Trivia Mafia Classic Hosting Guide

Here is your comprehensive rundown of all the ins, the outs, and the what-have-yous for hosting a Trivia Mafia trivia game. 

Welcome to your favorite job!

Welcome to hosting for Trivia Mafia, the world's greatest bar trivia company. 

Thank you for being a Trivia Mafia host! Nearly everyone who works here is, or has been, a host (including the founders, Chuck Terhark and Sean McPherson), and we want to make sure that you find as much enjoyment in the job as we have and do. This great Hosting Guide contains everything you need to know to host and run a trivia night for Trivia Mafia, plus a bunch of stuff that’s simply good to know. 

Your primary point of contact will be our Host Manager Mary Kate, but check this contact list if you need other support.

We depend on our hosts to be good ambassadors of our brand, professional partners for our customer sites, and joyful shepherds of trivial knowledge to the world at large. You're kind of a big deal.

Why are they paying us?

Our customer is the bar, brewery, or restaurant that has contracted us to come into their space on a regular basis. Businesses may hire us for a few reasons, but the main one is reliably getting butts in seats.DAN02683.jpg 

Our job is to help keep people at the business for about two hours (so they will order a few things off the menu) and enjoy themselves enough that that they come back again and again. 

Our business is based in building habits through relationships - the bar or taproom is looking to create something that allows them to predict the crowd, support their staffing, and make sure that the receipts are coming in for what may otherwise be a slow night of the week.

You don't have to sell the whole menu, but they are (indirectly) paying for you to be there supporting their business, so maybe shout-out a new beer on tap or a limited-time appetizer. Get chummy with the staff (they are your first line of defense if anything goes pear shaped!) and try to see the ways you can be an asset to their business. Don't talk about your other gigs while you're on the mic - stay focused on the spot you're in. 

Why do players play?

Players at Insight in 2022.jpg

Much like a bowling league or a book club, half the fun of trivia is just hanging out with friends. (The other half is the satisfaction of remembering who sang the theme song* from "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper.") Trivia is an excuse to talk about the fun, random things we know and find out why other people know the weird, helpful things they know. All knowledge is valid at trivia!Team Birdhouse 3 (small).jpg

The average event has about 9-11 teams - which means that every week, most teams are not winning a prize. The competitive element does drive some people, but for most participants, the game is the fun part, and winning is just icing on the cake. 

This is why we focus on engagement - the questions are written to spark conversations, inviting people to debate and reason their way to the right answer. And if they don't get it right, they'll hopefully enjoy the process of learning something new! We work to be inclusive, respectful, honest, and factual. 

Remember: The best part of getting people together to play trivia is getting people together. Good trivia isn't trivial.

Why do you host?

Mia with a Team (small).jpg

For most hosts, this is a bonus-fun-extra-part-time job, and we want you to look forward to every shift with confidence and excitement. We count on you to show up when you say you will, share your enthusiasm, and stay flexible with whatever may happen during the game.

Some of our hosts used to be players, and want another way to be part of the events. Some of our hosts are professional performers and entertainers, and they like the regular gig as a way to keep their skills sharp. Some of our hosts have leveraged hosting trivia as a way to meet a new community when they're new in town. Some of our hosts just want an extra $200 a month, and that is legit!Zack and Jenny host (small).jpg

Our hosts have had teams throw baby and engagement showers for them; hosts have found their best friends, babysitters, and spouses among their players. Our events boost small businesses, and helped families and friends stay connected during a global pandemic. We take trivia seriously, and we're serious about making it a good time. 

In summary: be fair, have fun, be reliable, get paid. 

*En Vogue did the theme song for "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper"!

Next: Necessary Supplies

Necessary Supplies

Never Leave Home Without

Before the beginning, there's you at your house.
Here are the key things you need (not including your keys):

IMG_7026.jpg

The Trivia Questions

Questions are linked in an email sent by 3pm on your trivia day.* Read them over and make sure you know how to pronounce everything.
*Exceptions: Block Z is sent to everyone on Tuesdays; Weekend questions are sent on Fridays. 

Host Kit Contents

Many hosts prep a bag that always has their essentials: app cards, backup pens and answer sheets, a dongle/adapter, a A bag full of pens, a pad of Answer Sheets, a couple of adapters, a stack of app cards, and some Trivia Mafia stickers.phone charger. You know if you will want any extra cords, breath mints, lip balm, maybe some stickers or candy to give away; just plan ahead. (Some locations will have space for you to store supplies onsite; most don't.)

