Week 3: House Management & Running Crew

This week has been spent continuing the work started in the previous week.  The team was split
into three groups with different tasks. One group worked on the script, one worked on finding costumes,
and one worked on designing signs. 

The script for both the people at the table in the lobby and the ushers was written and was sent to
Dean and the Writing Team for feedback.  The script was expanded from our earlier bullet pointed
format into actual lines that the people working the escape room will be saying. For the people playing
the “receptionists” in the lobby, this will include instructions and warnings about what not to do while
playing as well as an overview of what they are about to do. For the ushers, this is an in-character
script that will set up the story for the players and give context to the puzzles they are going to have
to solve.  Feedback was received, pointing out the need to format the script better and include
additional warnings, but work has not yet started on addressing the critiques.

The costume group found and ordered costumes for the total price of $20.  The costumes consist of
lab coats for the ushers which will be augmented with gloves and safety goggles that are being supplied
by one of the team members.  The goal for these costumes is to make the ushers appear as scientists
that work for the Foundation in keeping with the story set forth by the writing crew. The costumes are
set to arrive between one and two weeks from the date of this post.

The group responsible for the signs has delivered several ideas for signs for both winning and losing
groups.  The signs were looked over by the team and generally approved, but after receiving feedback
from class, it is clear that the signs need to be reworked.  The goal will be to have a new batch of signs
for next class and present them so that they can be voted on and six can be selected for printing.
These six will consist of three winning signs and three losing signs.

Our group is also aware of the need to create a reset list that we will follow while running the escape
room in order to make the room ready for a new group between sessions, however, without a final
version of the room to examine, construction of a concrete list cannot be started.  As of the time of
this post, a general outline for what will need to be done is all we are able to create.  

Finally, we have talked with the writing team and agreed upon a time to meet in order to record a
video for the lobby of the escape room.  During this time, we will also take advantage of the recording
equipment to film videos for the players of the escape room to see when they finish the room.  Two
different videos will be made, one for when they win and one for when they lose. 

Plans for the next week include improving upon what has been done so far and beginning what we
could not yet start.

-Matt Szpunar