How about that “Pteronophobia” is a fear of being tickled with feathers?

The facts might seem a little random, but the truth is that we all have bits of bizarre trivia that we gather throughout our lives.

What we don’t have, most of the time, is a place to earn accolades for knowing these facts.

Enter the rise of live trivia in bars.

Trivia games or “pub quizzes” have been a staple of bar entertainment and competition for decades.

And there are probably many venues hosting their own weekly trivia night in your area.

If you’re bored with the same old bar games and need a good reason to get your friends together for a night out, or even a way to meet new people, give trivia night a try.

Here, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about live trivia in bars.

On Sale

The Best Bar Trivia Book Ever: All You Need for Pub Quiz Domination

$15.99 −$2.45 $13.54

Buy Now on Amazon Affiliate link / commissions earned (read disclosure)

The History of Pub Trivia: Where Did the Quiz Come From?

It’s difficult to find an official source of the first bar quiz, but it’s fair to say that the trend really took off in the 70s when shows like Jeopardy were premiering in the States.

Pub quiz nights began to develop organically, starting as a way to get people into a bar on a slow night, and eventually becoming a beloved weekly tradition.

Some experts suggest that the original format for live trivia in bars started in Britain, where people would get together in local pubs to relax.

When few homes had a television during the 1950s, many bars and pubs would host trivia nights with live quiz events that involved patrons calling out the answers to questions on the TV.

In the United States, live trivia is still a fun and engaging part of visiting a local pub or restaurant.

Not only does the average quiz give people a fantastic way to show off their knowledge, but they’re also a great way to socialize and meet new people.

Types of Live Trivia in Bars: The Quiz Format

The basic idea behind a pub quiz is that someone prepares a number of questions in a range of categories, and customers in groups of usually no more than 6 people work together to answer them.

Many live trivia events in bars include grand prizes, raffles, and other incentives to excite people throughout the course of the game.

For example, the Sporcle bar live trivia league awards almost $30,000 to the league champions.

While the simplest version of a pub quiz would generally involve printing out a sheet with dozens of questions in different categories, today’s bars usually give more flare to the whole experience.

It’s common to find quizzes that are conducted by professional quiz master, displayed on large screens or done with phones and tablets via a live trivia app.

What’s more, many bars add specific categories with themes to their trivia days, such as:

• Music rounds where people have to guess the singer of a piece of music
• Movie rounds with clips from popular films
• Quick-fire rounds with tie-breaker questions to choose a winner at the end of a game

Ultimately, the more variety a live trivia game has, the more interesting and engaging it becomes.

Types of Pub Quiz Questions

While it’s easy to assume that there’s only one way to ask questions and request answers from your patrons, the truth is that many bars have discovered new ways to enhance their trivia experience.

For instance, some of the most common kinds of questions you’ll see (or hear) in a quiz include:

• Multiple choice questions: Where patrons are given a range of potential answers to choose from for a single question.
• General knowledge: The traditional format of asking a question about a general-knowledge fact.
• Picture questions: These questions often involve images, for instance, the idea could be to “name that celebrity” or identify an item from a zoomed-in shot.
• Recent events or news questions: These queries take advantage of the latest trending topics in the media.
• Music questions: Ask your patrons to guess the title and artist of a piece of music from a small, often obscure sound-bite.
• Lateral thinking question: What’s the connection between a Stereophonics album and Wayne Rooney?
• Testing Your History Knowledge: Some quizzes begin with questions based on this format: “On this day in history ….”.

As quizmasters continue to experiment with new ways to delight their customers, new question formats appear all the time.

Depending on the tech available in a local pub, specific questions can also involve video and digital presentations.

What Every Great Trivia Night Needs

One of the most compelling things about a live trivia night is that there are no set rules for how a bar or pub owner has to run the event.

Ultimately, it’s up to them to choose a theme, decide how long they want the quiz to be and more.

Many of the bar trivia nights are created, hosted and managed by 3rd party quiz companies.

This is often a packaged solution for bar owners that streamlines the process of incorporating trivial night and attracting new and loyal customers.

For example, a bar quiz service like Brainstormer offers trivia content, quiz packs, prizes, promotion and more for bar owners.