<- Here is an example of the key elements to put together and bring to every host gig - App Cards, Answer Sheets and pens, adapter(s) for your device(s), and a bag to hold it all. Stickers and hand sanitizer optional!

The Host Kit includes a stack of cards for the app, paper answer sheets, pens, a Sharpie, and a laminated app info page to reuse. The answer sheets are necessary if you’re using pen-and-paper and helpful to provide as scratch paper for players; if you’re running on the app, then the app cards can be key for getting everyone started. BYO dry-erase marker for the laminated page!

Tell us when you’re running low on supplies - or need replacements - via Host Feedback, and we’ll send you more. Please allow for up to 10 days (two shifts!) for delivery.

App Cards

appcardfb.pngThis small, business-card sized resource has a QR code to help players easily get to play.triviamafia.com and join your game. There is a spot to jot down the four-digit game code, and brief instructions for players on how to get set up. Give one to each team when you walk around recruiting participants! If you want to download and print a quarter-sheet version, you can find that here.

We will replenish your stack of cards as often as needed! Use the Host Feedback Form to send the requests. Feedback notes with those requests are reviewed weekly on Mondays; mailings are usually sent the following Wednesday, so please allow 10 days (two shifts!) for delivery.

Laminated Page

laminated page front-back (1).pngThe laminated page has similar info to the app cards for you to re-use each week: a QR code pointing players to play.triviamafia.com, how to join, and space for the game code at the bottom. It also includes some reminders for navigation and play: 

• Hit “Submit” after every answer. 
• Swipe left and right to view questions.
• You can edit any answer as long as the round is unlocked.
• Round 4 (the Image Round) is open throughout the first half. Complete it by the end of Round 3. 
• The Mega Round is in play during the second half. If you don't know what that means, ask your host!

Be sure to bring along a dry erase marker to write on your lamination! (If you forget and use a Sharpie, nail polish remover will take it off later.) If it gets too grungy or damaged, you can always request a new one in your Host Feedback.

Answer Sheets

Answer sheets are 5.5x8.5", double-sided. Each pad has 100 sheets. answersheetfb.jpgWe recommend bringing a pad with you every time you host, just in case the WiFi goes down or there’s a server snafu on our end. This can also be given out as scratch paper if you’re using the app! Helpful for those players who just like a tactile keepsake for the game.

There is no Image Round on the answer sheet. All Image Rounds are found online!
Jump to this page for instructions on hosting with Pen and Paper.

Adapters

Cheyanne on mic (small).jpgTrivia Mafia asks hosts to bring and use their own device(s) for operating the online app, playing music, and possibly running a slideshow. We work with the location to ensure that you have a sound system available, but you may need an adapter (or dongle, if you will) to connect to your phone, tablet, or laptop. Many systems will have Bluetooth capabilities, but even if they do, it's always a good idea to have a hardware backup. We recommend having an aux adapter like this, and possibly an HDMI-to-USB-c adapter as well. We will happily split the cost with you if you have to purchase something like this in order to successfully run your event (just clear it with Brenna first).

If you discover that you need other cables, extension cords, or specific gear to run your event, work with the AV Expert to source those - we may already have some available we can deliver for use.

Playlist

Brenna and Bryan the DJ.JPGAt most locations, hosts also get to DJ during the game. From the time you take over the sound, you should have music queued up to play, and there should be enough music to overlap the end of the game (since you're talking a notable amount of time, about 2.5 hours of music is more than plenty). Prep a playlist before you head out for the night. It should match the vibe of your location — or skew kinda middle-of-the-road until you know the vibe (i.e., no swears or super sad bastards until it's clear that's cool). 

Lots of hosts will share ideas on the #playlists channel in Slack - some people even create a fresh list every week, based on the questions that day! Many hosts will curate one big playlist that's many hours long to play from every week; others will pick a theme from Spotify or take requests from players and let it grow organically. Whatever you do, keep reading the room (do they hate The Eagles? are the elders giving you side-eye for playing "WAP" uncensored?), and default to the safe side (literally everyone likes "Mr Brightside" amirite). 

You might be a dope DJ ready to fill up a dance floor, but while you're wearing your Trivia Host hat, make sure music is a complement to the event and not a distraction.

Prizes

Prizes are provided by our customers. All (official) prizes are given at the end of the game, though a few sites will give out a small prize at the halfway point. You should be able to receive them when you arrive onsite. 

Trivia Mafia stipulates the value but not the type of prizes that the customer venue provides; in most cases, it’s gift cards. But maybe you’ll have merch or other items to give away! 

