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The Nuts and Bolts of Networking

Networking is important for business development. Interacting with fellow escape roomers to exchange information, develop contacts, and learn more about the escape room industry can really help you grow your business.

In-Person Networking

Most people would agree that a smile and a handshake with a real person goes a lot further than online efforts.  Meeting in person will give other escape room industry professionals the opportunity to put a face to your escape room company, and in most cases they will be more inclined to help you. Fortunately, there are a variety of escape room related conferences/events where you can chat with other escape roomers. Often these events will include informative seminars, vendor booths with escape room software, props, and designs etc., and social events to encourage networking. A few popular conferences include:

This annual event is one of the largest conferences dedicated to escape rooms. It has been held in various locations around North America, but attracts escape roomers from around the world. It features interactive exhibits/vendors, networking events, on-site demonstrations, and various educational seminars. The conference appeals to both owners and enthusiasts. It aims to help existing escape room business improve their games, and help new owners get their business off the ground.

This is the other large-scale escape room conference, and it is held in Europe. Up The Game has lots of informative seminars that explore the latest innovations in game design and discuss the future of the escape room industry. You can network with hundreds of escape room designers/owners as you visit the various vendor booths and gaming experiences.  

The Halloween & Attractions Show is an important event for the haunted house industry, and for horror themed escape rooms. It is a wonderful opportunity to network, get new ideas, and purchase Halloween-related products. It includes a special segment called “Escape Room City” which caters to the room escape, virtual reality and adventure game industries. The seminars cover topics such as building an escape room, using live actors, and advertising.

This is another tradeshow designed for the haunt industry, but may be useful for escape room owners. The event brings together “haunters” and vendors and focuses on ways to promote your haunt business. It includes educational talks, numerous exhibitors, hands-on demos, behind the scenes haunted tours, and of course, networking.

This global conference and trade show is for the attractions industry in general.  It includes interactive guest experiences, the opportunity to explore new products and services for your business, educations sessions, and tours. It is a great opportunity to connect with leisure/attractions industry professionals, including owners, operators, suppliers, investors, and developers.

The Escape Games Convention is focused on the escape room industry in Germany. Part of the convention is aimed at escape room enthusiasts, while the other time is spent catering to escape room owners. It includes seminars and round-table discussions on topics such as game design, marketing, technology, and distribution.

This is an escape room conference in Poland. It includes a variety of speeches and workshops from industry professionals on topics such as social media, electronics, legal issues, and puzzle creation.  

This event in the UK is less of a conference, and more of a meet-up for the UK escape room industry.  Anyone involved in running, designing, or creating escape room games may attend, but industry supplies are not permitted to sell.  The agenda is decided as the event goes along, but typically involves discussion of room design, the future of escape rooms, and technical innovations.

This is a Canadian event for those running, designing, or starting escape rooms. The goal of the event is to build networks, ask questions, and discuss issues surrounding escape room design/business. There are no formal speakers, rather the attendees work together to develop a schedule at the beginning of the event based on their areas of interest.

Online Networking

Interacting with fellow escape roomers online is a key step for developing relationships in the industry.

Facebook Groups:

Joining escape room groups can keep you informed about things going on in the industry, and be a great resource when you need advice. Escape room owners can ask the groups about almost anything—technical support, game design ideas, ways to promote their room, etc. Some popular groups include:

Escape Room Directories:

Reach out to the people who run directory websites to see if you can add your escape room company to their ongoing list of escape rooms. First, being listed on state-wide, national, and worldwide directories will help players find you. Second, the admins of the website may allow you to advertise your company on their website. Third, and most importantly, you can connect with the escape roomers behind the website. They may end up being great people to ask advice from! Some popular directories include:

Escape Room Forums:

If you want to chat about escape rooms, ask questions, rant about a bad game, tell crazy escape room stories, etc. you should interact with other escaperoomers on forums. Some popular escape room forums include:

Bloggers/Reviewers:

Escape Room bloggers are usually enthusiasts that have played hundreds of games. They are a great resource if you are looking to improve your game. Bloggers can tell you from personal experience what kinds of puzzles work, what elements of an escape room frustrate players, and what appeals to players. In addition, you may want to reach out to bloggers/reviewers in order to promote your escape room. Often you can offer them a free game in exchange for a review of your room. With so many great games out there, many players look at review sites before booking a room, so they are a great resource! Some popular escape room blogs include:

Remember, relationship building is key! Do not lead with a sales-pitch; rather try to really connect on a personal level to form a mutually beneficial working relationship.

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