Trivia Mafia Host Handbook

All your essential Trivia Mafia host guides in one handy book.

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. 

Trivia Mafia Classic Hosting Guide

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 do.

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. It’s a big deal.
But we also know that, for most hosts, this is your bonus-fun-extra-part-time job, and we want you to look forward to your next shift with confidence and excitement. So again: Thanks! Now let’s get started.

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. However, at any time, with any questions, you may contact any of these fine folks: 

Mary Kate Misak, Host Manager

MARYKATE@TRIVIAMAFIA.COM
(563) 349-7847

Brenna Proczko, Executive Vice President

BRENNA@TRIVIAMAFIA.COM
(651) 497-5441

Chuck Terhark, Owner-Operator

CHUCK@TRIVIAMAFIA.COM
(612) 423-4366

Use this contact list for any questions, comments, complaints, quibbles, or clarifications you may have relating to your trivia night, or for any employment-related things. Your primary point of contact should be the Host Manager, but continue down the list if they are not available.

Note: Questions about paychecks should be sent to payroll@triviamafia.com. 

Remember: The best part of getting people together to play trivia is getting people together. Good trivia isn't trivial. Our hosts have had baby showers thrown for them, found their spouses among players, supported proposals between players, boosted small businesses, and helped families grow closer during a global pandemic. We take our jobs seriously, and we're serious about making it a good time. 

Trivia Mafia Classic Hosting Guide

What You Need to Survive

Never Leave Home Without

Before the beginning, there's you at your house. Many hosts prep a bag (or zipper pouch) that always has their essentials: app cards, backup pens and answer sheets, a dongle, a phone charger. You know if you will want breath mints, lip balm, maybe some stickers or candy to give away; just plan ahead.

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. 

HostMaterials.jpg

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!

App Cards and/or Answer Sheets

The Host Kit includes a stack of cards for the mobile app (to help get players onto the answer site), 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; if you’re running on the app, then the app cards are super helpful.

The vast majority of our sites use the app, but the paper sheets will be a helpful lo-fi backup if the WiFi dies or something. That's also where the pens come in, though some hosts will offer a free point to teams that provide their own pen (it's not encouraged, but it is allowed). Jump to this page for instructions on hosting with Pen and Paper. 

App Cards

This 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! We also have laminated sheets with this info for you to re-use each week. 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. Please allow 10 days (two shifts!) for delivery.

Answer Sheets

Answer sheets are half sheets, double-sided. Each pad has 100 sheets. We 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. The Image Rounds are online! Direct players to the URL to view it (the URL updates daily, and expires once we move to a new set of questions). The passcode/URL slug for the Image Round will be sent along with the questions. There are two image rounds for each block of questions - the Round 4 Image Round, and the Round 7 Alternate Image Round (if you're not running the Round 7 Sound Round). 
It will be something like "triviamafia.com/b52" and they are not case-sensitive.

Note that you’ll have to allow for more time for grading, so shave a little time off the space between questions when you’re reading (~45 seconds between each, generally).

Tell us when you’re running low on sheets or pens (via Host Feedback), and we’ll send you more. Please allow for 10 days (two shifts!) for delivery.

Note that the score totals are on the bottom of the second page! We’ve also include a helpful “Notes” space for players to keep track of their thoughts. Find our Cheat Sheet for timing and housekeeping reminders, and the printable PDF of the Answer Sheet here.

Adapters

Trivia Mafia asks hosts to bring and use their own devices 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. Some 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.

If you discover that you need other cables, extension cords, or specific gear to run your event, work with the AV Expert or Host Manager to source those. 

Prizes

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.

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.

Trivia Mafia Classic Hosting Guide

You've Arrived - Now What?

Pre-game

SAMPLE SCRIPT:

Hi! Would you like to play trivia this evening?
Of course!

Have you played with Trivia Mafia before?
Yes!
Perfect, then you know about our policy about not looking up answers. And you know where to find the Image Round? Great. Good luck!

 (or:) No, I haven't. Is it hard? Is there a theme? How long does it take?
The process is pretty simple: I’ll be reading the questions aloud over the PA over the next hour and a half or so. You can start working on the Image Round now! And don’t forget to pick a fun team name, that's crucial. The trivia is general knowledge - you will be asked about a ton of different things! It take a little less than two hours. Also, we ask that you not use your phone to search for any info or to call lifelines – “Use your noodle, not your Google!”

If they say no to playing, 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 once!

Mic Check

Verify the mic is working before it's time to start the game! Verify that you can play music long before the Sound Round! If you're subbing or otherwise new to the site, the ICOE (In Case of Emergency) doc should have a rundown of the setup.

Here are instructions on setting up a Trivia Mafia PA, and our AV Glossary on the types of cords, cables, and hookups that might be part of a house sound setup. Reach out to our AV Expert or the On-Call for the night if you need more support!

Prizes

Prizes are provided by the site, and are given out at the end of the game (though, a 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.

Trivia Mafia Classic Hosting Guide

Run of Show

A Trivia Mafia event should last 1.5 to 2 hours. Too long, the players will get antsy. Too short, the customer site is losing patrons. Two hours from intro to pack-out, just right.

SAMPLE SCHEDULE (for 8pm start)

7:40pm Arrive and set up sound, then set up the game in the app site, jotting down the game code. Place your order with the staff, if desired. 

7:50pm Make an announcement inviting everyone to play the FREE trivia game starting in just ten minutes. Share the app mobile site address and the game code. Begin passing out app cards, or answer sheets + pens.

8:00pm Introduce yourself. Go over the rules. Let people know they can still join at any point. Introduce Image Round (Round 4), which is already revealed in the app; make sure teams know how to find the slideshow online if you’re using answer sheets. Begin Round 1.

8:13pm Begin Round 2. Announce prizes and thank the staff. Remind players about working on Round 4. Repeat the rules if you had any late joiners. 

8:23pm Begin Round 3. Remind players they need to finish Round 4 by the time Round 3 is done.

8:38pm Give a 2-minute warning before locking the rounds. Lock rounds/collect sheets and grade the first half. Let players know they have about ten minutes to refresh their drinks, stretch their legs, etc!

8:55pm Read first half answers. Update the leaderboard. Announce first half leader, then give a minute for any corrections or clarifications from teams.

9:01pm Remind everyone of the rules. Invite latecomers to join. Mention the Mega Round. Begin Round 5. If using an Image Round for Round 8, you can introduce it and reveal it now (or wait until after Round 7).

9:12pm Explain the Mega Round. Begin Round 6 (Lightning Round).