However, while there are plenty of ways to transform your trivia night according to your individual needs, it’s safe to say that most events include at least some of the following things:

• Teams of dedicated quizzers: You can’t run an excellent trivia night without people who are excited about finding the right answers to your questions. Most pub quizzes request that teams are usually between 1 and 6 people in size. This helps to avoid large, overly-competitive groups people piling into a pub.
• Diversity: Few people enjoy the standard “question and answer” format of the traditional pub quiz anymore. Today’s quizmasters need to spruce their questions up a bit with pictures, music, and other unique and interactive experiences to keep their patrons entertained.
• Rules: Although it’s important to have fun with a pub quiz, the rules are key. While every quiz master has the freedom to create their preferred guidelines, it’s important to make sure that no-one cheats by using their smartphone to find an answer. Other rules can involve making sure that you have your question sheets in at the right time and ensuring that no-one shouts out an answer during a quiz.
• Consistency: The best trivia nights often happen on the same day at the same time each week. This helps pubs to create a crack-team of regulars who generally visit their establishment each week to keep their title of the ultimate trivia group.
• Prizes: Although plenty of people will attend a live trivia game just for fun, it always helps to have an award at the end of the questions. People like to feel as though they’ve accomplished something by memorizing the facts required to excel at a pub quiz. Some bars will offer money as a prize, while others stick to free drinks and food.

Why Do People Love Live Trivia?

Ultimately, the main reason why people are so drawn to live trivia in bars is simple. Human beings are competitive. We all like a chance to show off our skills and knowledge – even if the information that we know isn’t applicable anywhere else.

On Sale

Pub Trivia Game

$34.99 −$22.99 $12.00

Buy Now on Amazon Affiliate link / commissions earned (read disclosure)

Live trivia in bars is a fantastic way to draw people from around the community together for a night of fun and excitement.

On one level, it’s a chance for people to prove that they’re smarter than someone else.

Yet the truth is that most of the time, succeeding in trivia isn’t just about being smart – it’s just about knowing a little bit of almost everything.

It’s easy for many of today’s consumers to walk around feeling like they never have a real opportunity to shine.

While we’re all rewarded for our well-rounded knowledge in school, the chances are that you’ll never have a true chance to put your skills into the real world through your career, or in your personal life.

Trivia is one of the best ways for people to reward themselves for paying attention to the world around them.

The post A Quick Guide to Live Trivia and Pub Quizzes appeared first on Bar Games 101.

No matter where you live in the U.S., there is probably a pub quiz happening tonight at a local establishment.

But how do find the best trivia leagues to join? The ones that are professionally managed, fun and competitive?

You can search online, or use a database like this one to locate your next trivia night.

But one of the best ways to find a high-quality, live hosted pub quiz is by checking with one of the many established bar trivia leagues located around the country.

These are well-run and managed trivia nights with professional hosts and a proven format to make your night fun, challenging and often hilarious. 

So, if you’re looking for trivia night, we recommend starting with one of the following leagues to see if they host something in or near your hometown. 

What to Know About Bar Trivia Leagues

Skip to the leagues

Many of these trivia leagues have their own sets of rules, unique hosting and question formats, and quiz topics.

But they all have a few rules in common.

In fact, the following rules are pretty much universal, no matter what league you’re playing in on trivia night:

• No shouting out the answers to questions
• No using your phone (or Google) for assistance
• Quiz night is free, but you are expected to buy drinks and/or food from the bar 
• The quiz master has the final say (he or she is always right!)

Most leagues also have a maximum number of players. And while in some cases you can play solo, it’s always encouraged to join up with a team.

If you don’t have a team, joining one on trivia night can be a great way to meet some new people.

Many leagues have a limit of 6 or 7 players per team. Some allow up to 20. Just check on the league website or at the bar to confirm.

Here are 12 trivia leagues you should check out if you’re ready to add the pub quiz to the list of your favorite bar games.

—- 

If you’re looking for trivia night, definitely check out one of these leagues.

Or, if you’d rather play at home, you can try out one of these fun trivia board games.