First Place gets a $30-value prize, Second Place gets a $20-value prize; a third $10-value prize can be given out at your discretion. Reward Third Place, or “Best Team Name,” or “Most Improved,” or “Third Worst,” or “Best Wrong Answer.” It’s up to you, is what we’re saying, just be consistent, fair, and make sure to announce the prize value and distribution plan to players well before you're awarding them.

 

Next: Timeline of Trivia Hosting

Timeline of Trivia Hosting

Timeline of a Hosting Shift

Trivia Mafia employees are paid for 2.8 hours of work; however, most hosts are actually working a slightly shorter shift.

A Trivia Mafia game should run at least 1.5 hours, but no longer than 2 hours. Too long, the players will get antsy. Too short, the customer site is losing patrons. An hour and forty-five minutes from reading rules to announcing winners is just right! But we recognize that individual sites will have different vibes and expectations, so hosts have some flexibility within that window.

We ask hosts to arrive onsite about 20-30 minutes before the game begins. That means you have parked and are walking in the door with everything you need at that time!

1.png

Phases of the Event

Every single trivia event has the following phases:

  1. Pre-Game
  2. First Half
  3. Intermission
  4. Second Half
  5. Post-Game

Zack host (small).jpg

Within every phase, there is room to adapt to the particular location at which one is hosting - is the sound set-up just getting a mic from the bartender and turning it on? Maybe you can arrive closer to start time. Are there five teams or twenty five teams? Table touches look a little different depending on the crowd. Are you good at banter or do you cling to a script? There's space for both approaches within this framework. 

Key Actions

We'll have detailed instructions and explanations in the subsequent sections, but these are the basic non-negotiables to keep in mind:

Nuances

Make sure to read each question twice. After the first time through, say something like, “That question again,” and read it again. Reveal the question in the app before you read it the second time. End each question by saying, “That is question X of round Y.”

Memorize the Three Speeches. You need a How to Play speech, a Welcome + Rules speech, and a Mega Round speech. There are other bits of patter and presentation that you'll likely start to say by rote, but these are the most important.

If you've got questions about the questions, reply-all to the Question email thread, or drop a note in the #content channel on Slack. If you need other support, reach out to the On-Call, AV Expert, or Host Manager.

Most Importantly

Team Como (small).jpgFill out the Host Feedback!! Every time!! You're not done until you do this.

Go to: hosts.triviamafia.com
Click "Regular Night"
Password: FeedMe

Host Feedback is where you upload team photos, let us know how many teams played, share the scores, and write any other notes you have about the event. 

Do not forget or neglect your Host Feedback duty! It is required, and will affect your job prospects if you habitually forget. 

Host Feedback is recapped and reviewed every week on Tuesdays by the Admin Staff (all of Editorial, Sales, Host Manager, Marketing, Systems + Chuck and Brenna). 
If you need to share something personal or sensitive that you'd rather not have read by a dozen people, after you complete the feedback with the basics, just email or message the Host Manager. 

Next: Pre-Game

Pre-Game

2.pngPre-game

3.png

SPEECH 1: How To Play

YOU: Hi! Would you like to play trivia this evening? 
THEM: Maybe? Is it hard? Is there a theme? How long does it take?
YOU: The process is pretty simple: I’ll be reading the questions aloud over the PA. You follow along and enter your answers in our app - which is a simple mobile site, at play.triviamafia.com.

Set up a login or play as a guest. Name your team - the funnier the better, no pressure - and then enter the game code. You can start working on Round Four right away - it's just images! Hit the red "Submit" button once you have an answer.  You can swipe back and forth to look at previous questions, or use the numbers across the top to jump to another round. You can change your answers as many times as you like, but be sure to hit "submit" every time you change it, or it won't save.

The questions are general knowledge - you will be asked about a bunch of random stuff, from Taylor Swift to President Zachary Taylor! It take a little less than two hours. Also, we ask that you not use your phone for anything other than entering your answers - no side searches or calling lifelines! Let me know if you have questions at any time.”

If they say no to playing, be cool, give them the option to join later, and move on. We don’t want to do a hard sell. But we encourage you to talk to everybody at least once!

A Note on Prizes

Team Como 3 (small).jpgPrizes are provided by the site, and are given out at the end of the game (though, a very few customers provide a prize at the halfway point - this was standard in the BeforeTimes). 