9:18pm Begin Round 7; if a Sound Round, play through MP3. If using a second Image Round and it hasn’t been revealed yet, introduce and reveal all images now, allowing at least five minutes for teams to work on it. Shout out the staff.

9:30pm Mega Round explanation/reminder. Begin Round 8.

9:35pm Give a warning before locking rounds, and remind people again about the Mega Round. Lock rounds/collect sheets. Correct the answers; hand back sheets.

9:45pm Read answers and then update leaderboard. Announce winners after players have a minute to review and address any disputes about scoring. Take photos and hand out prizes.

10:00pm Fill out Host Feedback, settle any balance on your tab and tip the staff. Pat self on back for another successful and fun trivia event!

Nitty Gritty

The Rules

  1. Use your noodle, not your Google.
  2. Please don't shout out answers. 
  3. Teams should be eight people or fewer. 
Notes on the Rules:

We ask people to use the internet to enter their answers, not to look 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, and cheaters get indigestion, bad karma, etc.

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. You can use the line, "I don't yell at you when you're at work, so please don't yell at me." Or you can tell them that they're giving away free points, and if they know so much, why aren't they playing? You'll find more options for managing hecklers in the What If section, but it's always valuable to remind people to behave up front. 

As 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 since the prize value is the same no matter how many players, you can follow the guidance of the staff at the site.
You'll also want to be judicious about children - unless it's "Bluey" trivia, humans who can get discount meals (i.e. 11 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 because of how it appears to other teams. 

If you have a big team, make sure that you are telling them that they'll lose a point as soon as you notice their size! (It might be good to even

Nuances

Make sure to read each question twice. After the first time through, say something like, “That question again,” and read it again. In the app, reveal the question before you read it the second time.

End each question by saying, “That is question X of round Y.”

Round 1 is always General Knowledge, so you can dive right in to the first question after the rules. Give about 1 minute between each question, and about 2-3 minutes between each round.

The halfway point is a good time to count how many teams are playing and estimate the average team size (which you need to know for the Host Feedback). If there are teams that joined in the app but didn't submit more than one round of answers, you shouldn't count them.

SAMPLE SCRIPT:

Don’t forget to give yourself extra points by assigning a Mega Round. You can choose Round 5, 6, 7, or 8 to be your Mega Round. Here’s how that works: Pick the round you feel the best about, the one where you know you got the most correct answers. Then go to the Mega Round section in the app, select that round number, and assign 5 points to the answer you’re most confident about. Your next best answer, give 4 points. And so on, down to 1 point for the answer you’re least confident about. That’s 15 points total if you ace your Mega Round. Let me know if you are confused! If you don’t assign a Mega Round, you can’t win, because Math.

After the Party is the After Party

Fill out the “Host Feedback” form within 24 hours of your event: hosts.triviamafia.com
Click "Regular Night"
Password: FeedMe

This is where you upload those team photos, and lets 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. 

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 Tuesdays by the Admin Staff (all of Editorial, Sales, Host Manager, Brand Engagement, 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/key person. 


Trivia Mafia Classic Hosting Guide

Best Practices

Ties

Ties happen. This adds an element of suspense and drama! Don't panic. 
After you're done scoring and reading answers, let teams know they have a tie to break for X place. (You only need to do this if the tie affects the top three places, but some places enjoy running tiebreakers for any place. Poll the players by applause before you take the time to do the latter.)

Call up ONE representative from each team, and say, “I will ask you a question that has a numerical answer. Keep your answer to yourself until you [whisper it in my ear/write it on this piece of paper]. Whoever guesses closest to the real answer wins!” No phone a friend option - that rep is on their own!

We don’t follow The Price is Right rules (closest without going over) - it’s just who is closest. 

Once you know who wins, announce the new rankings into the mic. Award the prizes at the teams' tables when you get a group photo.

In the App

This section gives you the complete rundown! Essentially, the App will show you on the leaderboard where there are ties to be resolved, and help you do it right in that interface.  

On Pen and Paper

The tiebreaker questions are listed at the end of the Question sheet/doc.

Keep in mind that for each two teams with the same score, the loser will get bumped down a place. 
So, two teams tied for third will end up getting third and fourth place (meaning, one won't get a prize) - many a host has accidentally given a prize to a team that didn't actually win one! 

Either have them write down their answers, or you write down their answers, noting which team they are for. Determining who is closer requires you to do math! Don't rush it if you're not confident in your ability to calculate - twenty seconds isn't actually that long to make them wait if you need to use a calculator app. 

Trivia is About to Start and There Are No Teams!

Sometimes no one shows up to play trivia. It doesn’t happen often, but it happens. Here are a couple good steps to keep the night running:

• Stay positive, and chat with the bartender and any patrons who say they don’t usually play trivia.

• Give it time. Sometimes it can be a weather or traffic situation or something else that is keeping your regulars away. If there isn’t anyone who wants to play 10 minutes before start time, things could still turn around.

• If you have a single team, ask if they are interested in splitting up into multiple teams. You can also just sit down and run trivia for them off the mic if they remain the only ones interested. If anyone wants to play, we expect you to run a game for them!

• If none of these things work, you are welcome to excuse yourself 30 minutes after the scheduled start time. You will still be paid for hosting. Please fill in the Host Feedback Form so we have record of your effort!

Discrepancies/Errors/Typos/Half Points

Some players will contest an answer and argue for credit. Please use your best judgement. Remember: Unlike your teams, you’re allowed to use the internet, so feel free to look up the disputed answer. Sometimes (not often, but sometimes) the answer Trivia Mafia provides is incorrect, inexact, or contains a typo - or there’s an alternate answer that we didn’t think of. If it feels squishy, you can always offer a half point.

Please also Reply All to the daily Questions email to alert your fellow hosts and the Editorial team that there may be a factual error or alternative answer in that day’s content - or use that hive mind to ask for support in deciding. 

Don’t be afraid to make the call; we trust your judgment. In general, if you can be generous, give credit (a great use of the half point)! You just want to be consistent about the way you do so, and be able to explain yourself if a team pushes back. Examples below!

If they say “the 9th Fast and Furious” instead of “F9,” give them a point. 
If they put down “Alfa Centari” instead of “Alpha Centauri,” you can probably still give them a point (unless the question specifically asks about correct spelling).
If someone answers “Star Wars” rather than “Episode 7: The Force Awakens,” and we asked for the movie (not the franchise), maybe give them a half point.
If they say, “entomology” instead of “etymology,” then you might have to simply explain the difference between the study of insects and the study of words, and award no credit.

