Here at Trivia Bliss, we talk a big talk about trivia nights. We love to attend them to show off our trivia chops and see how we measure up against the locals. They’re an excellent opportunity to flex our brain muscles and enjoy the company of other trivia lovers. But what makes trivia nights so great? And are they fun for everyone?
Whether you want to visit one at a bar (or wherever one may take place) or host your own virtually or for friends at home, we’re here to tell you if trivia nights are right for you. Below, we’ll discuss what trivia nights are really like. Then, we’ll take you through some pros and cons of trivia nights, letting you know whether or not your personality might be conducive to enjoying one.
My Take
Personally, I’m a huge fan of trivia nights. I love to use them as an opportunity to check out new local bars and dives that are hosting them. And, on the other side of that coin, it’s also really fun to become a regular somewhere through your trivia participation. Generally, participants, hosts, and employees alike will be generous with their time and energy towards you when they’ve seen you playing games week after week. You can gain a good reputation quickly when you bust out your trivia chops!
Going to a trivia night is a great way to unwind after a long day on the job. I feel as though I take my time playing the game to get some good energy back into my body—this is especially true when I get to answer for specific trivia categories I care about, like pop culture, food and drink, music, the performing arts. I love the feeling of wracking my brain even when I think I’ve reached my limit for the day because it makes it all the more rewarding when I get a question right.
Another pro in favor of trivia nights: they are one of my favorite ways to spend time with friends. Sharing a common activity with others is an excellent way to foster closeness and maintain good spirits with your buds. I love the collaborative aspect of playing on a team at a bar trivia night—there’s nothing like teamwork with other eager trivia fans to get you motivated and energized. On a team, you learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses and quickly bond together in an effort to take home a big win. Oftentimes, bars or restaurants that are hosting trivia nights will offer a gift card or a free dish as the winners’ prize, giving you an incentive to come back and play during the next week’s game.
Plus, trivia nights are a great way to get to know the people around you better. You don’t really, truly know someone until you’ve taken on a challenge together, right? Whether you’re engaging in playful competition or merry collaboration, you’re sure to learn something new about the folks you’re with. This can make trivia nights a good idea for a way to spend time with newer friends, depending on the temperament of the crowd. A trivia game will bring you more knowledge not only about the facts you’re asked about, but also about the people you’re spending your time with.
In addition, participating in player versus player (as opposed to teams competing against each other) trivia games can be an excellent challenge because games like these push you to make guesses for categories you normally would stay away from. For example, I’d normally entirely rely on other friends to save my team during sports trivia categories, and I’m often left thinking hard when called to answer those questions alone. And at home, I love to host this type of one-on-one trivia night—every player for themselves! I’ll usually give a prize of a small gift bag purchased from a local shop or I’ll get the winner a drink on me the next time we go out and about.
To put it simply, trivia nights are just plain fun. If you’re a fan of board games, lively discussion, and a little friendly competition, then attending one would serve you well and maybe open up some new social frontiers for you. At the very least, you’ll enjoy a good night with friends and learn a few new trivia facts for your mental arsenal.
What Trivia Nights Are Like
Have you ever passed by a bar, pub, or restaurant while they’re hosting a trivia night? If not, we’ll fill you in. Trivia nights tend to be lively and bustling, and they can get pretty darn loud. Usually, they’re presided over by a host or emcee who calls out the questions, gives the correct answers, and mediates any disputes. They also are there to keep players and spectators entertained, so they’ll usually keep you engaged and laughing along. The establishment’s other employees are usually in the spirit of trivia night, too, egging you on to keep those answers (and those food and drink orders!) coming as the game progresses.
Usually, you’ll have to arrive at the bar a little bit early to sign your team up for the game. Some establishments place a limit on team size to even out the competition, but others allow you to bring all the friends you want, so check the bar’s website ahead of time and be prepared to split your team in half if you have a huge group of friends.
It’s customary to make a purchase (or several) before participating in trivia night. Buying food or ordering drinks serves as an entry fee of sorts and guarantees that you’re not taking advantage of the business just to have a good night out with your buddies.
Gameplay will most likely last about an hour, though again, it’s important to check the website of the place you’re playing at for more information. Often, the questions will be displayed on TV screens, if the establishment you’re playing at has them. If they don’t, the questions will probably solely be read aloud by the host, so open those ears and listen up!
We mentioned that trivia nights can get loud, and we maintain that. If you’re sensitive to loud noise, or easily distracted by many sounds, it might be hard for you to concentrate on answering questions in a trivia night-like atmosphere. In that case, it might be best to opt for hosting your own trivia night at home. That way, there won’t be as many stimulating noises around you, and you’ll be able to wrack your brain for those trivia answers without worry.