The post Where’s Trivia Night? 12 Trivia Leagues You Should Check Out appeared first on Bar Games 101.

Unlike typical board games that rely more on chance than knowledge, trivia games are an excellent way to put your expertise to the test in a head-to-head battle with your loved ones.

While some trivia board games are notoriously tricky – designed only for the true eggheads amongst us, others are intended for use in virtually any situation – including parties with kids.

These days, there’s a seemingly endless number of trivia board games available to choose from on the market, not to mention dozens of different special versions of things like Trivial Pursuit.

If you’ve been looking for a way to brighten up your evenings with the family, or you need a way to break the ice at the bar or your next house party, we’ve got just the thing.

Here we’re going to look at 10 of the best trivia board games you can enjoy today, and what it is that makes these titles so special!

1. Trivial Pursuit: Best for Traditionalists

It’s hard to create any list of the best trivia board games without mentioning Trivial Pursuit.

After all, it’s the classic choice for anyone who loves putting their brainpower to the test.

Whether you’re looking for something traditional, like the very first Hasbro Trivial Pursuit board, or you want something new, there’s something for everyone on the market these days.

Over the years, games manufacturers have rolled out various versions of Trivial Pursuit to suit everyone from fans of specific franchises (like Disney and Harry Potter), to those from particular generations – like Trivial Pursuit 2000s edition.

Anywhere between 2 and 6 players can enjoy this game at the same time, and all you need to do to win is move around a board, answering questions to fill your board piece with six colored triangles.

The first person to fill their piece and successfully answer a question at the center of the board wins.

2. Best of TV and Movies: Best for Film Buffs

Most of the best trivia board games focus on testing your general knowledge by asking you questions from multiple genres, including art, entertainment, history, and geography.

However, there are also games out there that concentrate on a specific genre above all else.

The “Best of TV & Movies” board game was designed to challenge how much you think you know about both the big and small screen.

This game comes with questions on hundreds of movies and television shows, making it an excellent choice for anyone who loves spending an evening glued to their TV set.

Spin Master Games - Best of Movies & TV Board Game

$39.99

Buy Now on Amazon Affiliate link / commissions earned (read disclosure)

Two to four players can enjoy the game at the same time, and there is fun “special cards” thrown into the mix too, like “fast forward” to skip your turn.

This is an excellent game for anyone in search of hours of family-friendly entertainment.

Just wait until you and your siblings are arguing over what happened on an episode of CSI – you’re sure to have some laughs.

3. Phone Phever – Best for Smartphone Addicts

Let’s face it; we’re all pretty much hooked to our smartphones these days.

That’s what makes games like Phone Phever so appealing.

Compatible with virtually any smartphone model, Phone Phever is one of the most compelling ways to combine old-school board games with new technology.

There are around 1,200 trivia questions to choose from in the kit, which cover a range of categories like music, movies, and history.

The wide range of questions means that there’s pretty much something for everyone.

Unlike other board games that focus on trivia, however, Phone Phever takes a unique approach to how you can answer the questions.

Either you can rely on your own education to give you the answer, or you can search for the information you need on your smartphone.

There are no rules about “Googling” your way to success.

Just don’t be surprised if some of the younger tech-savvy people in your group are more likely to get the answers faster than those who don’t use their phones as often.

4. Smart Ass – Best for Parties

Trivia games can be an excellent way to set the mood at your next house party, but it’s essential to choose something that’s not too stale.

Fortunately, Smart Ass has you covered in that regard.

This unique, fast-paced trivia game is excellent for breaking the ice and getting everyone to join in the fun.

Designed for up to 6 players at a time, Smart Ass is best for adults and teens, as you’re going to have a few rude answers thrown into the questions here.

University Games | Smart Ass Card Game Tin

$10.95

Buy Now on Amazon Affiliate link / commissions earned (read disclosure)

Plus, the last thing you want is for the kids to get carried away and start screaming at the top of their lungs.

With Smart Ass, every participant takes a turn rolling a dice and reading out clues on question cards.

However, you don’t have to wait until your turn to answer a question.

Instead, if you figure out the answer before all the eight hint cards have been read, then you’re free to shout it as loudly as you can – before anyone else does.