Handling Hecklers

There is no one correct way to manage surly guests. It is often best to ignore those bar patrons who are clearly just seeking attention. People who think it’s funny to yell out wrong answers or “clever” comments will often tire out or get shamed by the other patrons who are trying to play or just enjoy their evening. If it doesn’t stop, ask the individual in a calm tone to stop yelling things so others can enjoy the trivia night, then continue. Addressing them directly, off-mic, between questions and face-to-face will frequently diffuse the situation and remind them that you’re a human person just trying to do your job. Perhaps point out that you don’t yell at them when they’re at work! Invite them to play along and always (try to) take the high road in graciousness. Only engage a heckler on the mic if you feel confident about being able to shut them down quickly; you don’t want to get sucked into a shouting match in front of the whole bar.

If you feel unsafe approaching the person, don’t do it. Let a manager or bartender know you feel uncomfortable talking to this person and they should handle the situation. It is also in their best interest to make other players happy by keeping the peace!

Icky Team Names

Oh, those teams that think they’re sooooo funny by making their team name “I Wish This Microphone Was a D***” or try to make a joke Too Soon about an untimely celebrity death/tragic news event. Our questions are written to be PG, so you've got to read the room/go with your gut if there's profanity involved.

If you come across a team name that gives you the icks, there are a few ways to manage the situation. 

Ultimately, it's the host's job to make these calls based on their own discretion. Comfort is key—if it makes you uncomfortable, you're empowered to do something about it. But bar trivia is an adult creative activity in a primarily adult setting, so teams should feel comfortable getting creative, even if it means being a little bawdy or indelicate.

Be Respectful

Always be fair and courteous to Trivia Mafia customers, players, the staff of businesses associated with Trivia Mafia and (of course) your fellow employees. You may get heckled, but keep to the high road when you respond. While some teasing and joking is fun to toss in as a host, don't ever mock or disparage players who don’t know answers - we want to generate an inclusive atmosphere. It's great that they are learning new things! It’s cool to be kind.

Resolve work-related conundrums by speaking directly with the Powers That Be - it's more effective than by posting complaints to a social media outlet. If you decide to post critically online, avoid using statements, photographs, video or audio that reasonably could be viewed as malicious, obscene, threatening or intimidating, that disparage Trivia Mafia customers, employees, players, or suppliers, or that might constitute harassment or bullying. It could make you liable for defamation, and may jeopardize your employment with us.

Personal Appearance

We know you're in a bar/taproom/etc, but you're also at work. It is essential that all Trivia Mafia employees are professional, and that grooming and attire requirements are met. Trivia Mafia recognizes that mode of dress and standards of personal appearance are a matter of individual taste, but they must not hinder the employee’s abilities to perform their duties. Clothes should be clean, hygiene should be healthy. If setting up a PA is part of the equation, your clothing should allow for sufficient movement to do that.

We also ask that any text on clothing be free of swear words and be generally considered appropriate for the audience - i.e. if you are hosting at a family-friendly restaurant at 6pm, your ensemble should likewise be family-friendly. We have no issues with tattoos, piercings, hair color, etc, but we do take into account any customer feedback when a venue finds a host appearance to be a mismatch with the vibe of their business.

Same goes with political slogans/iconography - will what you wear make it clear that you're approachable and helpful to all players, no matter their political affiliation? We're not saying you can't host wearing a Feel the Bern or MAGA hat, we're saying be very cognizant of what your clothing says about you and the company you're representing (Trivia Mafia, remember?) when you're wearing them. 

Dealing with Difficult News Events During a Trivia Night

Sometimes a troubling news story will break just before—or even during—your trivia night. This can create uncomfortable situations for our hosts and our players. When such situations occur, you may feel the need to communicate something to the crowd, because saying nothing would feel insincere. Trivia Mafia is 100% behind our hosts using their best judgment in determining how to make the room feel comfortable for all parties involved.

If it feels right to acknowledge a recent event at your trivia night, please do so. Be mindful of the fact that Trivia Mafia teams represent a wide array of political viewpoints, and while our content may be accused of betraying a liberal bent from time to time, a trivia night is not the appropriate venue for political, religious, or social diatribes (in fact, most players view trivia games as a welcome respite from the exhausting daily news cycle). Reach out to the Powers That Be if you want help with verbiage or have questions.

Media Requests

If you get a media request and the topic is on your hosting approach, that is totally ok! We are happy to provide support if you want it, but you're welcome to chat about what you like about hosting, how you make your unique trivia sites special, why you love hosting at your home site(s), etc.

If the topic is on Trivia Mafia as a whole, our editorial, the structure of trivia, our business model, etc., those requests should go through the PTB. Emailing Brianna is the best place to start, but any PTB will know how to route the request appropriately!

Pay, Promotion, and Promoting

Hosts are paid the same hourly rate for every regular hosting shift* that you show up to work. 
If you park and there's a "Sorry Closed for Staff Event" sign on the door, but you were never notified? You'll get paid. 
If you set up and wait half an hour past the start time, but no one wants to play? You'll get paid. 
If there is one team or there are forty-one teams, you'll get paid exactly the same. 

Overall, hosts are all treated equally in the hierarchy of roles, but we automatically issue a one-dollar/hour raise for each year a host is employed with us for the first five years of employment. Consistency and experience are valuable!

Paid-Time Off (aka Sick and Safe Time) hours accrue at 1 per 28 hours worked (or, one hour for every 10 shifts*). Email payroll@triviamafia.com if you have any questions about your compensation, or refer to the full Official Policies section. 

Recruiting crowds and maintaining a popular event is the shared responsibility of the promotional arm of Trivia Mafia and individual hosts. Our most successful nights are ones with hosts who are great ambassadors for their events through social media, face-to-face promotion, and excellent hosting on site. We encourage you to find ways to attract players and build regular teams, both for your night and the bar!

*One regular hosting shift = 2.8 hours; exceptions apply for Private Event hosting and special events (like tournaments).  

Subbing Out/Subbing In

Be sure to review all of our company policies in full here!

Key notes:

You are responsible for finding coverage if you are going to miss a shift for any reason! In case of an emergency, alerting the On-Call Host or Host Manager - at minimum - is required. Fill out the Sub Form to Request a sub, and again to Notify us as soon as you secure a sub.
The Notification will email confirmation to you and your sub, update our internal documentation, and notify payroll (it even includes a checkbox for PTO usage).
You are allowed to seek a sub for any reason! Just be responsible about it.
Please consider picking up sub shifts if you can - it's a great way to get more experience, and to build karma for a time you might need a sub.

