The 6 Essential Steps to a Successful Pub Quiz

In this article you'll learn how to prepare a "pro" quality pub quiz, the sort that can be run by anyone as a money maker, by a landlord as a sure-fire way to get more business in on quiet nights - or just for fun anytime anywhere, no pub required!

If you just want to run a simple quiz between friends and/or work mates then this is still relevant but you don't need to go into as much detail.

Summary of the 6 steps -
1. Design your quiz structure.
2. Get questions.
3. Teams and entry fees
4. Prizes
5. Rolling jackpots - A great way to get them back again and again.
6. Advertise your quiz

1) Design your Quiz structure:

Most quizzes last 1 to 1 and half hours and have 6-8 rounds (toilet and drink breaks essential!)

>> First - Outline a base structure.

* Basic - Sets of general knowledge trivia questions per round.

* Advanced -
>> Specialist rounds like music or movies.

>> Or a seasonal/event theme, E.g., Xmas, big sports events, national days, Mothers Day etc.

>> Different formats: For example, a picture quiz round or "name that tune!


2) Get Questions:

>> Now slot question groups into the structure.

Questions must be -
* Up to date in the context of the subject they're on

* Answers MUST be correct. Take particular care with any questions where answers change over time, e.g., which team has won the cup the most etc.

* If you have a wrong answer as a quizmaster you'll lose credibility fast and the whole thing will be a nightmare!

Happily the solution is easy.

>> Where to get quiz questions

* Free - Online or with books and newspapers finding questions and answers (good if you like that sort of thing or have lots of time)

Free trivia quiz question packs - Search online and you'll find sets of free questions for download. But DO check answers on any questions where the answer could have changed with time passing.

Pay for questions - There are specialist quiz question companies who supply pre-researched, guaranteed correct questions. Costs vary but are not that high - Plus you know you're getting professional quality.

If you're in a hurry or want to do a themed quiz or one with extras like a picture quiz then this is by far the best way.

3) Teams and Entry fees:

I suggest no limit low or high on team numbers.

Unless it's a mates only closed group quiz then you should have an entry fee. This ensures that all teams are focused and that timewasters are put off. If someone won't pay say £1 then you have to wonder why they're in the pub in the first place. I suggest £1 per player. If you get a really popular quiz going and do big prizes then you might charge more.

The result = No unnecessary restrictions and small teams of 2 or 3 are not discouraged from entering.

4) Prizes:
Big cash prizes are great but you will attract quiz geeks from all over. If that's what you want then that's how to do it!

BUT if you want a full pub for a fun night then things like a keg of beer work great. And people play again as it comes over as fun rather than over serious.

You could even have prizes for different rounds - why not ask your local brewery or other suppliers to donate prizes to the quiz?

5) Rolling Jackpots:
What to do with the entrance fees? You could keep them, pay the quizmaster or (the best idea) have a rollover cash jackpot designed to keep teams coming back.

a) Think of a number between 1 and 1000 and put it in a sealed envelope. Make sure that the person running the quiz knows the number and can be trusted not to sell it or pass it on!

b) At the end of the quiz each team tries to guess the number by handing in written "bid"

c) The number is the same every week and stays in the same envelope until it's guessed.

d) You collect all papers and write on each Higher or Lower depending on the guess. I.e. If the number is 50 and they wrote 142, you write Lower on the paper and return it to the team.

>> The beauty of this is that a lucky team could win the cash at any point and a team that attends every time is guaranteed to get the answer within 10 weeks (Because they keep their weekly guesses) and missing a week could lose a team the jackpot.

6) Advertise your quiz:
Assuming you've got dates set you now need players!

So you need to advertise in some way.

If possible add an extra incentive, for example, free pub snacks like a bowl of cheesy chips per 3 people per team"carrot" like a free drink or pub snack plate for each team.

Naturally shout about the ever-increasing cash rolling jackpot prize.

>> Posters/flyers -
If you know anyone who's good at design you can knock some up. Or see if the brewery have any posters. They know that pub quizzes are great for business on quiet night and so may be able to help. There are also some good free online sources with them free for download and customisation.

Put them up...anywhere and everywhere taking care not to break any laws on bill posting!

>> Word of mouth -
Tell friends, family and workmates. Tell all the pub locals and ask them to tell anyone they think might be interested. Ask the landlord and bar staff to mention it to all and sundry.

>> Local Media -
Papers - Write a brief "PR release" and send to your local papers and radio station. E.g., the "Red Lion" has a new weekly fun pub quiz starting on -date- at -time- with -xyz- as prize. £1 per player, any numbers per team and all welcome. Free bowl of cheesy chips for each team"

>> Online -
Local websites and blogs about your area or town.

Pub quizzes are incredibly popular. If you do a good job on all the steps you'll have a successful quiz evening. If you don't get an amazing turnout first time don't be disheartened, word can take a while to get out. Keep promoting hard and you'll get there.

Listed below are more articles related to the above article from the "Arts And Entertainment" article category.

People interested in the above article "The 6 Essential Steps to a Successful Pub Quiz" are also interested in the related articles listed below:

Making Beautiful Backdrops For Special Events

Anyone who has attended a live performance on stage, even if only once, has probably noticed a stage backdrop, a painted curtain that hangs in the back of the space to indicate scenery. Backdrops are an important part of decorating a stage for achieving a professional setup.

A Chorus Line

Life is nothing but a series of tribulations and ordeal which might be grave or easier to perform but they carry immense significance all along. The crux of the matter comes forth when the impeccable performance is brought forward keeping aside all the torment and hard slog. Many narrative plays and theatrical performances comprised of such issues but still they carry great following and demand, the reason being the close proximity with life and its bitterness.

A Bronx Tale

A Bronx Tale is a one-man show written and performed by Chazz Palminteri. Palminteri based the character of Calogero on himself, partially upon his childhood; his real first name is Calogero. The play is set in The Bronx section of New York City in the 1960s. A Bronx Tale is a 1993 film set in New York City during the turbulent era of the 1960s. It was the directorial debut of Robert De Niro, and follows a young man as his path in life is guided by two father figures, played by De Niro and Chazz Palminteri. It also includes a brief appearance by Joe Pesci.

The Amazing Career Of Scarlett Johansson

In Woody Allens newest film, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona," which debuted at the Cannes Festival. Scarlett is at her lovely and sexy best as she has numerous romantic scenes. Including, one, in which she gives a very sexy kiss to co-star Penelope Cruz.

How To Moon Gaze

For many of us, our very first experience of learning about the celestial bodies begins when we saw our first full moon in the sky. It is truly a magnificent view even to the naked eye. If the night is clear, you can see amazing detail of the lunar surface just star gazing on in your back yard.

Traveling To The Hamptons? Learn Your History First

According to the story, a warrant had been issued requiring her to appear before the magistrate of that that particular village in the Hamptons; she basically told the magistrate what he could do with his warrant. Those of you who are history buffs and planning to visit the Hamptons are definitely in for a treat. Both East Hampton and Southampton have fascinating stories dating from before the first English settlers established the community at the Hamptons almost 370 years ago.

Learn More About The Hamptons!

Amazingly, their first trading post, which was built in 1648, is still standing today; called Halsey House, it is named for one of Southampton's first residents, Thomas Halsey, whose grandfather had received a generous land grant in England from Queen Elizabeth I's father, King Henry VIII. Having originally settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony about twenty years earlier, Thomas Halsey was among the founders of Southampton; his home is the oldest English-style house still standing in the state of New York.