Trivia Mafia stipulates the value but not the type of prizes that the customer venue provides; in most cases, it’s gift cards. But maybe you’ll have merch or other items to give away! First Place gets a $30-value prize, Second Place gets a $20-value prize; the $10-value prize can be given out at your discretion. Reward Third Place, or “Best Team Name,” or “Most Improved,” or “Third Worst,” or “Best Wrong Answer.” It’s up to you, is what we’re saying, just do it the same way every time.

Announce the prize values and who they will go to at the start of the game, and near the end when you're reminding people what is at stake. It should never be a surprise to the third place team that they don't get a prize, if your policy is to award the third prize for different criteria. It makes them bummed out! Set the right expectations. 

Next: First Half

First Half

Game. On. 

4.png

Chuck presenting the winners (small).jpgThe clock has flipped to a round number that matches the one on the posters. It is time for you to wipe your sweaty palms on your slacks and grab that mic like you mean it. It's go time. It's game time.

It's time for the second of the Three Speeches. 

Hop on to that hot mic and say [at least the bold part of] the following:

SPEECH 2: Welcome + Rules

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to trivia with Trivia Mafia! My name is [TIMBERLY] and I'm thrilled by your life choices, which include being here tonight. I'm going to guide you through eight rounds of trivia in under two hours, complete with a break at half time. We'll laugh, we'll cry, we'll hurl.

We do have some rules for playing trivia with Trivia Mafia: 
Rule #1: Please do not shout out answers. Instead, whisper the answer (softly and sensuously) to your teammates and type it into your app. Hit the red "Submit" button. It will change from red to black. That's how you know you've done it correctly. You can swipe back and forth to look at previous questions. You can change your answers as many times as you like, but be sure to hit "submit" every time you change it, or it won't go through.
Rule #2: Teams should be eight people or fewer. We dock one point per bonus brain at the end of the game - that's the penalty for being popular. 
And Rule #3: Our Most Important Rule: Use Your Noodle, Not Your Google. We ask you to use the internet to submit your answers, but please don't use it to find them. The honor system will be strictly enforced. Just don't cheat. That's all we ask.

In addition to honor, we are playing for prizes tonight! We have a [TOP PRIZE] for our first place team. A [NEXT PRIZE] for our 2nd place team, and a [THIRD PRIZE] for [WHATEVER THIRD PRIZE IS FOR]. 
On to the questions! We start with Question One of Round One, because it's at the beginning... 

Notes on the Rules:

Shouting in a bar or taproom can sometimes be part of a fun atmosphere, but when it's trivia answers, it frequently comes from people who are not, in fact, playing. It's annoying. You can use the line, "I don't yell at you when you're at work, so please don't yell at me." You can talk to them directly off-mic. Or you say, if they know so much, why aren't they playing? You'll find more options for managing hecklers in the FAQ section, but it's always valuable to remind people to behave up front.

Screenshot 2025-04-02 at 9.29.45 AM.pngAs to team size - in general, use your best judgement. We have set eight as the limit for regular trivia (and six players per team for theme trivia); for every person over the limit, the team is docked one point. The point comes off of the final score (after you lock Round 8). Some sites' owner/managers will encourage large teams, and some prefer smaller teams. Since the prize value is the same no matter how many players, you can follow the guidance of the staff at the site.

As soon as you notice a team is at or above the limit, make sure you say something to them directly about the rule and how it works. Sometimes big teams will split up into two teams; sometimes they'll just take the hit. But the docked point should not come as a surprise at the end of the game. 

You'll also want to be judicious about children - unless it's "Bluey" trivia, young humans who can get discount meals (i.e. 12 and under) probably shouldn't count against team totals. However, when a group of adults is pointing to the ninth person at the end and saying, "Oh, they're not really playing," you should still count that person (and dock a point) because of how it appears to other teams.

Remember: The appearance of fairness counts as much as the enforcement of your wise and level judgment.

Looking up answers: We ask people to use the internet to enter their answers, not to search them up! The game is much more fun when it's a conversation between teammates, and the results are more satisfying when they came from folks' own heads. Emphasize the value in being honest, and remind them that Googling is cheating, cheaters get indigestion, if you have to cheat to get a $20 gift card for beer you should examine your soul, etc etc. Go here for more thoughts on how to handle cheating.

Round 1

Janio 2 (small).jpgRound 1 is the first round that you will read on the mic. It is always General Knowledge, so you can dive right in to the first question after the Rules. Give about 1-ish minute between each question, and about 2 minutes between each round. Pro tip: if you start a new song after each question, in most cases the first chorus comes at about the 1:00 mark, so that can help you keep on time.

