Black Cat`s 200th Treasure Hunt Blog. Time for a Treasure Hunt Q&A!
Posted on: 07/11/2024By Tim Carter (Owner of Black Cat Treasure Hunts)
This is Black Cat Treasure Hunt`s 200th blog since it came into existence in 2012! As such, Black Cat (that`s me...Tim), has decided it was an appropriate time for a Q&A on everything to do with treasure hunts in Brighton, hen party treasure hunts, London treasure hunts and ...well...anything to do with treasure hunts! He has put himself on the spot and decided to ask some tricky questions!
Q1. Since the inception of Black Cat Treasure Hunts, how would you describe the style of the treasure hunts offered?
A1. Obviously, a lot has changed since I released my first treasure hunts, so I have asked ChatGPT the same sort of question. It replied that there was a high fun factor with highly engaging treasure hunts. These were great for bonding between family, friends and work colleagues. The treasure hunts featured themes and were extremely customizable.
I think that sums things up pretty well to be honest.
Q2. How does the niche that Black Cat Treasure Hunts represents compare to other companies?
A2. That`s a serious question! Black Cat`s stronghold is in and around Brighton and, with the online treasure hunts, across Sussex. The personalised treasure hunts with the localised edge makes for a unique selling point (usp). Black Cat Treasure Hunts also has the dexterity to repeat these style of treasure hunts in London. I can write unique treasure hunts both in terms of route and, more importantly, in terms of content for every hen party, birthday and team building treasure hunt.
Other companies either cover the whole of the UK and/or they use additional automation as a treasure hunt format. These ideas are great too but lose out on the individualized touch in terms of covering new developments across Brighton (and all the other places) and have limited variation in content.
Q3. Would You describe Black Cat`s treasure hunts as interactive?
A3. I make them interactive in different ways. The online treasure hunts that are downloadable from the website for places such as Chichester, Hastings, Lewes, Rye, Eastbourne etc are available for smartphone use. Answers can be inputted straight away, and you will get points if you give the correct answer. For those who complete multiple treasure hunts there is the possibility of landing up on Black Cat Treasure Hunts` leaderboard!
Anyone booking a hen party treasure hunt or team building treasure hunt can book in Black Cat himself to be in attendance on the day to organise the event and do the marking/judging. This involves the use of WhatsApp to send through photos and video clips for the challenges to get instant feedback on how good (or otherwise!) they are. Alternatively, Black Cat can do the marking process remotely (for half price) also via WhatsApp. A close rapport is built up between Black Cat and the contestants! For the attending on the day version, Black Cat will give a round up summary of the highlights and a small presentation to teams. This is not really the same on the app treasure hunts, whilst other companies who arrange for people to lead/organise invariably charge a lot more to do so.
Q4. How do Black Cat Treasure Hunt Prices Compare?
A4. The online treasure hunts are great value from £1 to £15 for the car treasure hunts. Most sell for around £4.
The personalised treasure hunts are currently priced from £10 (hen party treasure hunt) to £15/head with Black Cat`s on the day involvement ranging from £40 (remote marking) to £80 (attending). A team building treasure hunt`s final cost based on this range will depend on numbers with discounts for higher numbers.
I can save you effort by advising that the online treasure hunts will not come in cheaper elsewhere, whilst, as I and ChatGPT have made clear, Black Cat Treasure Hunts owns the niche for personalised treasure hunts In Brighton and across Sussex yet making the price very competitive compared to alternative forms of activity and entertainment discussed by hen party and corporate groups.
Q5. What is your favourite treasure hunt?
A5. Oooh..that`s a tough one. Generally, I like either being given an extremely specific set of guidelines or amusing info and photos if it`s for a hen party treasure hunt or, to the other extreme, a blank canvas where I can choose to do pretty much as I want. For example, a recent team building treasure hunt gave me a spec of, "Just make it hard, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the World if you got the teams a little bit lost on route!"
My recent blog on the treasure hunt awards for 2024 will give you an idea of what I find the most interesting.
Away from Brighton and London this year it was fun to attend and write some new treasure hunts in Chichester and Hastings. I like how these alternative places can vary from year to year.
Q6. What is the most important thing to remember when compiling a treasure hunt?
A6. Living in Sussex, I am always visiting the places where treasure hunts have been requested for to see if anything has changed on route. This is a definite advantage to me when putting together a bespoke treasure hunt. Things do change and sometimes close to the day of a treasure hunt. I think street art is notorious for that, but I can`t help but include some amongst the questions.
The mural featuring as the photo for this blog was built over! I was devastated to see it go as it was so good and provided some nice questions. Luckily, an equally impressive but totally different piece of street art is now in its place.
Q7. What was your 100th blog about?!
A7. Ha!...I had to go and check the answer for this one. As it turned out it was an interview about Black Cat Treasure Hunts between me and VisitBrighton. I am still a partner with VisitBrighton, which is the official website for promoting and marketing Brighton.
Funnily enough I have just given a podcast interview with Inspirations From Brighton which is due to be published in December. Look out for that. I have covered all sorts of treasure hunt related topics over the years but there are always new things cropping up for me to talk about.
Time for one more question?...Of course!
Q8. What will be new for Black Cat Treasure Hunts in 2025?
