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Employee APPRECIATION Geoff Durham

Employee Appreciation- Geoff Durham

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Dec. 2nd, 2021 marks Geoff Durham’s 5 year anniversary at Cross Roads Escape Games. Geoff has been such a positive influence on Cross Roads over the years that I wanted to show our appreciation for him!

Cross Roads opened in January of 2016 and Geoff joined the team later that same year as a Game Master. Geoff showed leadership and ambition and was quickly promoted to General Manager and in early 2021 was promoted to Operations Manager.

Geoff handles the day-to-day operations. He manages the employees, customers, training, game maintenance, and even hosts games from time to time.

Geoff is the kind of person who comes to work every day with a smile and a story. He finds humor in everyday things and is genuine and kind. He also holds himself and those around him to high standards and remains professional in stressful situations.

Not only is Geoff a natural leader, but he is also a creator. Geoff is the writer, director, and editor of almost all of the videos at Cross Roads including the game trailers, rules videos, Confessions of a Game Master on YouTube, and all the videos in The Psych Ward. Geoff also helped design many of the puzzles inside The Hex Room and The Psych Ward and was the one who thought of Fun House KIDS. Geoff is currently working on designing and creating a practice puzzle for our lobby, which will be coming soon!

We cannot put into words how much Geoff is appreciated. He has had such an influence on the growth of Cross Roads that it’s hard to think what we would have done without him.

Thank you, Geoff, for your hard work, providing amazing ideas, beautiful videos, and truly caring about the well-being of Cross Roads. We are so grateful for your friendship and the dedication you have shown us over the past 5 years. We hope you continue to grow with us for many more.

Celebrating Geoff’s 5 year anniversary with a fun night at The Magic Castle!

-Madison Rhoades

Now hiring

Now Hiring: Game Master

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As a Game Master at Cross Roads Escape Games, you will help provide a memorable and immersive experience for our customers in a new and exciting field of entertainment! We are looking for enthusiastic and responsible candidates to work part time at our location in Anaheim.

What we do: An escape room is a real-life adventure game where you are working with your friends and racing against the clock! With only 1 hour to escape, you must work as a team to search for clues and discover all the secrets before time runs out. Established in 2016, Cross Roads Escape Games has three award winning games and is rated one of the top three Escape Rooms in the nation.  

What a Game Master does: A typical day would be to greet and check-in guests, recite and perform the rules in front of the group, and then guide them into the game. Once the game has started, you will monitor the group for up to one hour and provide hints in character as needed. When the game is over, you will provide a post-game briefing and quickly reset the room for the next game.

Compensation: Part-time Game Master positions start at $15 per hour.

Job Requirements:

  • Provide a fun and memorable experience for all of our guests.
  • Memorize and recite rules to guests while being engaging and energetic.
  • Monitor game play and provide clear hints when necessary.
  • Work independently and as a part of a team.
  • Able to take direction and constructive feedback.
  • Maintain ongoing facility cleanliness.
  • Understand all game progressions and be able to quickly reset games.
  • Available to work evenings and weekends (Saturday-Sunday).
  • Able to make quick and effective decisions.
  • Able to lift up to 20 pounds, crawl, climb stairs, and move quickly.

Ideal Candidate:

  • At least 18 years old.
  • Acting or improv experience.
  • Ability to command the attention of a crowd.
  • Can work in a fast-paced environment.
  • Strong communication skills.
  • Prior customer service experience.

Benefits of working at Cross Roads:

  • Fun working environment.
  • Promotion opportunities.
  • Hourly pay, bonuses, and tips.
  • Employee discounts.
  • Fun team building outings.
  • Flexible schedules.
  • Great experience for someone interested in acting or entertainment.

How to apply:
Download an application here.
Email application and cover letter to info@CrossRoadsEscapeGames.com

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The Valentine Special: Confessions of A Game Master

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It’s February, Valentine’s Day is coming soon, and romance is in the air. To celebrate, our game masters thought they might channel their inner poet to deliver some escape room tips with a Valentine’s Day flair. We may not be poets, but we sure do have a lot of love to give. Have a watch!

We believe that escape rooms are a great date night idea. They are a great way to go out and do something with your date where the two of you are able to interact and have fun. The two of you are actively participating in what is happening, as opposed to going to a movie where everyone has to remain quiet for the duration of the film. With escape rooms, you get to star in your very own live-action adventure!

At Cross Roads we have three very different experiences. If you are seeking a date night game that is full of laughs, jokes, and has a silly and zany atmosphere, The Fun House is for you! It’s a race against time as you try to prove yourself a Magnificent Magician. Fail to do so, and you earn the title Clueless Clown! This non-linear game is packed to the brim with puzzles but never fear; if you ever find yourself in need of help, there’s an enchanted painting ready to help!

