of another way I could do this instead of using people that I would have to pay?

I'm going to PM you a rough outline of the actual concept/idea i had before abandoning the project altogether. Hopefully it can influence you etc.

 

[golfing]

Sorry, couldn't finger out how to quote so I'll do it like this.

My research on them indicated they had huge repeat customers and even had some customers touring with them to try out the same game in different cities.
---Good to know. I just had a look at some of the America companies and saw that some of them tour the major US cities so I guess touring UK towns/cities would be a good option for me in expand customer base.

So it's about getting to the end first? Not taking your time to enjoy the experience?
--- First and foremost, the game is a race so it is about getting to the end first. The enjoyment would come from completing challenges, solving clues and beating the other teams. However, in order to not alienate less athletic teams I would like to make it a point that people can take their time with the course.

I'm going to PM you a rough outline of the actual concept/idea i had before abandoning the project altogether. Hopefully it can influence you etc.
---That would be great! Thank you.

 

[Excel Expert]

There is the operation that features a physical puzzle and a treasure hunt - it was on Dragons Den sometime ago

https://www.isisadventure.co.uk/index.php

On the Zombie front there was a zombie app that was played across google street maps. You would have to run from street to street avoiding "virtual zombies" tracking you across google maps. So to make an actual move in the game you physically had to move there. I believe it ended up being turned in to a fitness tool where your running is plotted against virtual zombies chasing you.

I think the zombie 2.8 hour is a great idea but I would disagree with the need to hold it in doors for the reasons given. I would opt to an indoor one only to give you the ability to run the events in sun or rain.

What I would consider is following the comic-cons and sci-fi shows around the UK. Those attending the shows wont something to do afterwards and zombie hunts would be right up their street.

 

[DazRave]

I believe it ended up being turned in to a fitness tool where your running is plotted against virtual zombies chasing you.

Yeah, i have this app. Works a treat. It's basically an audio book you listen too which tracks your location on GPS, it then tells you to run to certain locations and gives you a reason/plotline within the story why you need to go there. In the meantime, you hear zombies breathing down your neck and the audio book telling you they are close.

I've never run so fast when using this app on a dark winter night!

 

[golfing]

That app sounds like a lot of fun, whats the name of it?

 

[Blood Lust]

Tell me what you think of this idea for an events company in the leisure industry.

The idea is basically a city-wide scavenger hunt. Teams race around a city by solving a series of clues to get from one checkpoint to another. They will travel by foot or by public transport to get from various places around the city. At various checkpoints they will encounter challenges that they will have to overcome in order to receive their next clue. At the final checkpoint they will receive the location of the finish line, and the first team to cross it wins.

I know there are several companies in America that hold similar type of events. They benefit from being similar to the popular TV show, The Amazing Race, that airs in America though.

You're asking the wrong people.

Ask whoever your target customers will be. Then you'll see if there will be enough demand for your service. You might want to start by asking schools, colleges, etc in the area.

 

[DazRave]

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sixtostart.zombiesrun

 

[golfing]

Hi Blood Lust, I'm going to trail run it on some friends to gauge their reaction to it and do a tester run with them first. Then if all goes well, I start the ball rolling with my target audience, like you said, schools and colleges. Universities would be perfect, I know loads of people who would have been interested in this if it turned up on our campus.

Thanks for the link Daz!

 

[asbesting]

in my city (Kaliningrad, Russia) this idea works. it's named "dozor game". "dozor" in english means something like "watchers' patrol". people plays both teams and single. i think, it will be more convenient and funny with a mobile app, like in examples are posted in this topic.

 

[golfing]

Hi asbesting, good to hear it works in other countries, that gives me hope Have you played it yourself?

I will look into this mobile app idea too, seems like the way forward.

 

[asbesting]

Hi asbesting, good to hear it works in other countries, that gives me hope Have you played it yourself?

I will look into this mobile app idea too, seems like the way forward.

unfortunately, i don't play, but my near friend had played before he moved to other city. i know, for some people dozor is the strong hobby and the real quest people use their cars and another things for to overcome this game. by the way, dozor is the night game. i'm not joke, it's works. you can go to official website, but it's russian i can't post links and it is no ad, it stands to reason: "dozor game kaliningrad" - go to first link on google.

 

[golfing]

Felt like giving you guys an update. I told about 80 about my idea on a facebook event and no one responded, I was essentially ignored by 80 people who I deemed my target audience So I guess my idea wasn't all I thought it was lol

 

[japancool]

Felt like giving you guys an update. I told about 80 about my idea on a facebook event and no one responded, I was essentially ignored by 80 people who I deemed my target audience So I guess my idea wasn't all I thought it was lol

Well, why not add an element of action to it. Remember Die Hard 3? Bruce Willis had to solve clues set by Jeremy Irons in order to stop bombs from going off. You could add an engaging plot and action sequences held in enclosed premises, which would allow you to provide a duty of care more easily.

 

[DazRave]

Felt like giving you guys an update. I told about 80 about my idea on a facebook event and no one responded, I was essentially ignored by 80 people who I deemed my target audience So I guess my idea wasn't all I thought it was lol

It appeals to me, but i wouldn't have responded to you via Facebook either. In regards to FB events, it needs to be seen as "cool" and no one want's to be the first person to say they are 'going' to the event either.

Perhaps discuss it with a smaller amount of people who agree to 'accept' the invite and so they show up as attending in the event. Then ask that group to each invite 5 people. You also go away and invite more people too (now that the event already looks active).

 

[webgeek]

If you change it from a race to a tour, you could leverage the existing tour bus/operator infrastructure, be able to avoid a huge number of the complications and work it more like a revenue-share, or affiliate than as a do-it-all business. Lower risk, lower overhead, potentially lower margins.

A stamp or token from each of X locations and they've "Discovered Edinburgh" or "Rediscovered Aberdeen". Discover two or more and get awarded Laird title with deed of land (albeit a small bit of land).

Lotsa ways of working it if you stay flexible in your approach.

 

[patientlady]

Hi golfing

Have you seen this, similar maybe?

http://www.treasure-hunt-people.co.uk/london-treasure-hunts.htm?gclid=CILj2dqS470CFXMPtAodbnUA7Q