The perfect guide to hosting a quiz night

Try your hand at becoming a game show host and show your friends a good time in the process. To host a good quiz night, you need to do more than shout out a few questions. Here are some tips to get you started.

The goal for a quiz night is to get your friends together for a little friendly competition and to have a great time. Here are some tips to set up a great quiz night.

• Get your questions from an impeccable source. Check all facts if you're writing them yourself, and make sure that there's only one possible correct answer. So if the question is, "In what year did 'Rock Around the Clock' reach number one in the charts?" specify whether you mean the charts in Canada, the US, the UK or some other country.
• Don't make the quiz too long. Try eight sets of 10 questions — plus perhaps a picture round or two that teams can work on at their tables.
• Get the technical side set up well in advance. Designate a technically savvy helper to test and operate the sound system, the overhead projector and the electronic scoresheet.
• Have at least two other helpers on hand to do the marking and collate the scores.
• Practice reading the questions so that you're aware of awkward turns of phrase. Check the pronunciation of any obscure words or names.
• On the night, read each question twice, with a gap of, say, 30 seconds. Don't rush; discussing possible answers is the bit participants love.
• Speak with authority, and don't be put off by hecklers or know-it-alls. Your decision is final. At the same time, don't terrorize the participants; you are a quizmaster, not a headmaster, and everyone is there to have fun.
• If the answer to a question appears to be wrong, declare that question void so that no points are scored. Explain that this is the fairest way to proceed, and apologize graciously.
• Make a bit of a show of announcing the winners and presenting the prize.

Of course, these quiz nights are meant to be fun. Feel free to add in your own unique ideas and make the game your own. "Inside jokes" are always a favourite for groups of friends. Keep it light-hearted and everyone will have a great time!