Quiz night checklist

Everything to remember for a smooth pub quiz, from a week before to the last orders. Tick things off as you go: your ticks are kept on this device. Or print it and use a pen.

Print the checklist

A week before

Choose the date, start time and how many rounds (four to eight rounds of ten questions fill about two hours).
Pick or build the quiz, including a picture or handout round and a tie-breaker.
Read every question aloud once: check the answers, the spelling of names and anything that may be out of date.
Decide the prizes (and a booby prize for last place).
Put up a poster and tell regulars: date, time, team size and entry fee.

The day before

Print the questions for yourself, the answer sheets for the teams and any handouts (one per team, plus spares).
Print a separate answer list for marking.
Charge the microphone, speaker, laptop or phone, and any screen or projector.
Test the music round or sound clips at the volume you will use.
Pack pens, a stapler, paper clips, a score sheet and a calculator.

On the night, before the start

Arrive early, set up the microphone and check that the back of the room can hear you.
Put answer sheets, pens and handouts on every table.
Ask teams for their team names and write them on the score sheet.
Explain the rules: no phones, how many people per team, jokers and how disputes are decided.
Have a glass of water within reach.

During the quiz

Read each question twice, slowly, and say the question number every time.
Swap answer sheets between teams for marking, or collect them after each round.
Read out the scores after every round or two, to keep the room interested.
Keep a note of any question that was disputed, and why.
Use the tie-breaker if two teams finish level.

Afterwards

Announce the winners, hand out the prizes and thank everyone (and the bar staff).
Collect the answer sheets and pens.
Note what worked well and what did not, for next time.
Tell everyone the date of the next quiz.

More tips in How to present a pub quiz. Need a tie-breaker? See the tie-breakers.