Private Events
As you may have noticed, most articles about Trivia Night are focused on bars and restaurants. The reason for that is two fold: the biggest market for Trivia Nights is bars and restaurants, and these locations tend to offer recurring weekly Trivia, which means repeat revenue for you.
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Despite the fact that these are the biggest and most consistent money makers for most Trivia hosts, there is another significant opportunity to explore- offering Trivia for private events.
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Private events are a great way to fill out your schedule, as they tend to be held at times outside of regularly scheduled Trivia Nights (think, during the day/early evening, and weekends). Once you have a steady schedule of weekly Trivia Nights, consider seeking out private event opportunities to increase your income. Let’s take a look at the ins-and-outs of private events.
What are the opportunities?
It is cliche to say that the opportunities are endless, but in this case, there is no other way to put it. Essentially, any type of party or gathering could potentially host a Trivia show.
While it is impossible to compile an exhaustive list of private event opportunities, below is a list of some of the most common. This should give you a starting point when seeking out potential business.
Birthday parties
Corporate parties
Holiday parties
Bachelor/Bachelorette parties
College orientation icebreakers
Fundraising events
Community events
How are private events different than weekly Trivia Nights?
There are several key differences between private events and weekly Trivia Nights. The most important are:
1. Length: While some private events may call for a full 2 hour Trivia show, in many cases the participants are looking for a shorter version. If that is the case, you can cut the Trivia show in half, and only include three regular rounds and a final question, so it can be held in an hour.
2. Content: Often, private events are in celebration of a certain occasion (a baby shower, a Christmas party, etc). Customers are often looking for content themed on the occasion, so you may have to tailor a specific Trivia show based on the celebration. If that is the case, be sure you name your Trivia show appropriately in the Show Builder (Christmas Party Private Event), so you can reuse it for any future private events!
3. Audience: The audience at a private event will likely be less familiar with the rules and flow of Trivia than your weekly crowds. That can be both a good thing (they are less likely to notice if you make a mistake), and a bad thing (they are more likely to get confused). Be sure that you clearly explain the rules to the players so everyone is on the same page and has a good time.
4. Pricing: The last key difference with private events is pricing. As a rule, private events should be priced higher than your weekly Trivia Nights. The main reason for this is the ability of the organizer to request specific content between the questions, playlist, and length of the Trivia show. Also, think of it as your weekly Trivia Nights receiving a repeat customer discount. While the pricing model will ultimately be up to you based on your market, as an example, if you are charging your weekly Trivia Nights $200, you could charge $400 for a 2 hour private event, or $300 for a 1 hour private event.
Private events are a great way to fill out your schedule during times you don’t have weekly Trivia Nights. They are also an opportunity to reach new players who could potentially become regulars at your Trivia Nights. Once you have a steady schedule of weekly shows, consider expanding into private events to enjoy the benefits and additional revenue stream.