Today we’d like to introduce you to Tasha Cressler.
Hi Tasha, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I did my first escape room with friends on July 14, 2016. I had heard of the concept but didn’t know there were any around me. I was instantly hooked. Then, I found a job posting for Hershey Perplex in the fall of 2016. I began working as a Game Master helping players navigate the puzzles and activities in our rooms. Perplex closed their doors a year or so later, and I then found a job posting not long after for Do You Even Escape in Camp Hill. I worked there as a game master for about a year. I left the industry in 2018, as focused more on playing rooms. I have done over 80 rooms and can’t wait to do more! I had reached out to the Owner of Do You Even Escape to see if she would consider expanding to a new location, when she received the email about Escape Confusion being for sale. I had already played the rooms several years ago, and this was one of my favorite locations I had played. I never really intended to own an escape room, but my love of the industry has brought me here. I have owned Escape Confusion since January 2025. With the help of family and friends, we have closed a room and reopened it with a new theme (Check out our Jungle Safari 90-minute adventure!) In summer 2026, we anticipate the opening of our anticipated dueling rooms. One theme, with two identical rooms which allow players to compete against each other to see who can solve the puzzles first. We are adding in the competitive edge to an already exciting and fun-filled experience. Escape Confusion is working to make the customer experience something truly special. We aim to deliver the best customer service, and provide gentle nudges when players get stuck. We want everyone to have a fun and exciting experience. Our work is never done, as once our new dueling Casino themed rooms are open, we will begin designing a new experience to replace one of our older themed rooms.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has had many challenges. We’ve had to purchase a lot of new technology and rewire puzzles that were being manually triggered by our game masters. Ultimately, we cannot make everyone happy, and we’ve really tried hard to make requested suggestions and changes to amplify the customer experience.
Tech can be a great investment for escape rooms, but it can also fail. Trying to come up with alternatives when a puzzle inevitably stopped working is always a huge struggle.
Finding help/staff is another huge challenge we face. The industry is extremely unique. We operate on appointment-based scheduling, which doesn’t always work for staff who want a lot of hours. Marketing the game master positions as part-time work is still challenging as that part-time could be 5 hours a week or 20 hours a week.
Repeat business isn’t really a thing with escape rooms. Once you play a room, you typically don’t return to play it again since you know the answer to the puzzles. Determining the right time to close a room and rebrand it is a slippery slope.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My background is broad! My undergrad was in veterinary medicine, and after being an intern in a clinic, I knew I could never do that for a living. I then turned to labwork and fell in love with microscopes. I worked for IDEXX (the animal version of Quest diagnostics). I then transitioned to the National Institutes of Health working in research. I decided to move back to Pennsylvania, and I’ve worked for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for over 10 years. I started as a clerical assistant for Labor and Industry and worked in the HR field for several years for the Liquor Control Board and Department of Corrections. I transitioned to an Administrative Role and work for The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency developing and administering grant agreements for several different state and federal programs. I’m extremely proud of the partnerships I’ve developed and fostered at my positions to help the citizens of the Commonwealth.
What matters most to you? Why?
Rules. I love love LOVE rules. Sounds silly, but rules are a structured way to ensure simple results. One of my favorite concepts is the concept of the shopping cart. We all know we should return our shopping cart when we finish loading our vehicle. But if we don’t, nothing happens. We don’t get punished, we don’t lose anything, etc. And if we do return the cart, we don’t get praise, we don’t get any incentives, we just know we did the right thing. And this simple concept really puts it into perspective that there are people who do things simply because they are right and just. And I just love that about people! People who help others and stand up for what is right.
Pricing:
- 60-minute rooms: $30 per person
- 90-minute room: $40 per person
- Discounts available for multiple-room groups
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.escapeconfusion.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escapeconfusion/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EscapeConfusion/
