We strongly encourage you to watch this episode on YouTube as it has all of the live video from RECON.
“Don’t override your players’ experience with your version of the story.”
Emotional, hilarious, and… sexy?! Our very first REPOD Live Show was full of unexpected turns involving McDonald’s drive thrus, a romance that blossomed amidst the most terrifying experience I’ve ever played, and some truly memorable moments. Oh, and it also had more references to sex than we’ve ever had on twelve seasons of this show. I guess that’s what happens when you’re recording live.
We’ve been wanting to take Reality Escape Pod live for a long time. What better place to finally do it than at RECON, our own escape room convention? For this experiment, we needed the right guest. Gijs Geers of DarkPark Escape Rooms in the Netherlands was perfect for this live show. Gijs is an escape room creator, owner, and former magician who has experienced plenty of the industry’s highs and lows.
What I appreciated most, though, was how candid Gijs was willing to be. He wasn’t banging the drum of his self-importance. He got real with us. At times, he even became emotional, particularly when talking about the excitement and anxiety the TERPECAs bring. It made for a surprisingly personal conversation, especially considering it was all happening live on the RECON stage.
I especially enjoyed hearing Gijs’ hot takes on letting go of the narrative:
Thank you to Gijs for helping us create a wonderful live show for RECON. And if you were in the audience, thank you so much for being present and encouraging us with your cheers, applause, and laughter!
This is also the first time we’ve released a podcast in full video. So even if you’re typically an audio podcast listener, we highly recommend you watch the full video on Youtube (click the link above). Let us know if you enjoyed our live show, and if you’d like to attend one in the future.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
We are immensely grateful to our sponsors this season: Buzzshot Bookings, Ubisoft VR Escape Games, and Immersif. We truly appreciate your support of our mission to promote and improve the immersive gaming community.
Buzzshot
Buzzshot is proud to announce their new “all-in-one” Booking System designed from the ground up for one type of business, escape rooms.
Offering:
- Easy to use booking UI with no fees or hidden charges.
- Customer waiver capture
- Branded Team Photos
- Player Messaging
- Review Managment
- Automations
- Customer Surveys
- Broadcast Emails
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. FREE Trial Account with full features* including SMS messaging, and ‘Buzzshot Bookings’ trial upon request. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer.
Ubisoft VR Escape Games
Harness the power of VR Escape games to maximize your venue’s potential. Deliver blockbuster adventures and impossible experiences, all brought to life in Ubisoft’s most popular worlds, including Assassin’s Creed, Prince of Persia, and more.
- Location based games optimized for entertainment venues
- Exclusively available only in escape room venues, VR arcades, and theme parks.
- Games can accommodate anywhere from 2-8 players
- No start up fees; you only pay when players play
Special Offer for REPOD Listeners:
REPOD listeners get an extended free trial for an entire month of royalty-free operation. To hear more and claim your free offer, send a message via their contact page and be sure to use our code REPODxUBI26. Enter the code into the “description” field on the contact form.
Immersif Business Consulting
Are you looking to unlock more revenue and streamline efficiency? Sam Wai is helping creatives and suppliers in the immersive industry earn more with specialist accounting and mentorship.
Offering:
- Business Mentoring and Consulting:
- Growth focused
- Strategic Planning
- Actionable Advice
- Performance Intelligence Reports:
- Analysis of your game booking performance
- Learn how to optimize your marketing
- Customize your business based on player habits and booking preferences
Special Offer for REPOD Listeners:
REPOD listeners get a free one hour Business Mentoring Call. This is a focused one-to-one session to help you work through a challenge, make a difficult decision or bring more structure to your next stage of growth. We’ll explore what’s holding the business back, weigh up your options, and agree on practical next steps. You’ll leave with clearer thinking, renewed confidence and a written summary to keep you moving forward. Book through immersif.co/REPOD or email Sam hello@immersif.co and be sure to mention REPOD to claim your free business consultation.
Topics Discussed in this Episode
- 00:00 Introduction
- 02:38 Stage Design Shoutouts
- 03:24 After Dark Warning
- 05:32 Live Show Begins
- 08:51 DarkPark Highlights
- 11:19 Fortune Cookie
- 12:29 Rebranding to DarkPark
- 15:10 Actor Magician Origins
- 16:09 Sponsor Break: Buzzshot – Escape Room Booking & Marketing Software
- 18:27 Imposter Syndrome Check
- 22:44 TERPECA Pressure
- 25:02 Artist vs Entrepreneur
- 27:24 Finding Inspiration
- 31:04 Sponsor Break: Ubisoft – Harness the Power of VR Escape Games
- 33:28 The Emotional Heart of Gijs’ Games
- 36:37 You Are The Story
- 42:41 Sponsor Break: Immersif – Business Mentoring & Performance Intelligence Reports
- 45:44 Stay in the Dark Story Arc
- 49:15 Building During a Pandemic
- 50:29 Highs, Lows, and Save Points
- 52:31 Lightning Round Begins
- 56:36 Dream Projects and Rituals
- 01:00:10 Sound and Composer Advice
- 01:03:28 Balancing Scares and Accessibility
- 01:06:33 Surprise Love Story
- 01:09:25 What Comes Next
- 01:10:31 Thanks and Farewell
- 01:13:33 Bonus Story: Knee Pain
Leave a Voicemail
Got a question or thought for the podcast? You can submit a voice recording by calling the Room Escape Artist not-so-hotline that always goes straight to voicemail (551-227-7273).
Resources Mentioned in this Episode
- DarkPark website
- REA reviews of DarkPark escape rooms:
- REA reviews of DarkPark Games, the tabletop experiences:
About Gijs Geers
Gijs Geers is a Dutch entrepreneur and creative mastermind behind the DarkPark escape rooms. He founded the Dutch company in 2013 and has since expanded to multiple locations across The Netherlands. Gijs has a background in acting and has always been passionate about creating immersive experiences for players.
Under Gijs’s leadership, DarkPark has become known for its innovative and award winning escape rooms, which combine puzzles, storytelling, and immersive environments to create a truly unforgettable experience. Gijs is known for his attention to detail and his ability to push the boundaries of what is possible in the escape room industry.
In addition to DarkPark, Gijs is also involved in other creative projects and has worked with various companies in the entertainment industry. He continues to innovate and create new experiences for players, always striving to exceed expectations and create truly memorable moments.
DarkPark Instagram: @darkpark.nl
Personal Instagram: @gijsgeers
Support REPOD
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