Whether you are the manager, owner or event coordinator of a golf club, you are likely on the lookout for different ways to keep your members engaged and in your clubhouse longer. You want your members to stick around after they’ve finished their 18 holes, and there are several reasons for this. The longer they stick around, the more money they spend on drinks and food which translates to an increase in revenue for you. Plus, if word gets around that your golf club provides great entertainment, then you’ll see an increase in your membership. So, the question to ask is: What can you do to entertain and keep your members in the clubhouse? The answer: Trivia Events.
That’s right, many golf clubs have started a new tradition of hosting weekly trivia nights in their clubhouses. It keeps the members engaged, provides a great source of entertainment, and best of all, it keeps them coming back for more. So, if you think hosting trivia nights at your golf club is something you might be interested in, then read on my friend.
Full disclosure, I am biased when it comes to trivia night companies. After all, I am the co-founder of Quizrunners. But believe me, I know the trivia market, and I’ve helped hone this business into an art form. We have a TON of experience, and we know what your audience wants. So, if you want the best bang for your buck, then you should choose Quizrunners for your trivia night packages. You can go with the single packs, multi packs, or choose the trivia night subscription service which provides you with a brand, all original quiz each week. That option is only $49 per month ($12 per week) and the quality is second to none, so it’s a great option. Every one of our quizzes has 70 questions, with an audio and picture round included. Each quiz comes in Word, PDF and PowerPoint formats so you can present the quiz on the big screen. Also, each quiz comes with an automated scoring system and there are plenty of other extras too, such as free promotional posters to advertise your event. We were featured in the December edition of Bar Business Magazine if you want to read more about us there.
Once you’ve chosen the trivia night service that suits your needs, it is time to let your members know that trivia nights are coming to a golf club near you!
Having a good promotion and advertising campaign is always a good idea, especially when you are first starting out. It helps spread the word about your trivia events, which will in turn generate interest and subsequent turnout.
Use Social Media: The first thing you should do is utilize your social media outlets to spread the word. This is a cheap and easy way to get the word out, and is becoming the go-to way that people get their information. Assuming you already have Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts, spread the word via those media and whatever other social media outlets you have at your disposal.
Website Ads and e-mail list: If you have a web site with an events calendar, update the calendar to reflect the trivia nights, and be sure you input the correct date and time of the event. You could also send an e-mail about your event to your members e-mail list.
Use Posters: Put posters up at your golf club advertising your event. If you’re not a digital design expert, no worries, each Quizrunners subscription comes with a series of customized posters such as the ones shown below:
Use Word of Mouth Advertising: Let your members know about the trivia nights by talking to them about it. Have other staff members do the same. This is a tried, tested and true way to get the word out.
For more information about how to advertise and promote your trivia event, visit this link for a comprehensive review of the subject.
If you haven’t already chosen a host for your trivia event, you might be asking, should I host it myself? Should I ask a staff member to present the quiz? Should I hire an outsider?
If you enjoy a challenge and would like to present the quiz yourself, then it’s settled, and there is no need to look further. After all, you’ll be hosting an event that will entertain, inform, challenge and produce a social environment that is sure to be enjoyed my many in your club. However, if you don’t have the time, or you just aren’t comfortable in front of a crowd, then why not outsource the task? Try asking around the golf club to see if there any employees or members who would be interested in taking on the challenge. You’d be surprised at the positive response you get. If you want to hire an outsider to run the quiz, then you should narrow your search to people who have at least a few of the following 16 traits that we compiled during research for another blog entitled How to Choose a Kick Ass Trivia Night Host. Here is a list of the desired traits to look for:
Courteous, approachable, witty, friendly, well spoken, knowledgeable, creative, outgoing, confident, agreeable, energetic, reliable, charismatic, entertaining, funny and likeable.
If your host has at least a few of the above traits, then you’re on the right track. If your host has none of those traits, then we suggest you keep looking.
Once you find your host, you might be wondering what to pay him/her. We suggest offering $50 per quiz, and maybe think about kicking in a free meal if it goes well.
Okay, you’ve advertised your trivia event and let all your members know about it (Don’t be surprised if you get more participants than you expected by the way). Now it is time to present the quiz. Here is a list of things to do before presenting the quiz:
Ready the room: Make sure there is enough space for the participants, and enough space for the host to read the questions. Get your seating organized for optimal performance.
Prepare and test the equipment: It’s always a good idea to test the equipment before the event to make sure everything is in working order. This may include the PA system if you have one, and the video equipment if you’re presenting the quiz in PowerPoint. You should try hooking up your laptop or device to the TV and make sure you have an HDMI cable that is long enough.
Prepare and print your handouts: If you are using a Quizrunners quiz, then be sure to print out the answer sheets and make sure there is enough for each team. Print out the picture round sheets as well.
Get to know the scoring system: If you’re using a quizrunners quiz, then you’ll have an excel based automated scoring system as part of the package. Try familiarizing yourself with the scoring system before the quiz, to get a feel for how it works. It’s pretty straight forward to use.
Have a Clear Set of Rules in Place: Before the quiz, make sure you have a clear set of rules figured out before the quiz. The Quizrunners rules format is as follows:
Once you’ve prepared everything in advance, and have everything ready to go, you are ready to present the quiz.
It’s the night of the quiz! You’ve tested the equipment and ensured everything is working well, and you’ve printed out all the handouts. Once everyone is seated, you should display the rules on the big screen and hand all the teams the blank answer sheets. If you’re using a Quizrunners quiz, the rules are located at the beginning of the quiz. Get all the team names from the participants and add them into the automated scoring system if you have one. Now it’s time to begin the quiz.
Ask question one of category one and then allow enough time for everyone to mark their answers on their answer sheets. Repeat until the end of the category. Then ask your participants to hand their score sheets to a neighbouring team for marking. Display the answers on the big screen, or say the answers if you aren’t using a monitor. Have all the teams give you their answers and enter them into the scoring system. Display the scoring system so that everyone knows where they stand After each category is completed.
Repeat this process until all the categories are completed. Now it’s time for the final question. Allow teams to bet up to 20 points. Display the final question and allow everyone enough time to note their answers. Then have everyone submit their answers, reveal the answer, and tally up the final scores. If there is a tie, then the two teams who are tied get to answer a tie breaking question. Whoever is closest to the answer is declared the winner. Voila! You’ve just held your first trivia night, and chances it was a huge success. Just don’t be surprised when your members start asking you to host more trivia nights.
If you are considering having trivia nights at your golf club, then there is no time like the present to get started. The sooner you start, the sooner you will have a cult following of trivia night fanatics, who will spend a lot more time (and money), at your golf club. For more information on how to host a trivia night, as well as how to sign up for our very popular weekly subscription service, visit quizrunners.com/info.
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