How to Set Up and Run a Trivia Night (With Simple Rules)
Hosting a trivia night is one of the best ways to bring people together and turn a quiet night into a busy one. With good planning, friendly hosting, and a few simple rules, you can create a night that players look forward to every week.
Step 1: Pick the Right Night
Choose a night when your venue is usually quiet, such as Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.
For one-off fundraisers, Friday nights work best because more people are free.
Step 2: Get a Trivia Hosting Pack
Make life easier by grabbing a Trivia Hosting Pack from Pub Trivia Australia:
- Big Screen Trivia (played on your venue TVs)
- Paper-Based Trivia (classic pen-and-paper style)
Each pack comes with everything you need—questions, answer sheets, prize vouchers, and registration forms. If you’re running trivia every week, you’ll also get:
- Ready-to-use social media graphics
- Pre-made posters
- Extra marketing materials on request
Step 3: Choose a Great Host
Pick someone outgoing, bubbly, and confident, who’s comfortable on a microphone and can keep the crowd engaged. Agree on their weekly pay in advance.
Step 4: Spread the Word
Promotion is what fills the room.
- Put posters up around your venue.
- Post regularly on Facebook, Instagram, or other platforms your customers use.
- Share “coming soon” and "reminder posts" in the weeks before. The more people who see it, the more likely they’ll plan to come.
Step 5: Do a Trial Run
Run through the game with your host before launch night. A quick test helps with timing, setup, and confidence.
Step 6: Get the Setup Right
On the trivia night:
- Reserve a table for your host.
- Have forms, pens, and registration sheets ready.
- Let teams register from 6:30 pm, start at 7:00 pm, and aim to finish by 8:30–8:45 pm.
- Take a 10-minute break after Round 3 so players can grab a drink while your host marks the papers.
Keep it short and fun—most players prefer games that run no longer than two hours.
Simple Trivia Night Rules
Keep trivia fun and fair with these easy rules:
- Teams register with a name before playing.
- No phones during rounds.
- Spelling doesn’t matter unless it changes the meaning.
- Each team can pick two “double-point rounds.”
- Tie-breakers can be settled with a bonus question.
- The host’s word is final.
- Use venue vouchers as prizes instead of cash—this keeps costs down and encourages winners to come back.
Extra Tips for Success
- Invite people in the venue to join before you start.
- Hand out small prizes (like chocolates or drink vouchers) for standout answers.
- Collect feedback on food and drinks—trivia is a great way to boost your kitchen and bar on quieter nights.
- Announce round scores, but keep the final leaderboard a surprise until the end.
Wrapping Up
A trivia night doesn’t have to be complicated—you just need a good host, a bit of promotion, and some simple rules. Before you know it, you’ll have regular teams who show up every week to eat, drink, and play. At Pub Trivia Australia, we’ve been helping venues run fun and successful trivia nights for over 15 years. If you’d like help getting started, email us at info@oppyentertainment.com—we’d love to support you.