The Hex Room is a game for the more adventurous: you and your teammates will all find yourselves separated within the game, in need of working together to escape your own rooms and then the game completely. This is an intense horror game, perfect for thrill seekers and horror-movie fans.

The Psych Ward is a different type of animal. A blend of escape room, board game, and immersive theatre, the point of The Psych Ward is not to escape, but to win. At the start of your experiment, your group will be split into two teams. The catch? You won’t know who you can trust. This is the perfect experience for fans of board games, strategy or deduction games, immersive theatre, or those who just want to experience the next evolution of escape rooms.

This year at Cross Roads Escape Games, we’re trying something a little different. We’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with Singles Night: for one night only, our games will all be open to the public! If you’ve been having trouble finding enough friends to meet the minimum or are looking to make new friends, you can join a public game to try and conquer The Hex Room, test your deduction skills with strangers in The Psych Ward, or find a magical group of Magicians. Check out this blog post for more information.

I hope you find something special to do this Valentine’s Day, whether it be with a date or by yourself.

Geoff Durham

Game Master, Manager, Cupid’s Little Helper

Cross Roads Escape Games

Game Master of the month Sara Strain December 2019

Geoff Durham: Game Master of the Month

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Each month we like to highlight one of our amazing team members and the outstanding work they do! For the month of January our Game Master and Manager, Geoff Durham, has gone above and beyond. 

Have you had Geoff as one of your game masters at Cross Roads Escape Games? Lets get to know Geoff with some questions:

Q: How long have you worked at Cross Roads Escape Games?

A: I’ve been with CREG since December of 2016 as a Game Master and I became a manager in July of 2017.

Q: How many escape games have you played?

A: I haven’t kept count, but it’s probably somewhere around 20, if not more. One of the perks of being a game master is getting to experience a lot of other escape rooms!

Q: What is a unique hobby or interest you have? 

A: I collect vinyl records. I really like colored vinyl, movie soundtracks, and electronic artists. It all started with the Donnie Darko soundtrack release from Death Waltz Recording Company many years ago and has become a large collection.

Geoff’s record collection

Q: What is your favorite game to Game Master and why?

A: I love being an orderly in The Psych Ward. Because of the game’s design, every game is different, so I always get to do something a little different. I love when patients find some of the secrets hidden throughout the experiment and I get to have an interaction with them that most other people don’t get.

Q: What is your favorite board game, movie, book, and TV show?

A: My favorite board game is probably Universal Monsters Horrified. I’m a sucker for those classic monsters (especially The Wolf Man), and I like that players work together rather than against each other. (I’m competitive and actually not that great at board games.) My favorite movie of ALL TIME is Tarsem’s The Fall starring Lee Pace. Favorite book is American Gods by Neil Gaiman. My favorite TV shows are Bryan Fuller/NBC’s Hannibal (or really, all of Bryan Fuller’s TV shows. #RevivePushingDaisies). 

Q: Without giving anything away, what is the funniest thing you have seen in a game?

A: One time I was supervising The Fun House when a group asked Zoltar for a hint. He told them he needed a joke in exchange, so the mother of the group blurts out a fairly scandalous joke that actually made me scream with laughter. I probably can’t say it on here, but it was so unexpected that it caught me off guard.

Q: What is your favorite thing about being a Game Master?

A: I love watching when people solve a puzzle and they get really happy and celebrate that they figured it out. Those little victory dances are what it’s all about.

Thank you for all of your answers Geoff! 

my favorite memory

Confessions of a Game Master: My Favorite Memory

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Confessions of a Game Master has finally returned!  January 15th marks Cross Roads Escape Games’ 4thbirthday and to celebrate, we thought we would ask our game masters to reflect on their time here.

I have been at Cross Roads Escape Games since December 2016, where I started out as a game master. Many things have changed over the years, including updates to The Hex Room, the opening of the genre-bending The Psych Ward, the invention of the 10-minute mini escape game The Box, and the introduction of the interactive theatre production of The Séance.

One thing that drew me to Cross Roads to begin with was the quality and groundbreaking nature of The Hex Room. I first played (and escaped) in March of 2016 and was an instant fan. Once I started working here, I got to see first-hand the passion and dedication they give to their games. Luke and Madison are committed to providing fully-immersive, memorable experiences that push the boundaries of what an escape room can be. I look forward to whatever madness they may come up with next.

In this month’s Confessions of a Game Master, we asked our game masters what their favorite memory of Cross Roads was and what they looked forward to in Cross Roads’ future. Take a look!

It was hard for me to choose a favorite memory; Between playing escape rooms with the crew, Christmas board game parties, and funny interactions with players, I sure had a lot to choose from. But ultimately, I think what makes Cross Roads so special to me is all the game masters I’ve gotten to work with throughout the years.

