5 Ways to Keep a Trivia Audience Engaged
I’ve been hosting trivia for a while now, and am fortunate enough to have produced over 300 unique events. While hosting may be second nature to me now, I can still vividly recall when I was just starting out, and not sure what to do; there is no certification course to become a “quizmaster,” after all, and very few resources at all for the would-be live trivia host- hence, this blog.
Among the most challenging things I faced when I first started out was how to keep the audience engaged. Sure, they’re there to play trivia, and you’re obviously the guy with the microphone and the questions. However, like any other leadership role, it takes more than just positional authority to get people to pay attention and follow directions- and when the goal is to entertain & challenge a group within a set timeframe like it is with trivia parties, keeping the participants fully engaged is how you get things done.
Here are 5 things every trivia host must do to ensure that an audience stays engaged for the duration of the event:
1) Keep Things Moving – As the host, it’s up to you to ensure that the gig goes efficiently. If a trivia event feels like it’s dragging to you, it’s probably even less fun for the attendees, and you’ll lose their attention.
2) Give Timestamps – Set chronological expectations for the audience by periodically letting them know how much time is left in the game. A good way to do this is to sneak in the number of elapsed rounds, if they are told in advance how many there will be (ie: “Round 3 is…” vs. “The next round is…”). This also works for the number of rounds remaining (“Only 2 more rounds, here we go…”)
3) Use Humor Where Appropriate – You don’t need to be a professional comedian, but good, measured use of humor is the best way for the host to keep an audience happy- and when they’re happy, they want more!
4) Involve The Audience – For new trivia hosts, the inclination is to read the questions, read the answers and move on. Don’t be a lecturer: involve the audience with personal questions, celebrate their funny team names, even let them heckle you a bit. People will be more into the event if they feel that they are contributing to it, even in a small way.
5) Be Enthusiastic – The host is the “face” of the event, and sets the overall tone and tenor for the event. If you’re dynamic, the audience will feel liberated and full of vigor; if you’re lethargic, they will be staring at their watches. Be aware of how you are feeling when you approach the microphone, and make sure you are projecting positive energy.
It’s not easy maintaining the vitality of a room full of people for 2 hours, and great trivia questions alone won’t cut it. What are some other ways to ensure that an audience stays fully engaged at live trivia parties?