A8. I`m always excited by new and unusual spec`s that are presented to me and preparing those is the most fun. I had an enquiry recently (to be confirmed) for two treasure hunts that would use a hop on/hop off bus! I think that`s a great idea and I`m really hoping the bookings go through. Even if they don`t I might just try this out and introduce this as a new theme anyway. Get off..answer some questions and complete a challenge and then get back on again!
Earlier this year I wrote a treasure hunt based on the TV programme Race Across The World...or...Race Across Brighton in this instance! I am contemplating introducing this as a `special` during the time of when the next series is on.Plan your route...get to a checkpoint...take your fun photo and then carry on.
You never know when the call will come for a one-off treasure hunt outside Sussex and they are always a challenge. I already have a booking for a game themed treasure hunt for a stag do around Westminster.
Ready to make your own treasure hunt enquiry now? Please contact Black Cat (Tim!) on info@blackcattreasurehunts.co.uk or call (01323) 655346
Q3. Would You describe Black Cat`s treasure hunts as interactive?
A3. I make them interactive in different ways. The online treasure hunts that are downloadable from the website for places such as Chichester, Hastings, Lewes, Rye, Eastbourne etc are available for smartphone use. Answers can be inputted straight away, and you will get points if you give the correct answer. For those who complete multiple treasure hunts there is the possibility of landing up on Black Cat Treasure Hunts` leaderboard!
Anyone booking a hen party treasure hunt or team building treasure hunt can book in Black Cat himself to be in attendance on the day to organise the event and do the marking/judging. This involves the use of WhatsApp to send through photos and video clips for the challenges to get instant feedback on how good (or otherwise!) they are. Alternatively, Black Cat can do the marking process remotely (for half price) also via WhatsApp. A close rapport is built up between Black Cat and the contestants! For the attending on the day version, Black Cat will give a round up summary of the highlights and a small presentation to teams. This is not really the same on the app treasure hunts, whilst other companies who arrange for people to lead/organise invariably charge a lot more to do so.
Q4. How do Black Cat Treasure Hunt Prices Compare?
A4. The online treasure hunts are great value from £1 to £15 for the car treasure hunts. Most sell for around £4.
The personalised treasure hunts are currently priced from £10 (hen party treasure hunt) to £15/head with Black Cat`s on the day involvement ranging from £40 (remote marking) to £80 (attending). A team building treasure hunt`s final cost based on this range will depend on numbers with discounts for higher numbers.
I can save you effort by advising that the online treasure hunts will not come in cheaper elsewhere, whilst, as I and ChatGPT have made clear, Black Cat Treasure Hunts owns the niche for personalised treasure hunts In Brighton and across Sussex yet making the price very competitive compared to alternative forms of activity and entertainment discussed by hen party and corporate groups.
Q5. What is your favourite treasure hunt?
A5. Oooh..that`s a tough one. Generally, I like either being given an extremely specific set of guidelines or amusing info and photos if it`s for a hen party treasure hunt or, to the other extreme, a blank canvas where I can choose to do pretty much as I want. For example, a recent team building treasure hunt gave me a spec of, "Just make it hard, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the World if you got the teams a little bit lost on route!"
My recent blog on the treasure hunt awards for 2024 will give you an idea of what I find the most interesting.
Away from Brighton and London this year it was fun to attend and write some new treasure hunts in Chichester and Hastings. I like how these alternative places can vary from year to year.
Q6. What is the most important thing to remember when compiling a treasure hunt?
A6. Living in Sussex, I am always visiting the places where treasure hunts have been requested for to see if anything has changed on route. This is a definite advantage to me when putting together a bespoke treasure hunt. Things do change and sometimes close to the day of a treasure hunt. I think street art is notorious for that, but I can`t help but include some amongst the questions.
The mural featuring as the photo for this blog was built over! I was devastated to see it go as it was so good and provided some nice questions. Luckily, an equally impressive but totally different piece of street art is now in its place.
Q7. What was your 100th blog about?!
A7. Ha!...I had to go and check the answer for this one. As it turned out it was an interview about Black Cat Treasure Hunts between me and VisitBrighton. I am still a partner with VisitBrighton, which is the official website for promoting and marketing Brighton.
Funnily enough I have just given a podcast interview with Inspirations From Brighton which is due to be published in December. Look out for that. I have covered all sorts of treasure hunt related topics over the years but there are always new things cropping up for me to talk about.
Time for one more question?...Of course!
Q8. What will be new for Black Cat Treasure Hunts in 2025?
A8. I`m always excited by new and unusual spec`s that are presented to me and preparing those is the most fun. I had an enquiry recently (to be confirmed) for two treasure hunts that would use a hop on/hop off bus! I think that`s a great idea and I`m really hoping the bookings go through. Even if they don`t I might just try this out and introduce this as a new theme anyway. Get off..answer some questions and complete a challenge and then get back on again!
Earlier this year I wrote a treasure hunt based on the TV programme Race Across The World...or...Race Across Brighton in this instance! I am contemplating introducing this as a `special` during the time of when the next series is on.Plan your route...get to a checkpoint...take your fun photo and then carry on.
You never know when the call will come for a one-off treasure hunt outside Sussex and they are always a challenge. I already have a booking for a game themed treasure hunt for a stag do around Westminster.
Ready to make your own treasure hunt enquiry now? Please contact Black Cat (Tim!) on info@blackcattreasurehunts.co.uk or call (01323) 655346
©2024 Black Cat Treasure Hunts
Website design by Modern Websites