Do you have a favorite memory from Cross Roads? We’d love to hear it! Let us know in the comments below or let us know on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Geoff Durham

Game Master, Manager, Birthday Party Master of Ceremonies

Cross Roads Escape Games

Reflections of a Game Master

Reflections of a Game Master

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As much as we would like to keep our game masters forever (and in some ways, we do; Anyone recognize that nurse from the Psych Ward videos?), sometimes life takes our game masters in another direction. But we always hope that they leave here with a little more experience and a lot of good memories.

We sat down with one of our former game masters and asked her what she’ll take away from her time at Cross Roads Escape Games. Kerri had quite a bit of profound wisdom to share with us and we just had to share it for anyone else who is considering becoming a game master. Check out our Game Master Exit Interview for some great tidbits of wisdom and real-world applications!

Of course, as one game master leaves, another new game master enters. And that means this is your chance to join our team! But do you have what it takes to become a game master?

What makes a great game master?

A great game master needs to be able to maintain character, think on their feet, have great attention to detail, and most importantly have a lot of enthusiasm.

Enthusiasm is easy when you have a passion for what you do, and we are looking for other people that share that passion. Our game masters have honed skills by participating in a plethora of interesting hobbies ranging from Dungeons and Dragons, to live performances, to staring in short indie films, and even medieval combat reenactment. We come from all walks of life and gain inspiration from different sources, but we all share a passion for games, puzzles, and immersive experiences.

Should I be a game master?

If you love escape rooms, puzzles, or immersive theatre, then being a game master is probably for you. A day in the life of a game master is never dull, and every group that you see is totally different from the one before it. Utilize and improve your improv and acting skills in a fun environment!

If you are interested in joining our crew, we will soon be hiring! You can fill out an application on our website and email it along with your cover letter to be considered. 

Geoff Durham

Manager, Game Master

Cross Roads Escape Games

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Psych Ward Tips: Confessions of a Game Master

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Hello everyone! It’s been a while since our game masters have shared their wisdom with you. We’ve all been going a little crazy getting the new Psych Ward running, but now that it is accepting patients, our Game Masters decided they should prepare you for this new experience. Here’s a quick overview of what you need to know before taking part in the experiment.

WHAT IS THE PSYCH WARD?

The Psych Ward is NOT an Escape Room. The Psych Ward is a strategic game of trust and betrayal. It incorporates escape room, board game, and immersive theatre elements. Traditional escape rooms require you to solve every puzzle in order to escape, but in The Psych Ward you can solve as many or as few puzzles as you need to win. Your goal is not to escape The Psych Ward, but to win.

TIPS TO WIN

• The Psych Ward requires active participation. The Psych Ward is more than solving puzzles: it involves deduction, strategy, and exploration. This means not only will you be solving puzzles, but you will be trying to figure out who on your team you can trust. If you prefer to simply solve puzzles to try and escape a room, I recommend one of our other great games. The Psych Ward is an experience designed for those who want to try something new.
• Observe your fellow patients. It’s not enough to solve as many puzzles as you can. Pay attention to how helpful others in your group are. Remember, you can’t trust everyone.
• Pay attention to the rules. Just like when playing a new board game, you have a new set of rules to learn. Pay attention, especially when scoring is explained, to make sure you understand how to earn points.
• Come up with a strategy. You need to be able to identify those who are not on your team and earn points. Feel free to discuss strategy with your fellow patients but remember you can’t trust all of them, so it might be a better idea to keep strategy to yourself.

WHO IS SANE? WHO IS INSANE?

In each game, there will be a mix of sane and insane players. Who is sane and who is insane is decided randomly by the game each time. The number of insane players depends on the size of your group.

WHAT IS THE WIN RATE?

The Psych Ward has an even 50/50 split of Sane/Insane winning. The difficulty depends on your group and how observant or sly you can be.

OTHER THINGS TO NOTE

• BE ON TIME. Timing, of course, is everything. The Psych Ward runs on a very strict schedule and games cannot be started late. Players are NOT ABLE to enter a game once it has started.
• PLAYER LIMITS ARE STRICT. This game is designed for 5-8 players. It will not function with less or more than the specified amount.
• SPECIAL EFFECTS. This experience incorporates loud noises, fog, theatrical lighting, tight spaces, and restraints. It is not scary, but you may be put in tense situations.
• KEEP YOUR GROUP IN THE KNOW. It is extremely helpful for your teammates to know what they are getting into. Feel free to send them this post for a quick crash-course on The Psych Ward.
• THE PSYCH WARD IS A REPEATABLE EXPERIMENT. Since the experience is based on deduction and strategy, you are encouraged to come back and play with a new strategy. Which patients are sane and insane is random with each game, so you may be on the other team when you replay. This experience was also designed with more tasks and tests than can be completed in a single hour-long experiment, so return players can unlock new paths and secrets within the room.

