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. 

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?

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!

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?

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!

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