Read each question twice, revealing the question in the app after you read it the first time, and finish by saying "That was Question X of Round Y."
Slow down on your second read to really emphasize the thing they're supposed to identify, as in, "What style of trousers [PAUSE] were designed for sailors to use as emergency floatation devices, although Sonny and Cher probably weren’t wearing military-grade ones?" 

Round 4

Screenshot 2025-04-02 at 7.35.12 PM.pngRound 4 is always a ten-image round. (Every other round is five questions/songs/images.) It is automatically revealed in the app when you start the game.* During Round 1, be sure to point out that Round 4 is an Image Round, and teams have until the end of the first half to complete it! Even if it's already revealed in the app, you’ll still want to read the title and description. 

You can introduce Round 4 before the start of Round 1; or, you can introduce it by tying it to Question 4 and saying, 

Speaking of fours - click on that '4' at the top of your screen to go through Round 4! It's called [CLEVER THEME TITLE] - [CLEVER ROUND DESCRIPTION]. Make sure you identify all ten of them before the end of Round 3, which is also the end of the first half! And if you're not sure, just make a guess - a blank is always wrong.

Remind players throughout the first half to complete this round, and peek at their submissions to see if there are teams who have overlooked it (or only done one). You can say reminders at Question 4 of Rounds 2 and 3, or in between the rounds - whatever feels natural. 

*Unless you toggle off the automatic image reveal, then you will control when it is revealed during the game. 

5.pngRounds 2 and 3

Screenshot 2025-03-31 at 3.26.30 PM.pngFor subsequent rounds, read the name of the round and the full description  before reading the first question of that round. Repeat the description or theme before you read question three or four, just to nudge them, as in, "this is Question 3 in our Light Things round," or, "remember, every answer will include 'a-p-t' somewhere in it!"

Be sure to remind teams about completing Round 4 between questions. You can do it after every question 5, or before every question 4, whatever works for you - just as long as they get several reminders.

Thank the Staff

At least twice in every game, you should give a shout-out to the staff working that night.FK vibe Medium.jpeg 
StaffNames.jpgIt can be a general "Let's take a minute to thank the great staff here tonight, woo!"
It can be a more pointed, "Please put down whatever is in your hands and put your hands together to thank the people working so hard to bring you the finest foods and beverages in all the land - Daphne behind the bar! Fred up front! Velma on the floor! Shaggy and Scooby in the back!"

Making a note of their names not only makes that thank you more personal, it also helps you build a relationship with them! They are also serving you (so you should bring some cashes to tip them), but they are also the closest thing you have to coworkers in the moment. Most of the time, they're good people, and good to have on your side. 

6.pngTable Touches

A "table touch" is when you put your fingers on to the hard, flat surface that is supported on legs and allows a person to rest their arm, drink, and phone. It is, more importantly, when you touch base with your teams. 

The goal is to talk to every team at least once per half. Starting by the middle of Round 2 and definitely by Round 3, you should stop by and ask, "How's it going? Do you need any clarifications, or other support?" Maybe they need help navigating the app.Colin is so interested in what you're saying.png

Maybe they'll say, "Yeah, can you give us the answers?" and you'll laugh with them as if it is an original joke. Ha ha, oh man, so clever, these teams!

If they say everything is fine, great, that's good, you can leave them alone. OR — you could ask what brought them in that night. Ask if they'd recommend the beer they're drinking. Ask for the story on their team name. It should take less than a minute (after all, that's all the time you have between questions), but showing a little curiosity is great for building that community. And it pays off if you ever have to navigate a kerfuffle over question disputes, accusations of cheating, or other bull***t. 

7.png:awooga: Lockdown warning! 

Once you get through the last question of Round 3, let them know that it’s the end of the first half! Give them about 2-3 minutes to finish submitting all their answers for the first FOUR rounds, and tell them you’ll be locking the rounds for grading:

You have three minutes, which on my clock means we’ll lock it up at 7:41. Once rounds are locked you can no longer submit or change your answers.

Take a lap to check to see if teams have any last requests for clarifications or wee little nudges. (It can be fun to offer hints like, "it's my mom's favorite author" or "it's a movie that did not star Lily Tomlin, sadly.") Then at that time you said you would, announce that you are locking the rounds, and actually lock the rounds.

Next: Intermission 

Intermission

Let's all go to the lobby.

This is the point when teams are told to talk amongst themselves, refresh their refreshment, and generally take a breather while you get to grading. Assuming you're in charge of the music, that should be set at a medium level during this time. 

