DeepSummary
In this episode of the Reality Escape Pod, David Spira and Peih-Gee Law interview Kellian and Brian Pletcher, the creators of Club Drosselmeyer, an interactive and immersive Nutcracker-themed event set in the 1940s. The Pletchers discuss the origins of Club Drosselmeyer, which blends swing dancing, puzzles, live performances, and a narrative inspired by World War II history.
Kellian and Brian share insights into the production of Club Drosselmeyer, including the incorporation of historical elements, the importance of adding whimsy and humor to balance the darker themes, and the challenge of managing the large-scale event with numerous performers and interactive components. They also touch on their backgrounds in puzzles, game design, and immersive experiences.
The hosts and guests explore the format of Club Drosselmeyer, which caters to different audience preferences, from active puzzle-solving and character interactions to simply enjoying the ambiance, performances, and dancing. They discuss strategies for approaching open-world immersive events without feeling overwhelmed and the appeal of transporting audiences to a bygone era.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Club Drosselmeyer is an immersive, interactive event that blends swing dancing, puzzles, live performances, and historical elements set in the 1940s.
- The creators, Kellian and Brian Pletcher, draw inspiration from real historical events and people while incorporating whimsical and fantastical elements to help audiences engage with the material.
- The event caters to a variety of audience preferences, from active puzzle-solving and character interactions to simply enjoying the ambiance, performances, and dancing.
- Kellian emphasizes the importance of humor and resilience, even in difficult times, and aims to instill a sense of agency, empowerment, and hope in the audience.
- Brian and Kellian come from backgrounds in puzzles, game design, and immersive experiences, which inform their approach to creating Club Drosselmeyer.
- The production of Club Drosselmeyer involves a large team of performers, musicians, and support staff, with a focus on attention to detail and creating a cohesive, magical experience.
- The event is an annual tradition, with a new storyline and themes each year, while maintaining the core elements of swing dancing, puzzles, and historical inspiration.
- Strategies for approaching open-world immersive events without feeling overwhelmed are discussed, such as starting with familiar elements like interacting with bartenders or staff members.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “If you're going to tell stories, there's no story that I could tell that would be even moderately as interesting as what actually happened. Why invent the wheel when there are so many good wheels there?“ by Kellian Pletcher
- “I swear, I had the idea for escape rooms before it was a thing, but I couldn't get past the idea of wanting to make it a solo experience. And the financials just don't really work out that way. So, like, I just sort of dismissed it.“ by Brian Pletcher
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Episode Information
Reality Escape Pod - Escape Rooms & Immersive Games
David Spira & Peih-Gee Law
11/7/23
“It's an interactive Nutcracker in swing time.” In REPOD season 6, episode 6, we go behind the scenes with the creators of Club Drosselmeyer, Kellian and Brian Pletcher. Club Drosselmeyer is a World War II-themed mass-puzzling, swing-dancing, and immersive performance event, and it’s one of Room Escape Artist’s favorite holiday events.
Kellian talks to us about what to expect from Club Drosselmeyer, the format of the show, and how the puzzles work. She talks about drawing inspiration from history as well as current events and tells us why it’s important to throw in a dash of whimsy and weirdness (like robots in 1940.) We also chat about how to approach large-scale, open-world immersive events without getting overwhelmed.
If you’re looking for a fabulous holiday event with mysteries to unravel, puzzles to solve, gorgeous outfits, raucous performances, and a lively dance floor, look no further than Club Drosselmeyer. David and Lisa love it so much that they created Operation Nutcracker, a Room Escape Artist event built around this show.
Episode Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors Morty, Buzzshot, and COGS:
MortyMorty is a free app for discovering, planning, tracking, and reviewing your escape rooms and other immersive social outings.
Morty News:
- Morty now features haunt attractions
- Morty for Android is here
Special Badge for REPOD listeners:
You can learn more at morty.app/REPOD to sign up and get a special badge for our listeners (works for existing users also).
Buzzshot
Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS.
Special Offer for REPOD Listeners:
REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer.
COGS
COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when.
Special Offer for REPOD Listeners:
REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout.
Production Credits
Hosted by David Spira & Peih-Gee Law
Produced by Theresa Piazza
Supported by Lisa Spira & Richard Burns
Edited by Steve Ewing of Stand Inside Media
Music by Ryan Elder
Logo by Janine Pracht