Pen & Paper Hosting
Pen & Paper is old school!
In the beginning, all Trivia Mafia trivia events had paper answer sheets - they were a full 8.5"x11" with a black-and-white image round printed on the back. These were printed in bulk and mailed every two weeks to hosts, along with a replenishment of pens (and third place prizes, which would either be some Trivia Mafia-branded item or a sponsored item, like roller derby tickets or a pizza cutter from a health care website). By February 2020, we were running over 160 events per week, thus mailing out over 300 sets at a time.
When we stopped mailing these out, we saved over $13,000 in shipping costs, as well as reduced the amount of waste that came from wrapping each set of sheets in plastic (and mailing 20 sheets in each set, nearly double what most hosts were actually using, meant tons of sheets were just tossed).
When we returned to IRL events in 2021, we were also testing out a new way to gather answers. We think the Answer App is generally superior: it provides great accessibility for players that may be hard of hearing, gives us more accurate data on question difficulty; allows for immediate corrections in the system; makes grading much faster.
However! We don't require every host at every location to use it. We acknowledge that the tactile experience of writing down answers (and doodles) can be nice, and it encourages people to get off of their phones for longer (a win for society). Some hosts are really into it, some players prefer it, some sites request it. If your set-up allows for it, go ahead!
What's the same
- You're still reading rules and every question on the mic.
- The image round(s) do require an internet-connected device to view them.
What's different
- Reading slowly and clearly is more important than ever! Expect more frequent requests for repeats!
- Image rounds are still online, but there is a slideshow for players to use. 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.
- Table touches are even more crucial. See above re: repeats! You can also use that moment at the table to see if they've completed the image round, or Mega Round.
- Some hosts will offer a free bonus point to teams that provide their own pen (it's not encouraged, but it is allowed).
When to use paper answer sheets
- When that's your personal preference.
Grading tips
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).
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.