8.png

Grading

The app really does a bang-up job of making quick work of who should get a point and who should not. You do still need to look at every single question's submitted answers, just in case there is an alternative answer to accept, or you want to offer half points. Typically, grading the first four rounds takes under five minutes. This means you have a sec to take a bio break, order a food or a bev, crack your knuckles, and get ready to run through the answers. 

This is a good time to count how many teams are playing and note the average team size (which you need to note for the Host Feedback). You do not have to do complex math to figure out the average team size - just guesstimate.

Sharing Answers

ChuckHostingatFK Medium.jpegWhen you finish grading, you'll be prompted to reveal the answers in the app. This only shows each team whether they answered correctly, and how many teams overall got it right. It does not show them how they are doing overall. 

We recommend revealing the answers right before you hop back on the mic to say, "Okay, thanks for your patience! Let's run through the answers." (Sidenote: some hosts dislike having teams looking down at their phones while answers are read, so they reveal the answers and the leaderboard at the same time after they've gone through all the rounds. YMMV.)

You only need to partially reread the questions when you go through the answers, and you can slip the answer right into the reread. Here are a few examples:

Original Question: Mother's Day ranks highest for the number of phone calls made in the United States. What holiday historically has seen the most collect calls?    
You Say: Mother's Day sees the most regular calls made, but Father's Day sees the most collect calls!

OQ: The singer with more Top 40 hits than any other solo female artist in history turned 31 years old in December 2020. What’s her name?    
You Say: The singer with more Top 40 hits than any other solo female artist is Taylor Swift, and she is now older than 31.

OQ: Let's toss the disc around! Flying discs of all kinds are referred to as "Frisbees," but that term is actually a trademark of what company, which also makes the Hula Hoop and Slip 'N Slide?        
You Say: Frisbee is a trademark of Wham-O, which also makes Hula Hoops and Slip 'N Slides. 

This is the best time to share your wisecracks, extra fun facts, and "this one time" (very short) stories! Especially if you are of an age to remember when collect calls were enough of a thing that we had to watch commercials with Carrot Top in them. It was a different time!

If you marked funny wrong answers while grading, read them out! But ONLY if you do so in the spirit of fun - never mock people for wrong answers, or imply that they're stupid. Frame it like, "Shout-out to whomever is such a big fan of Rebecca Black that they think she has more top 40 hits than Beyoncé, but it is, shockingly, Taylor Swift." Good-natured teasing is legit! But we are not in the shame game.

Remember: Most teams won't win, so how do we keep them engaged and having fun? By being kind and making sure they're in on the jokes, not the butt of them. 

9.png

Leaderboard Update

Screenshot 2025-03-31 at 3.26.52 PM.png

Once you've shared the answers, hit that button to update/reveal the Leaderboard. Now that teams can see their full score as well as how they did on each question, give them two minutes to bring up any quibbles, corrections, complaints, or situations with scoring. Some hosts will then read every team name, from the bottom to the top; some will just call out the teams at the top. Some hosts don't read off scores at the half at all.

Drink some water. You'll want to kick off the second half — as in, introducing Round 5 — almost exactly an hour after you started the game. 

Next: Second Half

Second Half

Second Verse, Not Like the First

10.png

The second half goes faster and has a bit more variety in it — and, the questions tend to get just a tad bit harder! It's super fun, you'll love it.

Round 5

Team Como 2 (small).jpgBefore you read the round, do a quick revisit of the rules: No shouting answers; Use your noodle, not your Google. This is mostly for people who joined late (or aren't playing, and need to know/remember not to call out answers). If you don't have any big teams, you can skip mentioning team size. If you do have big teams, then make it clear to everyone you are aware there are big teams and you are enforcing the eight-person limit (or whatever the limit is for your site). Make note of the prizes again, too.

Mention the fact that the Mega Round is in play for the second half, but don't get into it just yet. 

As with Rounds 2 and 3, read the name of the round and the full description before reading the first question of that round. Repeat the description or theme before you read question three or four, just to nudge them, as in, "remember, the round is called It's Not Easy Being Greeeeeeen." Leave a minute or so between each question. 

11.png

Round 6

Round 6 is a Lightning Round. This just means it goes faster, because the "questions" are not full sentences. As long as you properly give the round title and description, you can run it a couple different ways: 

Brace yourselves, folks, it's time for the Lightning Round! It goes wicked fast, in a lighting-like fashion, because it is short, it is sweet, and most importantly it is short! I'm going to read these questions back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back, reveal them, then read them all again. Then we'll be done, because it's a freaking lightning round! Ka-chow!

