We recommend a duration of about 1.5 to 2 hours for our IRL team-building events. This gives players enough time to complete the challenges without feeling rushed - and the time truly does fly by! For companies with a shorter block of time, our events can be compressed into a shorter amount of time by simply removing one or two challenge stations, and for those looking for a longer event, we can extend the awards party. We always recommend doing so because it’s a great chance for additional bonding as coworkers rehash the experience!
Our amazing escape races are perfect team-building events for large groups because they are so easily scalable. There is no upper limit - with larger groups we simply provide more challenge station moderators and more support staff to provide hints and help along the way. Regardless of the group size, participants will play the team-building game in small teams and benefit from close personal interaction. Larger groups just mean more teams, making the competition more exciting!
As far as a minimum, we recommend at least 2-3 teams, which is enough for a good competition. We host the event frequently for small companies, large companies, and everything in between!
For our team-building games in person — a team generally consists of 5-10 players depending on the event specifics. This is something you will decide with your event coordinator based on the needs of your event. For example, a school team-building event will utilize larger teams so that the puzzles are more solvable. For a smaller company, we may recommend smaller teams so that there are enough teams for a good competition. No matter what, the teams will be small enough so that everyone is able to contribute and play a role.
Escapely will handle all preparation, all event logistics, and all day-of coordination. Of course, our event planners will work closely with you to align the event with your needs, but when it comes to the day of your in-person team-building activity, you and your coworkers will simply show up ready to have some fun!
The only items needed along the racecourse are a pen, which we provide if needed, and a cell phone with internet connectivity (only one person on the team needs this). We also recommend comfortable shoes and clothing, though nothing strenuous is a part of the game. Some companies even prepare team uniforms such as colored bandanas or company tee shirts so that everyone can tell which team is which!
Our helpful and encouraging game guides are a crucial part of our in-person team-building activities. Depending on the needs and layout of your event, we will provide dial-up help or in-person help. In the former case, dedicated moderators are standing by to provide hints and teams access them using QR codes on their race packets. In the latter case, staff are sprinkled throughout the racecourse waiting to help. Some events utilize both!
This is entirely up to you and the specifications of your team-building event. We can operate pretty much anywhere and have hosted in-person team-building activities in conference centers, hotels and resorts, downtown areas, office complexes, and more!
Our team-building game doesn’t require a specific amount of space. We recommend not spacing the challenge stations too far away from one another so that teams don’t have trouble getting between them. At the same time, we do keep them all hidden away in unique locations so that a team cannot accidentally stumble upon one without solving the right clues. If your company retreat or conference is at a hotel or other venue, we will work with the venue to designate the proper locations for the checkpoints. If it will be hosted at your office - no problem. We can always start and end at the office but host some of the challenge stations elsewhere.
Not at all. The challenges are such that almost anyone will be able to participate and complete them. If you have specific questions, just discuss them with your event coordinator. We will do whatever necessary to accommodate any special needs!
You will have a variety of live staff managing various aspects of your team-building activity. An energetic emcee will get the event started, professional and fun game moderators run the challenge stations, and game guides are standing by for any team in need of a hint. We provide game guides in two ways depending on the needs of your event - either on-the-ground staff or virtual moderators accessible via QR codes on the race packets. Some events have both!
While we bend over backwards to accommodate last-minute requests, we recommend about one month of lead time for average size events. If your event is larger than 200 participants, the logistics become a little more complicated because we must find an appropriate race path for that number of people. In those cases, 6-8 weeks is ideal.