Questions? Concerns?

Send a Slack DM to the Host Manager, or contact info@triviamafia.com at any time to connect with the Powers That Be.

Trivia Mafia Classic Hosting Guide

Pen & Paper Hosting

The Trivia Mafia App

All things relating to the Trivia Mafia app (play.triviamafia.com). Includes how-to guides for new hosts, use cases, and updates.

The Trivia Mafia App

What's New in Version 3.0 of the Trivia Mafia App?

Version 3.0 of the Trivia Mafia app was released on Monday, June 3, 2024. It contains several upgrades and features that will be new to experienced users (hosts as well as players) of the original version of the app.

These improvements include a better game creation process, a new tiebreaker interface, more robust messaging between hosts and players, updates to the scoring and leaderboard flow, and more. The following guide is intended to walk hosts through these new features.

Updates on the Host Side

Creating a Trivia Event

The process of a creating a game (or a "trivia event," in the parlance of the app) has been updated so that finding the correct content block is now simpler, while the likelihood of accidentally choosing the wrong block and/or venue is reduced. 

The Event Creation Page is located at play.triviamafia.com/host/event-setup. Getting there is simple: Just login and click Host a Game. 

How to create a trivia event:  

Additional features of this page: 

Resolving Tiebreakers

Hosts now have the ability to run tiebreakers directly in the app. The app will calculate the winner of the tiebreaker and update the leaderboard. 

How to resolve a tiebreaker: 

Resolve-Tie.png

Note: Players do not have the ability to enter their answers to the tiebreaker via the app. They still need to submit answers directly to the host. If you like, have them write their answers on scrap paper or whisper their answer out of their competitors' earshot. 

Tiebreaker-EnterAnswers.png

Screen Shot 2024-06-03 at 12.16.09 AM.png

Tiebreakers-LeaderboardUpdated.png

Scoring and Leaderboard Updates

There are several updates to the way rounds are scored and answers are revealed to players. These include a much-requested intermediate step between rounds being scored and the leaderboard being updated, allowing for teams to see their own results without learning the overall standings. 

Sending Messages to Players

Host now have the ability to send pop-up messages to players throughout the game. Choose between two boilerplate pop-ups (Image Round and Mega Round reminders) or customize your own message. 

How to send all-player messages:

Send-a-Message.jpg

Other Host-Side Updates

Updates on the Player Side

Auto-Advance Is Now Optional

Previously, the app automatically advanced a player's game whenever a new question was revealed. This is now optional.

In the Player Menu (the three dots in the upper-right corner of the screen), players can toggle Auto-Advance — the function that automatically advances them to the most recently revealed question — on or off. 

If a player has Auto-Advance toggled off, they will see a blue airship button whenever they are not on the current question. Pressing this button will whisk them away to the current question. 

Screen Shot 2024-06-03 at 9.38.32 AM.png

For all pre-existing users, Auto-Advance will default to "On," as that is what those users are accustomed to. For all new users, Auto-Advance will default to "Off." Hosts should let their players know that they have the option to turn this on/off as they like.  

New Player Menu and Team Menu

Players now have two available menus: A Player Menu and a Team Menu.

The Player Menu (three dots in the upper-right corner): 

The Team Menu (the team icon in the lower-right corner):

Revealed Answers and Per-Question Stats

After a host has revealed the answers to players, players now see the correct answer, how many points they received for their answer, whether or not their answer was marked "funny," and a graph showing how all teams performed on each question.

 Revealed Answer + Stats.png

Other Player-Side Updates

Providing App Feedback

Please provide feedback on the new app using this Google form. You can also find that link in the Player Menu. 

FAQs

Some of the hot topics of frequently asked questions - from how to pronounce "archipelago" to how to handle hecklers.

FAQs

How do I pronounce this?

The Official Trivia Mafia Pronunciation Guide for Words We Use a Lot

Thank you for caring about saying words right. This document contains words we use frequently (as opposed to one-off words) that we’ve heard hosts have a hard time with. Have an idea that should be added? Email Senior Editor Ruby! 

Entries are in the following format:
word (link goes to an audio pronunciation): pronunciation guide /International Phonetic Alphabet guide/, (additional explanation of pronunciation) definition

Common words

archipelago: ark-ih-PEL-ah-go ​​/ˌɑɹkɪˈpɛləˌɡoʊ/, a chain of islands

archipelagic: ark-ih-puh-LAH-djik /ɑɹkɪpəˈlædʒɪk/, of or relating to a chain of islands

biopic: BY-oh-pik /ˈbaɪ.əʊ.pɪk/, (like “bio” and “pic” put together), a biographical film
Wiktionary says by-AP-ik is “nonstandard” but listed in some places; you go ahead and say it that way if you want

colonel: KER-nul /ˈkɝnəl/, a military rank below a general

couture: kuh-TOOR /kuˈtʊər/, fashion designers and the high-end clothes they make

coxswain: KOK-sihn / ˈkɒk sən / (like “cocks sin” if you said it fast), the athlete who steers a racing shell

titular: TICH-uh-ler /ˈtɪtʃələr/ or TIT-yuh-ler /ˈtɪtyələr/, of or relating to the title of something, usually the character after whom a work is named (“the titular character”)

posthumous: PAWS-chew-mus /ˈpɒs.tʃʊ.məs/, after death, usually referring to a work published after the author’s death

Names

Janelle Monáe: juh-ENL moh-NAY, /dʒəˈnɛl moʊˈneɪ/, singer songwriter of “The Electric Lady” and “Dirty Computer”

Kamala Harris: KAH-muh-luh, /kɑːmələ/ (like “COMMA-lah” – her stepkids call her “mom-ala” if that helps you) the 49th Vice President of the United States

Kamala Khan: kuh-MAH-luh, /kəˈmɑːlə/ Ms. Marvel from the Marvel comics/MCU

Keanu Reeves: kee-AH-noo reevz, /keɪˈɑːnuː rivs/ Neo from “The Matrix,” John Wick from “John Wick,” et cetera 

Madeleine L’Engle: LEHNG-gul, /ˈlɛŋɡəl/, author of “A Wrinkle in Time”

Marquis de Sade: mar-KEE duh SAHD, /marki də sad/, French writer famous for his libertine sexuality (see also Sade, the singer)

Megan Rapinoe: ruh-PEE-noh /rəˈpiːnoʊ/, Captain of the US National Women’s Soccer Team

