Working in an escape room: A day in the life of Game Master Sarah

Why Working at Time-Busters Is So Special

What happens behind the scenes of an escape room?
Find out firsthand what a typical workday in an escape room looks like, which skills are important for employees, and why being good with people matters more than solving puzzles.

Long-time employee and escape room expert Sarah explains how the combination of working with people and being creative makes her job so special.

Why do you enjoy working at Time-Busters?

“At Time-Busters, I do a bit of everything – from game mastering in the venue to social media and organizational tasks such as staff scheduling and team coordination. What I enjoy the most is working with people while also having the opportunity to be creative. The variety of tasks and the fact that I can contribute my own ideas and play an active role in shaping Time-Busters’ journey are what make this job so special to me.”

Do I need to be a puzzle enthusiast to work in the industry?

“I definitely am one. Even before working here, I played a lot of escape rooms. And even now I regularly convince family and friends to join me so I can get to know all the new escape room companies in Vienna. I am not really into video games, but I do enjoy board games and card-based escape games.”

Are all employees puzzle enthusiasts?

“No, I would not say so. Above all, employees need to be good at communicating with people, because the interactions with the Game Master are an important part of the escape room experience. We also have a long onboarding period of around two months, so previous experience is not necessary. Once new employees start the job, they usually turn into puzzle fans. In the end, what matters most to us is that people enjoy the job, are motivated, and communicate well with guests.”

What makes the escape room industry so special?

“The industry is not particularly competitive, different companies often cooperate and exchange experiences. If people enjoy an escape room at one company, they are more likely to visit another one afterward. That is why we are happy when great new escape rooms open in Vienna.”

How does a Game Master support the game?

“In the beginning, we give safety instructions and during the game we provide hints, if requested. The hints are never the same, and over time every Game Master develops their own style while supporting the players. While players are in the rooms, we monitor the game through cameras. If a door gets stuck, for example, we can help remotely using the computer. As Game Master you need to pay close attention to make sure the game runs smoothly.”

What happens between games?

“It is important to tidy up and return every item to its original place. Otherwise, the next group will not be able to play properly. Sometimes guests accidentally hide things. Once I even had to climb to retrieve a padlock from a net attached to the ceiling.”

Do you usually work alone?

“On weekends we are always working in pairs, but during the week, especially in summer, we often work alone.”

What does a typical workday at Time-Busters look like?

“A typical workday at Time-Busters starts about half an hour before the first group arrives. That is our preparation time: we switch on all the technology and get the rooms ready.

The day before, we make sure all puzzles have been reset properly. The next day, we check every puzzle again and make sure everything is locked and in place.

Once everything has been checked, we close the intermediate doors, and the room is ready for the first guests. Apart from that, we focus on keeping everything clean and organized.

When the guests have finished, we welcome them back, ask whether they would like a photo, answer any questions they may have, and chat about their experience. Guests are usually very excited and talkative after the escape room experience.”

What are some funny moments?

“The creativity of our guests is often the best part. People really try everything. In one room, there are two spears at the beginning, and guests use them to test all sorts of things because in the beginning of the game nobody knows what they are for.

One recent highlight was a marriage proposal – the engagement ring was hidden inside the room as part of the escape game.”

Apply now for this exciting part-time job.