5 Essential traits to look for when hiring new Trivia Hosts

Written by

Brianna LeCompte

I still remember attending my first Trivia night back in 2013. A group of my coworkers were discussing some options for happy hour venues and when we saw that a spot down the street was hosting a Trivia Night, we decided to go for it. I was instantly hooked. When the opportunity arose to join the Last Call team, I was ecstatic. Working with a talented and creative team to spread my love of trivia across the country-what could be better! I currently manage sales and outreach in our west coast areas. Outside of work, I love to travel and am also an avid equestrian and Disney movie lover.All Posts

Your Trivia Nights are booming- you have weekly Trivia Nights booked every day of the week, private event requests are rolling in, and your regular players are asking where else they can find your games. So what’s next?

When you find your schedule maxed out and you’re in need of more manpower to expand your business, it’s time to start hiring new Trivia hosts. If your goal is to scale up your Trivia Night side hustle to a full time gig, it is inevitable that you will reach this point eventually.

Hiring new hosts is an important task, as they will represent your brand and need to fit the culture and experience that players have come to expect. Read on for some of the most important qualities to look for in your new Trivia hosts, as well as a template of a Trivia host job posting.

Host Adam StoneCIN1

Personality

This is one of the most essential factors to consider when hiring new Trivia hosts. Players come to Trivia Night to have fun, and the host is the performer for the evening.

When interviewing potential hosts, make sure that you select people who have an energetic and outgoing personality to keep the Trivia Nights entertaining. While they don’t have to be an exact clone of you, make sure that they do convey the tone that you strive to maintain for your Trivia Nights.

Reliable

Another must-have for your potential Trivia hosts is reliability. You have to know that they will be available when they say, and that they can be trusted to be on time to their shows each week.

If you end up with a person who is constantly unable to make their shows, late to the venue, and inconsistent, both you and your players will be in for a headache.

Host 3 scaled

Ability to multitask

Trivia hosts have to keep track of scores, play music, engage with the players, and keep the show running on time. While some people are naturally adept at multitasking, others may find the concept of managing these elements to be overwhelming.

Make sure than any new hosts you hire are comfortable with juggling their tasks and keeping things running smoothly.

Cool under pressure

As you’ve likely seen by this point, given the combination of competition and alcohol, Trivia players can sometimes get a little bit worked up.

A Trivia host has to be comfortable with defusing tense situations and holding their ground in the case of a dispute.

Host Aiden Mic crowd set up laptop 3 scaled

Professional

While you are still the head of your operation, the hosts you hire will be the face of your company for the Trivia Nights they host. They will have to interact with the bar owners and managers to collect payment, ask for feedback, etc.

When selecting new hosts, choose people you are confident will portray your business in a professional and positive manner.

How do I find potential hosts?

Now that you know what you’re looking for, where do you start? Of course, if you have any friends, family members, or aquaintences who you think would be a great fit, you can approach them about the position.

If you prefer to look externally for candidates, there are plenty of online sites available for positing the job (Indeed, Facebook, Craigslist, etc).

Below is a template for a Trivia host job posting. If you need a starting place for your Trivia host search, feel free to adapt this template to fit your needs.

Do you love Jeopardy? Is Bob Barker your idol? Have you dreamed of becoming a game show host? Then this is the gig for you!

Insert company/name here is currently looking to fill an opening for a Trivia Host in insert city here.  Optional: add a short (1-2 sentence) statement describing your business to show why it is a great place to work

Responsibilities: Potential hosts must confidently be able to read trivia questions, play music (host must have their own smartphone or laptop [recommended]), handle audio equipment, keep score (Excel scoresheet template provided), interact with Trivia teams, entertain the crowd, and other small tasks.

Characteristics: We are looking for candidates who are outgoing, responsible, self-motivated, punctual, charismatic, witty, and easygoing. Those who can multitask, promote and network, and work a crowd are ideal. Reliable transportation is a must!

Trivia shows last about 2 hours and will be held on insert day of the week and intended start time. The Trivia Host will need to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the start time for setup, and should expect to stay 15-20 minutes after the show to wrap-up.  This is a perfect part-time gig for college students, recent graduates, outgoing young professionals, Trivia lovers or for those looking to make some extra money in a fun/social setting.

Email your resume, headshot or a favorite picture of yourself, and a brief write up stating why you would make a great Trivia Host to insert name of contact and email address. Thanks for looking!

Hiring additional Trivia hosts is a necessary step if you’re ready to scale up your Trivia Night side hustle. Be sure that you are intentional about your search and selection process, and your new hosts will become a great asset to your business!