Nicki (Onika) Minaj: NIH-kee (oh-NEE-kah) min-AZH, /’nɪki: oʊ’ni:kɑ mɪˈnɑːʒ/, Rapper, songwriter, Queen Radio host

Nguyen: WIN /wɪn/ or NOO-yen /nuːˈjɛn/ (you can read more about different pronunciations here; please feel free to say it correctly if your Vietnamese is good!) The most common surname in Vietnam

Sade: SHAH-day [ʃɑːˈdeɪ], a Nigerian-British singer, a smooth operator (see also Marquis de Sade)

Sia: SEE-uh [si:ə] an Australian singer songwriter

W.E.B. DuBois: double you ee bee doo-BOIS, ​​/djuːˈbɔɪs/ Sociologist, founder of the NAACP

Brands/Institutions

Atari: uh-TAR-ee, /əˈtɑːˌɹi/ (middle syllable rhymes with “star”), a video game company

Carnegie: kar-NEH-ghee, /kɑːrˈnɛɡi/ is closer to the original Scots pronunciation and preferred by Carnegie Corporation and Carnegie Mellon; many English-speakers say KAR-nuh-ghee /ˈkɑːrnəɡi/; you can’t really go wrong with either. (Carnegie Hall more frequently uses the second pronunciation, but seriously, either is fine.) The Carnegie family were industrialists, lots of things are named after them, Andrew is probably the most famous one. 

Duquesne University: doo-KAIN /duːˈkeɪn/ a school in Pittsburgh
Dufresne (as in Andy Dufrense from “Shawshank Redemption” follows the same pattern; doo-FRAIN)

Jägermeister: YAY-ger-my-ster /ˈjeɪɡərmaɪstər/, a German aperitif 

Reuters: ROY-terz /ˈrɔɪtərz/, a news agency

Places

Côte d’Ivoire: KOHT dih VWAR, /ˌkoʊt diˈvwɑɹ/, the French name of the Ivory Coast

Mojave: moh-HAH-vee, /moʊˈhɑːvi/, a people from the Southwestern United States and the places named after them

Sioux City: SOO /su:/ A city in Iowa
Same pronunciation for Sioux Falls, South Dakota 

All Caps – Do I Say The Letters??

ABBA: AB-uh, not ay bee bee ay, '70s Swedish pop band

A$AP Rocky: AY-sap, not ay ess ay pee, rapper 

H.E.R.: HER, not aitch ee ar, current guitarist

GZA: GIZ-uh, not gee zee ay

NAACP: en double-ay see pee, not NAK-puh 

RZA: RIZ-uh, not ar zee ay

Sports Leagues: say the letters in general! MLB = em el bee, NBA = en bee ay, NCAA = en see double-ay or en see ay ay, etc

FAQs

How do I decide if this answer is right?

Sometimes it is tricky to determine when to give full or partial credit for an answer that doesn't perfectly match what our Editorial team has provided. Don't sweat it too much! You got this.

You have three key resources:

Some examples:

Do we require the full name?

In general, we follow Jeopardy! rules that Last Name Only is sufficient, unless there is plausible confusion. Kennedy, Roosevelt, Jones, Hepburn - there are multiple famous people with those last names, so they should include the first name. 

Team answered "Kardashian"; official answer was "Kim Kardashian." We recommend a half point for “Kardashian.” However, it's zero points if they say Kourtney instead of Kim - because just “Kardashian” was generally right but “Kourtney Kardashian” was specifically wrong.

As much as possible, alert teams when you're looking for a full name when you're reading the question! Sometimes, that's a hint in and of itself. 

Should we accept "Korea" for South Korea?

Technically, no. "Korea" refers to the peninsula, on which there are two countries. South Korea is also known as the Republic of Korea, so you can accept that answer! However, if asking for the nationality or language, "Korean" would be correct without the North or South designation. 


FAQs

How do I suggest content?

Become a Content Creator

If someone doesn't currently work for us but is interested in writing questions for pay, they can apply here.

Existing staff can submit question ideas at any time by emailing them to submissions@triviamafia.com, which is monitored by Editor-in-Chief @Aaron Retka and Senior Editor @Ruby Levine.

Suggest a Theme Night theme

Head to our suggestion form, or email Brianna directly with your ideas! Be sure to take a look at the archive list so you can see which themes we've done in the past. 

Keep in mind that themes that are too broad don't always work well - for example, we did a theme on Saturday Morning Cartoons, but got a lot of feedback that the shows we covered were too concentrated on the '90s (and some of them aired in the afternoons, or were on cable, or...). So, what seemed like a fun theme ended up being too poorly defined for people to know what to expect when they attended - or rather, what they expected didn't match what we provided. 

The opposite challenge has happened with focus on a single person's ouvre - Stephen King, John Carpenter, and Keanu Reeves have all gotten their own themes, but either there was too much to cover (King's books AND movies AND TV shows??) or players who liked Keanu in a general sense were not actually well versed in all of his movies. 

We also need to have a staff writer who is at least peripherally interested in the theme. Trivia Mafia never wants to create a set of questions that are only sourced from internet searches; the best sets are infused with the enthusiasm of a true fan or willing acolyte. So there is some self-selection based on making sure that we can ask questions that real fans will recognize as understanding the subject and delivering a really fun event. 

A note about "Harry Potter" theme events: We regularly get requests to run “Harry Potter” theme nights, and have done so in the past. However, in light of the increasing transphobia from the author, we just can’t do it anymore. We love the source material as much as anyone, making this a very difficult decision, but we value our trans players and employees over these books and movies. Thank you for understanding.

FAQs

What if the site tells me they want to cancel a game/make a schedule change?

The host is the reporter-on-the-scene - but all you have to do is report back. Include the info in your Host Feedback, and/or send an email or Slack message to the Host Manager to pass along to the correct person. 

We ask sites to give us 48 hours notice for any regular game cancellation (save for a site emergency or inclement weather), and when they fill in the cancellation form it automatically sends an email to the regular host to notify them! 

Sidenote: Our staff are allowed to use PTO at any time for any reason, but it's very common for hosts to use those banked hours to cover a cancelled shift! Just email payroll@triviamafia.com with the date and your request, and 2.8 hours (or your full balance, if less than that) will be applied to the corresponding payroll. 

We ask for at least 15 days notice if a site wants to change their schedule (i.e. start an hour earlier during the winter, move the game to a different day of the week, etc.), and they must work with the Sales & Account Director or their account person to put the gears in motion! We will alert the host, update their marketing assets and our internal database, and post on socials ahead of any change.  

It is not the host's responsibility to manage a site's schedule, but we do appreciate getting updates if they are talking to you directly about things. 