The round is called: BEST PICTURE POSTCARDS
I'll tell you the year a movie won the Oscar for “Best Picture” and the city where it was set. You tell me the movie.    
#1. 2017: Miami.   
#2. 2009: Mumbai    
#3. 2001: Rome.    
#4. 1977: Philadelphia.    
#5. 1966: Salzburg.    [reveal all questions]

Again: #1. 2017: Miami.   #2. 2009: Mumbai    #3. 2001: Rome.    #4. 1977: Philadelphia.    #5. 1966: Salzburg.   

This has been your Lightning Round! You have two minutes until Round 7. 

mic drop [please don't actually drop the microphone]

Give them two or three minutes, and get some table touches in. Some hosts do like to hide these questions in the app after that break, to increase the difficulty, but that’s dealer’s choice (and neither necessary nor recommended). Never lock a round before the end of the half. If you do that, they can't select the round as a Mega Round, and it's just unnecessarily punitive, especially for new teams. 

12.png

Round 7

The Sound Round happens at Round 7. It is linked in the question email, and in the app; the link sends you to a Dropbox folder, and you can play the mp3 file right there (or, download it ahead of time, depending on your device and sound system setup).

Team Carbones (small).jpg

Get it all queued up before you get back on the mic, then explain what the Sound Round is: "It's sounds - specifically the sounds of songs* where you identify the song title and artist for half a point each." 

Read the round title and description, then reveal the lyrics (questions) in the app. For accessibility, it's so valuable to have the lyrics visible before you start playing the clips.

It is one file with ten clips, with about eight seconds of silence between each clip. You can just hit “play” and let it run to the end, or you can manually pause to make the breaks longer. Tell the teams that each song* plays twice. Follow along with the song-snippets, and tell people which number they’re listening to: “That was #1, here it comes again... That was #2, here comes #3...”.  

*Note that very rarely, the sound round will only ask to identify the artist, or a musical, so they are worth one point. Even more rarely, the sound round will be a clip of other media — a TV show or movie or interview — but, due to the wide variety of sound setups and venues we're in, it can be really hard to hear the talking in a bar or cavernous taproom, so we mostly just do music.

Screenshot 2025-03-31 at 12.32.23 PM.pngSome locations CAN’T run the Sound Round. It’s possible that the tech setup doesn’t allow it, or they don't prefer it, but in many cases, it’s because the venue doesn’t have the licensing for it. If copyrighted music is used for an event that the customer is paying for in their space, they need to have BMI/ASCAP/SESAC licensing for it. If Trivia Mafia plays music as an explicit part of the game, then the customer can be fined by those litigious organizations working to protect musicians licensing rights. If the ICOE or other instruction says No Sound Round, please don’t ever play the Sound Round, even if you think you could make it work technically. 

Those locations have a second Image Round instead. This automatically appears as Round 7 in the app in the “No Sound” blocks, or as a second unique URL for locations using paper (just like Round 4). Some hosts will reveal this image round at the start of Round 5, as they did at the beginning of the game, but we recommend that you introduce it after Round 6. Read the title and descriptions, then reveal the images, and give them about three to five minutes to work on the round. Might be a good time to nudge teams to either order one more drink, or call for the tab.

The Mega Round

Hope you didn't forget about those Three Speeches, because here is the final one!

SPEECH 3: The Mega Round

In the second half, you can give yourself extra points by assigning a Mega Round. You can choose Round 5, 6, 7, or 8 to be your Mega Round. Go to the Mega Round section in the app. Pick the round you feel the best about, the one where you know you got the most correct answers. Select that round number, and assign 5 points to the answer you’re most confident about. Your next best answer, give 4 points. Cascade down to 1 point in accordance with your confidence. That’s 15 points possible for your Mega Round! Let me know if you are confused! If you don’t assign a Mega Round, you can’t win, because of Math.

You don't have to do any of the math for calculating Mega Round points in the app, it's like magic. Or like a computer program. Whatever. Point being, you just have to make sure that teams assign them before you get to the end of the game!

13.pngRound 8

This is the home stretch, we're almost done! Before you kick off Round 8, give your Mega Round speech. Offer to use small words and diagrams if anyone needs extra support here, no team left behind, etc etc. 

Round 8 is back to General Knowledge — no special theme to hold these questions together, just some stuff people might generally know. 

You should be doing table touches between every question now, to give them any last clarifications. Maybe remind them that the descriptions and even titles of rounds can be hints! Also check that they understand the Mega Round; they can choose Round 8, of course, so don't hit the high pressure reminder until after the Question 5, The Last Question Of The Night. 