Don’t expect a huge, expensive prize for your trivia efforts—you probably won’t get it. As we mentioned earlier, the grand prize for a trivia night is usually a token from the business—perhaps a serving of their signature appetizer for your table, a free round of drinks, or a gift card to entice you and your team to come back and play next week. Still, prizes like these are better than nothing. Plus, the fun of trivia itself is most likely enough motivation to attend another trivia night.
Why They’re Great
We’ve already given you quite a few reasons that you might enjoy participating in a trivia night, and below, we’ve outlined a few more. Read on to find out if attending a trivia night would be an enjoyable experience for you.
They’re a Fun Way to Pass the Time
When you get bored of normal, everyday excursions, trivia nights are here to pick you up out of your social slump. Grabbing dinner or meeting at a friend’s home can be lovely, but in excess, they can feel a little stale. A trivia night can bring some much-needed variety to your social palette.
Trivia nights also usually take up a good chunk of time, too! You’d be hard pressed to find a trivia game that doesn’t take up at least 30 minutes to an hour. At a bar, they’ll usually go on for a while to allow teams a shot at a myriad of trivia categories. And at home, you can play a few rounds before you head out the door to another event, or you can keep gameplay going all night! In other words, if you’re with a group that’s not so conversational, a trivia night game will get everybody talking and engaged with each other.
They Stimulate Your Brain
The feeling of “brain rot” is not a fun one. If you’ve been scrolling on social media all day, binge watching a Netflix series, or simply feeling glued to your laptop or phone, a trivia night might be a great way to reset yourself and get your mind engaged again.
Trivia nights are often unplugged, a.k.a. participants aren’t allowed to get on their smart devices to prevent them looking up answers online. In other words, they’re healing for your brain. Gone is the opportunity to look up any piece of information with only a moment’s notice—now’s the time to get away from that screen and think for yourself!
They’re Great for Bonding
You know what they say, teamwork makes the dream work! But really, if you’re looking to get closer to a new group of friends and aren’t quite sure how, bring them to a trivia night. Especially if your group isn’t too conversational or you don’t know what to talk about with them, trivia gives you a fun experience to mutually enjoy. Plus, it’ll give you plenty to discuss and reminisce about the next time you see each other!
Who Trivia Nights Aren’t Right For
We’ve been over why we (and why, personally, I) love trivia nights, but just because we give them a glowing recommendation doesn’t mean they’ll be right for you. They’re not perfect for everyone nor for every possible context or setting. Read on, and if you identify with any of the categories below, perhaps reconsider or reschedule your planned trivia night.
For the Chatty Folks
If you’re looking for an opportunity to catch up with your friends in great detail, then maybe rethink trivia night. Trivia quizzes and games are excellent social endeavors, but ultimately, they aren’t conducive to side conversations. If every trivia question is preceded, followed, or interrupted by copious amounts of chatting, then the night will feel really (sometimes really, really, really) long. That can get frustrating, especially if there are some seriously invested trivia players present—not to mention if you spent a long time planning the game!
We get it—life is busy, and sometimes there isn’t enough time for a chatty hang out opportunity in addition to your trivia plans. So how about a social hour before or after your trivia night? Meet at home for a pre-game before heading to trivia night at the bar, or host at home and use trivia as an icebreaker before launching into everyday conversation. That way, players won’t feel compelled to interrupt gameplay with a chat session.
For the Uncompetitive
If you’re wary of friendly competition with your friends, then it’s best to forgo trivia night. While trivia nights usually don’t get too out of hand, there’s often an argumentative energy coursing through the gameplay of a quiz, so those who aren’t fans of getting a little competitive might not garner a lot of enjoyment from it. In other words, perhaps avoid trivia night when spending time with your new partner’s touchy family or that coworker of yours who’s all business and no play.
For the Too-Competitive
By the same token, a trivia night can become really miserable if a single uber-competitive player starts gloating. If you know that your uncle will get a little too loud when he gets a question right or that your childhood friend will be a sore loser, rethink the group you’re inviting to play. Trivia nights are a great setting to get competitive, but if there’s too much of that energy, more mild-mannered players may not have as good of a time.
If you’re not sure whether or not your friends will be too competitive to enjoy a trivia night, there’s still hope. You could always host a trial round of trivia with a certain group to find out whether or not all of the players will gel, and if one emerges as too competitive, you can cut the game off there by voting with a show of hands.
Thanks for reading through our trivia night primer. We hope our handy guide was able to help you determine if a trivia night is right for you. Are you new (or newer) to trivia nights? Let us know down in the comments how your first-ever trivia night went down!
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