If you show up to work and the location is closed, or if they tell you after you arrive that they don't want to run trivia (because they have something else going, or there aren't enough players), you will still get paid, and the site will still be charged.

FAQs

A Holiday is coming up - is trivia cancelled?

Trivia Mafia does not run any live, regular games for five holidays a year:
Independence Day (July 4), Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Day (Dec 24 and 25), and New Year's Eve (Dec 31). 

For any other holiday - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Halloween, whatever - we assume everything is happening as scheduled unless the site cancels. If you want to make other plans, first find a sub for the shift! We will alert you (and the sub) if the site decides to call off the game. 

We have made exceptions to the above list of dates for Private Events, so if a location really wants to have trivia to ring in the new year, they just have to set that up as a special one-off situation. 

FAQs

How do I look up my scores from a past game?

Guides et al

Find a guide for trainers, a guide for theme nights, a guide for using the TM PA, and probably more guides as we find more ways to provide guidance. 

Guides et al

Trainer Guide - TMC

Showing a New Hire the Hosting Ropes

Thank you for being a Trivia Mafia Host Trainer! Your experience and skill in presenting Trivia Mafia trivia are invaluable, and we hope this guide will assist you in teaching new hosts how to be a good ambassador of our brand, and demonstrating the fun of running a trivia event. Thanks!

Week 1

Before:

Make sure you are familiar with all the updated policies and procedures and be prepared to update the new host with changes that have occurred since the last formal manual update. Technically, using the Answer App is optional, but we ask all hosts to be trained to use it.
You’ll be introduced to the new host via email by Brenna or Mary Kate; check that they have received all of their materials, reviewed the Host Guide, and joined the Host Slack. Encourage them to take notes.

On Site:

Trainer and new host are expected to arrive 30 minutes before trivia begins.
Introduce yourself to the staff and find out where to set up and how to use the sound equipment. If it is a Trivia Mafia PA, go slowly through the set up to teach the new host how everything fits together, and find out if it will be stored onsite after trivia. If it is an in-house system, the staff should be prepared to train you both on how to use it.

When you introduce yourself to the new host, let them know your experience and a little about yourself. Use this introduction time to find out what experience your new host has. Are they comfortable with public speaking, do they have experience talking into a microphone, are they familiar with sound equipment, what concerns do they have? Do they learn best by doing and getting notes after, or observing and then trying it themselves? Use this information to guide your training.

You should start on the mic, and introduce the game as well as the new host. You should present the first round and let the new host present the second. Alternate presenting rounds, and score the first half together, and you will read the answers. Talk about the best ways to keep track of time. Take a picture of them hosting to share on Slack, and find out if we can share it on socials!
For the second half of trivia, have the new host start with round five and alternate reading rounds, with them giving the answers for the second half of trivia. Have them do the scoring and help navigate half points and leniency in general; update the leaderboard, give time for any discrepancies to be raised, announce the winners and end the night as usual making sure to let the teams know that there will be trivia every week on the same day and time. Have the new host take the team photos.

Emphasize the importance of fair and accurate scoring, and the pitfalls of giving unearned points (and the balance of giving half points for humor or nearly-correct answers). Explain how to address a contested answer. Explain what to do if/when there is a tie. Remind them about the Questions email thread, and show them which channels to use in Slack if they need to ask for support/clarification/share stories.

After:

Make sure they understand how to set up and take down the equipment. Encourage them to take pictures and notes of the setup for reference, and for their ICOE. Review the ICOE together if you can!
Show them how to access the Host Feedback and walk them through filling it in. Let them know they will be running Trivia the following week and you will be there to assist them with anything that may come up.

Ask them what what they felt best about, and which elements are causing discomfort/challenges. Let them know you are available for any questions, and the best way to get a hold of you.

Week Two

Before:

Nudge them to review the ICOE form and review the Host Guide prior to arriving for week two. Let them know that you will be working with them to collect information to complete their ICOE.
Let them know when you expect to arrive. The second week may not need the full 30 minutes ahead of start, but never arrive less than 15 minutes before trivia should begin.
Make sure to communicate with the staff regarding any changes or updates since the prior week.
Encourage them! Share your confidence that they’ll do great. Let them know to laugh it off if they mispronounce a word or accidentally skip a question – everyone is there to have fun and we all make mistakes!

During:

This is the new host’s time to shine! They get to kick off the game. Before they hop on the mic, you might have them practice the introduction. They need to say:
- their name
- they are with Trivia Mafia
- it’s going to be so fun OMG
- trivia has eight rounds, four in each half
- the rules are simple: no shouting, no cheating, no teams over eight
- use your noodle, not your Google
- let’s goooooooooo

It may be more helpful for the host to get in the mindset of running trivia on their own if you don’t stay near them as they are presenting, so feel free to move about the cabin and sit in various places to listen. It is very rare that a host can make a mistake that cannot be addressed during a pause between questions or rounds (e.g., speak up/slow down; remember to describe prizes/thank staff/explain Mega Round, etc.) Resist the urge to interrupt them or take over! However, you can offer to run one round or read answers; leave the choice to the trainee. 

If they are struggling, try to give just one or two specific notes, and encourage them to sort things out on their own. Successfully navigating the night will be great for a new host’s confidence in presenting solo!

Take notes and be ready to provide constructive feedback at the end of the night. Check in with teams during the game to see if they have any feedback on delivery/pacing/vibes. Have the new host end the night on the mic, and present prizes and take pictures.

After:

Debrief on what you observed they did well that night, and ask them where they felt a little shaky. Mention any areas for improvement they didn’t touch on and offer tips on how to deal with those in the future. 

For example, if they struggled with pronunciation, encourage them to read all the questions aloud before trivia - whether that be at home before they come out or in their car right before they go in, that often helps. If they struggled with pacing, encourage them to set a timer on their phone, find a good clock in the space, or use their playlist to track time (i.e. if you start a new song after each question, you should read the next question by the time the chorus starts.)

They can also refer back to the Host Guide and the Cheat Sheet for other support. Have them complete the Host Feedback Form and make sure they have all the information they need to prepare their ICOE. They’ll get a reminder email automatically around three weeks after their hire date. 

Once they become comfortable hosting, they can learn by subbing at other sites, and subbing is greatly appreciated by everyone! Ideally they’ll have been a host for six weeks (four weeks solo) before picking up sub shifts, but that’s not a hard rule. Share with them the Sub Form and best practices for getting subs. Make sure they have joined the Host Slack, and encourage them to search Slack and ask questions as everyone is willing to help them out. Point out the channels for subs, answer app, job opportunities, and announcements (but also note the channels for playlists and kickball and stuff).