14.png

After you read R8Q5, give them about two minutes to wrap things up, just as you did at the end of Round 3 - except, of course, that you're also really selling that Mega Round. You're nearly annoying about it, actually, but mostly helpful and charming. Review the Leaderboard in the app to verify that teams have selected a Mega Round before you lock it down, but be for real about telling people when you are locking and grading. 

15.png

Grading and Sharing Answers

Screenshot 2025-03-31 at 3.30.40 PM.pngIt's exactly like what you did at Intermission. Did you forget already? It was barely half an hour ago! 

Re-read the questions, slightly truncated, with the answers for Rounds 5-8. Make sure you have revealed the answers, so players know where they got points. Then, give them a minute to come up with any quibbles, complaints, corrections, or situations with scores BEFORE you update the Leaderboard and announce winners. 

16.png

Thank the staff again — that Velma, she really makes everyone smile! — and remind people that they can come back every week, same trivia time, same trivia channel. Perhaps mention our delightful newsletter, The Morning Rounds, and upcoming Theme Nights that players might enjoy. Then, when you've really built up the anticipation, and can cut the tension with a knife...DAN02618.jpg

Reveal the Leaderboard, and announce the winners! Some hosts will read every team name, from the bottom to the top, to celebrate all the cleverness. Some hosts get right to business and just rattle off third, second, first. If you do some kind of honorable mention prize — Most Average, Best Team Name, Best Team Spirit — share that before the top two. Ask the winners to sit tight and you'll bring the prizes to them. Thank everyone for coming out to play!

Next: Post-Game

Answers to the Lighting Round Example!
#1. 2017: Miami.    Moonlight
#2. 2009: Mumbai    Slumdog Millionaire
#3. 2001: Rome.    Gladiator
#4. 1977: Philadelphia.    Rocky
#5. 1966: Salzburg.    The Sound of Music

Post-Game

After the Party is the After Party

Reading off the winners, thanking the staff, maybe getting some applause for yourself - it's a bit of an adrenaline rush to wrap up! But after you get off the mic for the last time, there are a few last things on your checklist. Looking at the clock, it should be just inside of two hours since you started reading the rules.  

17.png

The Real Winners are the Friends We Post About Online

Screenshot 2025-04-03 at 1.06.30 AM.pngYou announced at the top of the game how you were awarding prizes, and hopefully you took note of where your winners are sitting. Bring their prize over, say, "Congratulations!", and ask if you can take their photo. The photos you submit in your Host Feedback are added to slideshows on both our website (at the location's landing page) and on Facebook. If anyone is uncomfortable with that, they can opt out! Take a pic of just their hands in the middle of the table, all their shoes under the table, of the restaurant menu, of the team's dog, the prize all by itself, whatever. It has to be rated PG is all. You can also just not take a photo.  

Leave It Better than You Found It

Clean up your area - bus your glass to the bar, drop a fiver maybe — and tear down the sound gear. If you're using a Trivia Mafia PA, do the reverse of how you set up, and carry it to wherever it is stored (if kept onsite). If it's their gear, put it back how it was when you walked in, or otherwise make it real easy on the staff to get it all put away.  

A.B.F. = Always Be Feedbacking

Fill out the Host Feedback form within 24 hours of your event.

Go to: hosts.triviamafia.com
Select "Regular Night"
Password: FeedMe

This is where you upload those team photos, and let us know how many people played, what their scores were, and any other notes you have about the event. We may provide these stats to our customers, and it is the best way for us to know if you need support (marketing the event, getting better sound gear, navigating player issues, shifting the editorial content, etc etc.)

Do not forget or neglect your Host Feedback duty! It is required, and will affect your job prospects if you habitually forget. If you need to share something personal or sensitive that you'd rather not have read by a dozen people, after you complete the feedback with the basics, just email or message the Host Manager. 

We recommend doing it before you go home for the night (rather than after you're home, or the next day, but whatever works for your routine, do it and stick to it).

Host Feedback is recapped and reviewed every week on Mondays by the Admin Staff (all of Editorial, Sales, Host Manager, Brand Engagement, Systems + Chuck and Brenna). We'll make sure that the AV Expert or customer or whomever needs the information you share gets it! We love all the little stories and snippets that we get each week, and we definitely read it all. Requests for more supplies are collated, and they ship out on Wednesdays.

NOW You're Done!

Look how far you've come. We're so proud!

18.png