Quizzed up for Quiz - Creating a memorable event

Quizzed up – How to organize a Quiz

Quizzing is one game that blends stress, crisis, lateral thinking, time management, strategic planning  all into one. A good quiz is not only about contestant, it also include good organizational team as well as quizzer with magnetic personality who knows how to create nail biting excitement, suspense, curiosity, inquisitiveness  and enthusiasm, not only among contestants, but in audience as well.

Key points to keep in mind for organizing a Quiz.

Master of the Ceremony – The  Quiz Master

That’s right, a quiz master is master of the ceremony, he should be the arbitrator, assert authority in case of conflict and dispute and let all know that his will be the final word in such case. Do not bend to the wishes of contestants and should not tolerate any non sense. But at the same time, be witty, humorous and with quick reflexes and have superb timing to either create tension or to deflate some. Because his job is not only to involve participants but make the audience actively involved in the quiz instead of being mere onlookers.

A quiz master is a public speaker as well, so you should be clearly audible, flexible in approach with correct diction, pronunciation and your facts should be cross checked and answers correctly spelled.

A million dollar question – how to frame questions

Give a clue – Its not necessary that contestant should know all answers, but by using reasoning and logic, they can pick the hint in question and derive answers.

Hot and Cold – Quiz that is too easy to answer or too difficult to answer loses all its charm. Format questions that there are easy, medium and difficult question, but frame the questions in such way  that not only contestants, but even audience have brain storming time while thinking answers. That will keep them glued to the show. As stated correctly in  Quiz night by Reader’s Digest  – One or two difficult question is enough to separate men from the boys.

Questions should have  only one specific answer, not many generalized answers – Your question should have only one possible answer and that too not mysterious, obscure or  enigmatic.

Keep suspense in buzzer question : Buzzer round questions should be something that reveal itself inch by inch, coz anxiety and excitement in buzzer round is often game changer. Keep the question that unfurl itself slowly with next hint, coz contestant would jump into the wagon in haste, and anxiety excitement and patience will decide the strategy as well as fate of the  teams.

KISS ( keep it short and sweet ) the rapid fire round – elaborated answer in rapid fire is time consuming. Try to frame questions so that maximum can be attempted by the team

Prepare reserve set of questions: in case of tie, prepare a few questions to be used if need arise.

Its Show Time Folks -  the main event

Check the microphones, audio system, buzzer system and computers.

Create an efficient team and delegate responsibility.

Keep your attire decent and formal, after all we are here for some serious business.

Keep technical person handy in case of some fault or mishap.

Organize the question and answer cards, score cards and answer sheets.

Keep themes and interesting rules like bonus, double or negative marks to create neck to neck competition.

Have interesting audio visual and thematic rounds as well.

Quiz is informative entertainment that helps in brain conditioning with time, stress, skills, crisis and strategic management with logical reasoning. Keep all these factors in mind and have great time wooing your audience and contestants.