Most importantly, make sure they are comfortable and have enough confidence to run trivia on their own. If you or the new host have concerns about running trivia solo, that is OK, and you should reach out to Mary Kate and make a plan for the new host’s success.

Thanks for being an awesome guide for a new host!

Guides et al

Theme Trivia Guide

Big Fans, Small Focus

Theme trivia events can be incredibly fun! You do not need to be a fan to host successfully, but it helps. ;) 

Plan to arrive 20-30 min prior to the start, and to begin exactly on time. 
You are likely to have more first-time players than usual, so allow time to navigate the app with them during the first round. 

Hot Tips

Team Size Limits

We recommend a team limit of six people for themes, but it’s really up to you to determine whether to keep it at eight people! Sometimes the site will specifically request the lower limit; this is usually the case if they’ve arranged special prizes. You are also more likely to see kids at theme nights, so just use your best judgment as to whether they count against a team total. 

Guides et al

Photo Guide

Photo Best Practices

By Brianna Liestman

 

The below guide will help you take the coolest team photos after trivia is over, no matter your photography skill set! Reach out to me if you have any questions.

TL;DR - The Most Important Bits

Read on for more detail on the exact Whys and Hows of the Important Bits, alongside examples.

Team photo purposes

We post these in a slideshow in the location's landing page on our website as well as on Facebook, in weekly albums under our company profile.

 

Sharing pictures of people playing trivia is fun! It shows people what a good time trivia nights are, and hopefully encourages them to give us a try too.

 

Team photos are also really enjoyed by the players! We get requests in our social media DMs and emails requesting team photos, if the website hasn’t updated when the team looks for their photo. You remember how it felt to find yourself when you got your copy of your school yearbook, right? Our trivia players are looking for that same rush of endorphins.

 

Plus, they usually share those photos with friends, which circle back to the earlier-listed reason we take photos!

Everyone’s digital boundaries are different, and we as a company want to always respect those boundaries! Before you put them in frame, follow these steps:

  1. Let the team know you would like to take their photo and why;

  2. Inform the team this photo will be uploaded to the Trivia Mafia website, on the location page for this venue, and then uploaded to Facebook; and

  3. Ask them if they consent to having their photo taken and used for this purpose.

If they say yes, groovy! Hit that shutter button.

If they say no, congratulate them on the win, and let them go on their merry way.

Photo best practices

There are several elements to consider when taking a good trivia team photo! 

Photo orientation

We ask that hosts take photos turning their device sideways, so the final product uses landscape orientation. This creates a more consistent and well-designed slideshow for each of our location pages. There are also usually more people visible!

 

I am personally requesting that you try to stand far enough back that there is some extra room on the sides of the trivia team. When we post photos on socials, particularly for our weekly top-scoring teams roundup, the post looks best when we can use a square crop. We want to avoid cropping people out with the square, so if one photo in the post can’t use that crop we use the horizontal option instead. It’s doable, but it doesn’t look quite as pretty or fill the space as much as the square crop. (This is a Nice To Have, not a Need To Do.)

Photo quality

Bars, restaurants, breweries, the endless void…they are all spaces that aren’t as brightly lit as we’d like them to be. We are working with what we’ve got, so we know there are times when photos won’t turn out perfectly.

 

That said, we should always strive to take an image that is as in-focus as possible. If the first photo looks pretty blurry, take another one for safety. Consider using a flash. Sometimes the lighting is working against us and that can’t be helped, and sometimes we accidentally bump an elbow against something when we click the button and the second shot turns out better!

Model quality

When taking a team photo, it’s important to represent the players in the best way possible. If you’ve ever seen a photo of yourself with your eyes half-closed and thought “oof, don’t like that” as you hit the delete button, I can promise there are trivia players who feel the same way!

 

When I am taking a photo, I always say out loud, “Let me quick give it a look to make sure I can see everyone…” and either I let them know we need a redo, or I say something like “I see eight out of eight eyeballs, we’re good!” You’ll find teams appreciate the extra couple seconds that a photo review and second photo takes.

File specs for iPhone 11 and later

If you have an iPhone 11 or later, your photos are defaulted to .heic. This makes them hard to upload in a lot of spaces! Luckily, it’s not permanent.

 

Please update your settings before taking your photos. Your friendly neighborhood marketing colleague will be so grateful they don’t have to convert every photo file, and you’ll guarantee the photo will upload no matter what application it is used for!

What to do if a team doesn’t want a photo

Not everyone wants to be photographed, or to have their images shared on our website and/or social media. And that is a very valid boundary we want to respect!

 

It’s still important to use a photo that makes sense and satisfies the reasons we take and share these photos. We don’t want anything that is too embarrassing or will be trolled in the comments ending up on our Facebook.

 

A few great options include:

A few examples we’d rather not see include:

“You want some examples?!” “I think they want some examples, Pierce!”

Below are team photos that really understood the assignment, and team photos that have some opportunities for improvement.

Great team photos

Look how happy they all are!

Lots of nice empty space on the sides of the image

While one person is covering their face, they are clearly doing it on purpose — as is their right!


Cutie patooties

Good dogs!

Team photos that warrant a reshoot

Blinking is such a functional need for our eyes and often poorly timed, but we can always take a second pic


Did you know some animals, like tortoises and hamsters, blink one eye at a time? A real downer to know that hamster wasn’t flirting with me, TBH.


…no. Just no.

But…where do those photos live?

Maybe you keep every team photo you’ve ever taken. Maybe you delete it immediately after you submit host feedback so your phone has more space for photos of your dog. The question at hand is, what do we a Trivia Mafia do with that photo?

 

Your photos go to a database, along with your feedback, where the admin team can find it! We can pull them from there as needed and see what the team’s name and score was. This is where I look every time I get a DM from someone saying “I forgot to ask my host for the photo they took of us, do you have a copy?” I can download it from there and send it to them with congratulations on their smarty pants-ness. If you ever delete team photos and want them back, feel free to email me and I can do the same for you!

First through third places photos

The winner photos are uploaded to the location’s page on our website. This happens roughly once a day, hence why your photos might not always be there when a team looks. There are also going to be times where upload takes longer, because the Internet.

Team Photo Slideshow Example from Brunson's Pub

 

Finally, those photos are uploaded about once per day to our Facebook page, in a monthly album of winner photos. Facebook is also on the internet, so that frequency can change too! 