5. Professor Noggin’s – Best for Kids

Often, your opinion of the best trivia board games will depend on who you’re buying for.

If you’re looking for a way to keep your kids’ wits sharp, for instance, then it’s a good idea to try Professor Noggins’ Trivia card games.

There’s a range of options to choose from depending on the niche you want to cover, including games for history, geography and more.

Designed for kids who love to learn, Professor Noggin’s is an excellent way to engage your children in some after-school learning, or just improve their general knowledge levels.

Keep in mind that the game comes with both hard and easy questions, as it’s intended to appeal to children of different ages.

If your kid is struggling with a particular topic at school this can also be a great way to give them an educational boost, without making learning feel too much like hard work.

6. iKnow – Best for Strategy Lovers

One of the most stressful parts of playing a trivia game is knowing that there’s someone on your group that generally wins all the time because of their absurd background in general knowledge.

If you’re sick and tired of that know-it-all in your group, then you can take a slightly different approach to trivia games with the iKnow game instead.

iKnow is a title that’s designed to even out the playing field and give everyone a chance at winning.

Designed for fun for two to six players, iKnow is generally best for adults and children over the age of 15 – as some of the questions are quite difficult.

On Sale

Tactic Games US iKNOW Bet-On-The-Answer Quiz Game - Everyone Plays At Once - Family Trivia - Board Game Forup To 6 Teams Or Players (52658)

$29.99 −$8.41 $21.58

Buy Now on Amazon Affiliate link / commissions earned (read disclosure)

In the box, you’ll find a game board, 400 cards, six iBet tokens and six iKnow tokens.

The wagering element involved in iKnow is part of what makes it so special.

If you’re not the best at trivia, you can still gain points by betting.

Keep in mind that iKnow has a habit of bringing out your more competitive side – so it might not be the kind of game you want to play with people who can easily get into arguments.

7. Linkee – Best for fast-paced play

Trivia can have a habit of lasting a long time if you let them.

Unfortunately, if you’re just looking for a way to spend an hour before the kids go to bed, you probably won’t want to get stuck in a marathon game of Trivial Pursuit.

Fortunately, there are options like Linkee that can help you get the most out of your games when you don’t have a lot of time to spare.

Linkee can be played with between 2 and 30 people – so it’s great for big groups – although it’s recommended for people over the age of 14.

Linkee: The Trivia Quiz Game

Buy Now on Amazon Affiliate link / commissions earned (read disclosure)

When you open the box, you’ll find four pencils, for answer pads, a rule guide, and a range of questions too.

To play, you’ll need to answer four questions on each card and try to figure out what the link is between those questions. Once you’ve got the answer in mind, shout “Linkee” to win the round.

8. Family Feud – Best for Nostalgia

If you’ve ever spent an evening with the family watching family feud on television and trying to play along, then you’ll know how much fun this game can be.

That’s why it had to make our list for the best trivia board games around today.

While family feud might not be the considerable TV show that it used to be, it’s still incredibly popular among every member of the family – particularly when you get to play the game show in your own home.

On Sale

Family Feud 6th Edition Competition - Game Show Home Edition

$29.95 −$6.96 $22.99

Buy Now on Amazon Affiliate link / commissions earned (read disclosure)

The original version of the board game was released in 1977, and it’s still going strong today. It works exactly as you would expect, with people offering their answers to questions, hoping to get the highest score for the suggestions that they give.

You may need to set someone aside to play as the “presenter” – but this is a fun role to have.

9. Wits and Wagers – Best for a Spot of Gambling

Wits and Wagers is a game that’s been around for quite some time now, initially arriving on the market in 2005.

However, it’s still a very popular choice for trivia games today.

In this game, everyone attempts to answer ridiculous trivia questions and bet who will get the closest answer.

It’s an easy way to bring a little bit of gambling fun into your trivia experience.

Whether you’re playing on the dramatic “all-in” questions, or you just love the thrill of gathering as many chips as possible, there are plenty of things to love about wits and wagers.

If you’re looking for evidence that you’re going to have a seriously good time with this game, then how about the fact that it won the Golden Geek Award for the Best party game in 2007?

