Today we’d like to introduce you to Sol Gordon.
Sol, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
With a long history of acting, theater, and video games, I stumbled onto a new emerging trend called “Live action escape rooms”. Evolving from the point and click adventure games on the PC like Myst and Sam and Max into an interactive live entertainment venue. Originally started in Asia they made their way over to the US in 2013. When I first discovered Escape Rooms in the Boston area there were less than 10 in the whole state. After playing a few I found what was lacking in some of the rooms I had played was the ability to make it into an interactive story. I have always been fascinated by the way stories unfold through video games and how as a player you feel like you are taking part in something bigger than you, not just observing it. With that goal in mind I set out to design a scenario that has players working together to uncover clues to a strange mystery. In my first game “Mystery At The Art Gallery”, teams work together to piece together the disappearance of the art gallery’s owner. A whole backstory with characters and setting was developed and each player gets to experience the story come alive in the course of an hour. I was heavily influenced by Stephen King, Franz Kafka, Poe, and others that were able to create facilitating and thrilling stories that could be experienced in a short time frame, but has a lasting impression. Everything you will find in my games, from stories, to setting to puzzles are completely original and one-of-a-kind.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Starting a business is unlike anything I had done before. The saying goes “An entrepreneur will gladly work 80 hours a week so they don’t have to work 40 hours a week” is true. Trying to get a business off the ground while also working over 40 hours a week at another job was grueling. After being unable to start in one city, having funding fall through with investors, and a litany of other setbacks I did not give up. All resources and energy was stretched as thin as possible. I recall many days getting up at 4:15 to get to work until 4:30 then immediately going to my business to paint or build. 18 hour days were common. I called in every favor I had. I networked with anyone who had any skill I didn’t possess. I researched and read and my relationships were tested. I knew the end goal: To provide the customers with an amazing experience that was one-of-a-kind. With that goal in mind in October 2016 we opened the door to the public and North Shore Escape was officially in business.
North Shore Escape – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My company specializes in story-driven interactive entertainment. I want every customer: from professional puzzlers to people brand new to the experience, to come away with a piece of a story that they feel they were a part of. So far everyone who has played has enjoyed it. At last count close to 2000 players have tried my premier game and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. I focused on bringing something that, as a player, I would love to experience myself.
One of my best skills outside of design and story has been networking. I can’t stress enough that nobody can do everything themselves. I spend a good portion of my time talking with other escape room owners, haunt owners, live theater actors and designers and fans of all those as well. Building a strong community in the area has led to some great collaborations and a great network of skills. Recently myself and several escape room owners in the Massachusetts area did a panel at the Penny Arcade Expo in Boston to a capacity crowd (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsSYyU1NnH8).
By working together to create strong scenarios and better games we improve the industry as a whole and make the average person into an enthusiast who wants to play as many escape rooms as they can. There have been talks about more collaboration in the future. We as owners do not see each other as competitors, but colleagues. This has been very helpful in education the public about what we do and what is possible. Someone recently said that Interactive Entertainment is in its infancy and we (escape rooms) are the cave paintings of what is sure to become something greater than it is.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I define my personal success when a customer has a great experience. I love to interact with players before, after, and during games. I consider every group to be the only group and focus on their enjoyment. I know I did my job well when a team finishes the game with huge smiles on their faces. Becoming wealthy, making a nation-wide franchise or buying out other rooms really does not appeal to me as much as giving an entertaining and one-of-a-kind experience. I started with nothing and for the business to sustain and continue to grow is amazing.
Pricing:
- Tickets are $27 per person
Contact Info:
- Address: North Shore Escape, LLC
397 Main Street
Woburn MA
01801 - Website: www.NorthShoreEscape.com
- Phone: 978-219-6651
- Email: info@northshoreescape.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorthShoreEscape
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NSEscape
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/north-shore-escape-woburn
- Other: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g41948-d10681912-Reviews-North_Shore_Escape-Woburn_Massachusetts.html
Image Credit:
www.roomescapeartist.com
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