Miscellaneous photos

Currently, the miscellaneous photos are not uploaded to the website or to Facebook. It is on the to-do list for the app and website updates to have them added to the location page slideshows and Facebook eventually!

I do occasionally use these photos for various trivia promotion opportunities on social media and our newsletters. This is a great section to add a submission for our Pup Quiz, which is a weekly post showcasing doggos playing at our trivia nights, and the Pets & Plants section of the Morning Rounds! 

Guides et al

Trivia Mafia PA User Guide

So, you need to use a Trivia Mafia Public Address (PA) system?

Here's everything you need to know to get set up for the night! Read on for how to put things together, set the levels correctly, and be good to rock and roll.

Parts

Each PA comes with the below cords and equipment

This is the PA system. There are latches up top for you to unlock and create the image below.

  71gAmsYIsKL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg

Each PA will have the below in the compartment in the back of the middle console:

1. Power Cord

image.png

2. XLR Cable

image.png

3. Microphone

image.png

4. 2 dual-male 1/4 inch cords (Look may be different of the cord, but the connection is the same)

image.png

5. (Optional) Aux to dual 1/4 inch cord (You will only have this if your PA doesn't have BlueTooth)

image.png

Connections

Connection pictures below each text description.

  1. Microphone Connection. Connect the XLR Cord to the microphone and to the port at the bottom of Channel 1 on the bottom left of the middle console.
    XLR Cord Plugged in.png
  2. Speaker Connections. Place the speakers on the stands, or place them where they will work best in the space, not every location uses stands. Connect the two 1/4 inch cords into the back of the middle console and the front of the two speakers. 
    1:4 inch back of console.png1:4 inch to speaker.png
  3. Power Cord. Plug the power cord into the back of the system and into the wall. (NOTE: The picture does not have it plugged in, but this is the spot where it plugs in.)
    Power cord spot.png
  4. Bluetooth/Aux input. You will press the button on the bottom right of the front of the middle console to connect to Bluetooth. If it is flashing, it is looking for a connection. If it is solid, it is connected. (If the PA doesn't have Bluetooth, you will have cord 5 above. Connect the red cord to the R or right side and the other color - probably white - to the L or left. The two ports are just below the button.)
    Bluetooth connection.png
  5. Power On. Finally, turn on the system. The power switch is just above the power cord plug in. You should be good to work on levels!

Levels

Main LEvels.png

  1. Overall level. This will control the volume of everything on the system. Meaning if you turn this up, both microphone and music will go up.
  2. Microphone Level. The top wheel on the left will control the volume of your microphone only.
  3. Music/Bluetooth Level. The top right wheel will control the Bluetooth and music volume. Whatever device you have plugged in or connected to the system. Check your device levels, as well. If the device is turned down, this channel won't make sound.

You will not need to do more than this! Turn the Treble and Bass to half, it will work best with most voices. Turn the reverb all the way down.

NOTE: Don't ever press the "Line" button that is at the bottom of Channels 1-5. This doesn't mute the channel, like it seems to do, but deafens it. If you turn up the volume then press this button you will blow the speakers. If this button is red on any of the channels, turn down the Overall level and press the button. Then slowly turn up until the volume is good.

Tear Down

Do everything from setup in reverse and ensure you coil the cords respectfully and correctly. Don't pull them hard, don't make things super tight. If you don't know how to coil cords, check with Davis or online there are tons of videos.

Troubleshooting

Problem: The speakers aren't working/are crackly.
Solution: Check the connections of each cord. They need to be pushed all the way in! If that doesn't fix it, try switching cords around, or unplug and replug the cords. If still not working, contact Davis and do what you can until you get a resolution.

Problem: I can't connect to Bluetooth.
Solution: Confirm the system has Bluetooth. The button will say "Bluetooth" below it on the right hand side. If it doesn't, you don't have Bluetooth. If the button turns on and goes solid immediately, then it's connecting to someone else. Hold the button down until it flashes, it could take a bit. If that doesn't work, ask the staff to disconnect from the system.

Problem: My voice sounds weird/echoey.
Solution: That's the reverb wheel. Turn that all the way to the left to turn it off. If that doesn't fix it, check with Davis and turn up the volume.

Problem: There is a red light at the top of a channel and the sound isn't working.
Solution: This means the channel is broken. You will need to switch to a new channel. If it is the microphone, go to any of the other channels. If it is the Bluetooth, you will have to not play music or find a way to connect to a different channel, though not through Bluetooth.

Who to contact?

If you have any issues that aren't solved above, please contact Davis at Davis@TriviaMafia.com, or connect with the main host and staff at a place if you are subbing. You can also post anything to the #AVTroubleshooting channel in Slack and people are more than willing to help with any issues you may experience.

Guides et al

Taking care of a PA

So, you have to take a Trivia Mafia Public Address System (PA) home?

Thanks for becoming a custodian or other user of a PA! They are incredibly handy for our business, and we hope that it is simple for you to take advantage of having it for trivia. We use the Fender Passport Event PAs. Trivia Mafia owns the equipment, and our customer pays a small extra fee to have us bring it to run trivia. Thank you for taking care of the equipment. Please follow everything below. If you cannot make this happen, please contact Davis, Davis@triviamafia.com, as soon as possible so we can ensure the PAs don't get ruined.

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Pay attention to the thermostat:

This Public Address system is an astoundingly reliable and hardworking sound equipment set, but it also has a tender side. Don't let the hard plastic shell fool you - these are sensitive electronic machines. Extreme temperatures (both hot and cold) can cause issues, so keep this in mind as we head into the solstice months. We have read the manual and spoken with Fender customer service about how extreme temperatures impact the devices because RESEARCH.

If temperatures get too extreme, the voltage going through a cold or hot unit will cause it to go into PROTECT MODE. The PA does this because too much voltage is going through and a circuit is not complete; rather than overload it and potentially short the whole unit, it shuts down the overloaded area. There is not a lot you can do about this immediately, which could delay your ability to start trivia on time. The PA needs to warm up (or cool down) and be able to pass the electricity through its designed path. 

Shut the unit off, and unplug everything: power cord, speaker wires, microphone, aux cord. Leave it unplugged and wait about five minutes. Even if it is off and unplugged, it still holds the voltage in it for a little while. Then, start over plugging things in one at a time, beginning with the power cord to check if it will power on.  

Please treat your Passport PA like the high tech/expensive piece of machinery it is! Bring it in out of your car (if you can) when you're not using it, and give it time to warm up if it's cold, or to cool down if it’s hot. Then you can carry on hosting a super dope trivia show like usual.