It’s also won numerous other awards too for helping to bring more life into house parties across the globe.

10. Wit’s End – Best for a Challenge

Finally, if you’re bored of the typical experience you get from most trivia board games, and you’re ready to put your knowledge to the test, then you can’t go wrong with Wit’s End.

This unique game is designed to really make you scratch your brain in the search for answers – so don’t play it if you’re the kind of person who gets frustrated when you don’t know the answer to a question.

Best for teens and adults thanks to the complicated nature of the questions, Wit’s End is not for trivia beginners, not for the faint of heart.

However, if you love a challenge, then this could be just the test of mindpower that you’ve been looking for.

You’ll find questions that relate to everything from geography and science, to pop culture and history.

Don’t worry; it’s not all sweating over tough questions – the game has plenty of fun to offer too, with engaging and unique problems that are sure to get you thinking.

The post 10 of the Best Trivia Board Games to Play Today appeared first on Bar Games 101.

For those of us that don’t have James Holzhauer on our list of Facebook friends, there are some easy ways to improve the performance of your trivia team: 

1. Find a teammate with at least a 15 year age difference from yourself.  

Obviously, our closest friends are usually in the same age range as ourselves. 

Since about two-thirds of all pub trivia questions revolve around pop culture, playing with people that share similar interests and experiences can actually be a detriment.  

Having a variety of ages and backgrounds among your trivia teammates can greatly improve the success of your squad.  

Yes, that means that you may have to endure a night of bar trivia with your parents, but they know who Dick Cavett is (and you probably do not). 

2. Invite that one friend who loves the movies (or TV shows or musicians) that you hate.  

With the recent rise of on-demand television and music, we can very easily avoid the genres that do not interest us. 

Modern technology has fractured entertainment to the point that most people do not see or hear anything that falls outside their personal tastes. 

There are over 1,000 TV series currently in production, and chances are you have seen very few of them.  

Invite that one friend who is always talking about those shows and musical acts you’ve never seen or heard.

3. When playing the game, take all the time that is allotted to you on every question.

It is a rarity for a pub trivia game to offer an incentive for teams to be the first to turn in a correct answer. 

But I’ve seen countless instances of a team turning in an answer right away, only to return to the host and (unsuccessfully) ask for a second chance. 

Sure, immediately striding through the bar with the correct answer might intimidate the other teams, but eventually it will come back to bite you. 

Even after everyone agrees to an answer, there is no harm to ask “Is there anything else it could possibly be?”.

4. Be aware and honest in regards to your trivia weaknesses and your teammates’ strengths.

Very few of us have a strong base of knowledge in EVERY trivia subject, so while it can be helpful to offer a guess on every question, trivia players need to be aware of their own limitations. 

It can be humbling, but on some questions it may be best to say nothing if you know that your teammates are more knowledgeable on certain subjects.   

Obviously, if everyone is stumped, start spit-balling ideas, but don’t start dismissing other people’s ideas unless you have some knowledge to back it up.

5. If applicable, learn basic wagering strategy.

If your nightly trivia game requires a wager on the final question, learn simple wagering strategy to maximize your potential winnings. 

The most important wagering rule is that in almost every instance, your team should never risk more than the minimum number of points required to cover a full wager by the team immediately behind you. 

If your team is not in the lead going into the final question, it’s safe to assume that the teams ahead of you are also using that same strategy. 

In a close game, there is a chance that the leading team could drop behind you on a difficult question.

6. Spend at least $15 per person.

While this point has nothing to do with strategy, try to remember that bar trivia exists for one reason. 

The trivia companies have promised that their brand will bring patrons out to spend money for the hosting venues. 

If these bars and restaurants aren’t profiting from trivia night, there is no reason to continue hosting the game. 

Don’t be the guy that spends two hours having the waiter refill his glass of water.

About Pour House Trivia

Pour House Trivia is the fastest-growing live trivia company in the mid-Atlantic region.  Founded in 2009, Pour House Trivia currently hosts live pub trivia at more than 70 venues throughout the Washington, D.C. metro area and beyond. 

The post 6 Easy Ways to Get Better at Team Trivia appeared first on Bar Games 101.