The Psych Ward is the perfect experience for fans of escape rooms who want to try something new. Adding a level of deduction, trust, and betrayal takes this experience into new realms of possibility for interactive games. If you are a fan of board games or card games like Werewolf or Mafia, The Psych Ward should be your next game.

Geoff Durham
Manager, Game Master, Insane (and won!)
Cross Roads Escape Games

game masters

Are you Game Master material?

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As you may have heard, Cross Roads Escape Games is hiring game masters again and that means it’s time to send in your applications! If you are wondering if you have what it takes to be one of our game masters, here are some of the qualities that make for a truly great game master (in no particular order).

Maintaining Character:

This one is a pretty big one, and definitely the first thing I think of when it comes to great game masters. A game master’s ability to not break immersion is one of the most vital aspects of the job. You must be able to play a convincing character while under pressure and always remain in character for the entire duration of the player’s experience.

I remember one time when I was playing an escape room, our game master was new and didn’t know which hint to give for our puzzle. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the game master said, “let me go ask my manager”, stepped out of the room, and went to ask for help. Immersion destroyed!  It might seem like a lot to ask from the actor/game master, but those that can pull it off are truly a cut above the rest.

Improvisation, the ability to think on your feet:

Ask any of our game masters and they will tell you how important improvisational skills are. In our YouTube series Confessions of a Game Master,we delve into the importance of improvisational skills in the episode “Expect the Unexpected.” It might be a good idea to take a moment to go watch the video here.

A day in the life of a game master is never dull. You never know what is going to happen and it is important that you be able to come up with creative solutions to problems in the moment. Did you give someone the most direct hint in the world and they still don’t know what to do? Think of something! Players didn’t listen to the rules and now you need to sheriff on the spot? Do it! You need to have lightning fast responses to keep games flowing smoothly.

We are a team and we support each other in the moment. Usually there is either a manager or a senior game master that can provide you with a quick answer, but sometimes you simply have to act. We will train you for almost every situation… but expect the unexpected!

Which brings me to my next point:

Have good judgement:

            Common sense and good judgement are usually not skills that people put on job applications, but in this job, it really matters! Every day you will face decisions that you have to make. Is the person that is asking for a hint ALMOST at the solution? Do they need a small nudge in the right direction? Or are they completely lost and need to be turned around? These snap judgements can be the difference between your players getting a satisfying “A-ha! moment,” and your players feeling let down.

If a player wants a small hint and you spell out the puzzle for them, they can often feel like you robbed them of the chance to solve things themselves. Being able to discern the best choice to make before you make it is the sign of a superb game master.

Attention to detail:

Being a game master is all about paying attention to the details. This is useful when checking your room resets for mistakes as well as monitoring your players non-stop. You must keep track of which clues have been found, which clues have been used, and which clues have been used incorrectly. There is nothing more disheartening than asking for a hint and having the game master give you a hint to a puzzle you’ve already solved.

Here at Cross Roads Escape Games, each game master is in charge of monitoring their game constantly so that when a player asks for a hint, you are able to give them an immediate and well thought out answer in character. If you are not paying attention, the players will notice. Trust me.

Time management:

One thing that all escape rooms have in common is that they run on a very tight schedule. It is up to the game masters to make sure that they are performing their duties optimally at all times to keep the day flowing smoothly. A game master has many duties they must perform throughout the day and making sure that all of them are completed without causing delays to the games is a vital component of any escape room team.

The life of a game master is a careful balance of moving quick enough to be efficient, but slow enough to be thorough. Mastering this balance is how you become a true game master!

And last but certainly not least:

Enthusiasm:

Having enthusiasm for the job and for the characters you play is honestly the most important part of being a game master. If you aren’t having fun, your group probably isn’t having fun. A smile and a bit of excitement can go a long way towards making players feel psyched for the game and making your team mates feel energized throughout the day.

Game mastering is fun and thrilling work that always keeps me enthusiastic. I find it hard to not be energized when I get to spend my day sharing escape rooms with many strangers. If the idea of acting, puzzles, and deadlines doesn’t get your blood pumping, I don’t think game mastering is for you.

Though there are many qualities that make for a great game master, these are the most important ones to keep in mind. As a game master, you will be expected to foster these qualities within yourself and always keep improving. Interested in applying? Fill out an application today!

Join our team!
Download Game Master Application

Are you a game master with some tips on what it takes to be great? Leave us a comment below!

Jason Sakal
Game Master and Manager
Cross Roads Escape Games