How to organize

Trivia events continue to be popular for all ages, and they are great ways to add to a community event and raise funds to help those with multiple sclerosis.

A trivia event is one of the easier "fun" fundraising events to organize. The format and questions can easily be created to fit the audience and time allowed for the event.

I want to organize a QuizMS event

Follow this easy how-to guide to use as a framework as the organizer of this event:

• Define your intended audience for your QuizMS event. For the purpose of this how-to guide, we will use the model for a community group. Identify the location date and time for the event. This is probably where this community group meets on a regular basis. Get permission from the owner of the event location as necessary.
• Considering your audience and the time you plan to allow for the event, establish a format for the event. Using our community group model, an evening event lasting not more than 3 hours is typical for 10 rounds of 10 questions with an additional "rolling questions and double points" round, if you choose.
• A typical team size is not more than four players. The number of teams should only be limited by the space available at the event location.
• At the start of the event, each team will have a list of the categories of the 10 rounds of questions that will be asked. Here are some examples:
  1. General Knowledge
  2. Geography
  3. History
  4. Current Events
  5. Television
  6. Film
  7. Science
  8. Business
  9. Sports
  10. Music
• Again, these are just basic examples; you may create any type of category to fit your topics of choice.  You may elect to be more specific on your questions and make the list of rounds more cryptic.  For example, a historical round focused on Past Presidents could be titled "Inside the Oval Office."
• If you are creating your own Quiz-MS questions - and many "question masters" thoroughly enjoy this challenge - double check your answers as you develop your questions.
• Have an MSAA connection; for example, a science round may include questions on multiple sclerosis and the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America.
• Before each round, the teams can elect to "double their points" before hearing the questions. Teams may only elect this option once.
• A rolling question can also be given out at the start of Round 1 for the teams to work on up until round 10. This could be, for example, a map of Europe where teams have to name each country or a list of corporate logos where the teams have to name which company uses which logo. There should be between 25 to 50 answers, enough for the rolling question to make a significant difference on the scoring. Teams may not elect for double points on the rolling question.

Administrative Issues

• Funds should be raised by entry fees from each team for the event. You may wish to include some type of simple food to be available during the mid-evening as part of the entry fee. Additional donations should also be encouraged.
• Marketing and promotion of the event is important to the audience participating. Encourage the teams to give themselves names rather than Table 1, Table 2, etc.
• Pre-registration is helpful to you as an organizer, although expect people to turn-up and register on the day of the event.
• Recruit a volunteer to assist with keeping score during the game. At the end of each round, ask the tables to switch their answer cards. At the end of giving all the answers, the cards are switched back and you ask each team in turn to call out their score. It is helpful if you have a large flip chart or blackboard to display a running tally of all the scores.
• Prizes should be modest and limited to the winners - first, second overall, and third overall.  A nice idea is to have a "funny" award, such as a "wooden spoon award" for the team with the lowest score.

General Timeline
6 weeks to go:
Confirm the venue, date, and time
Start promoting the event to your audience

4 weeks to go:
Start developing the questions and answers

2 weeks to go:
Increase the promotion and encourage advance registrations

Day of event:
Have two volunteers to work with you - one to help with scoring, one to help with registrations

4 weeks after the event:
Ensure all funds raised are collected and accounted for
**Contact MSAA to arrange for the return of the funds at (800) 532-7667, extension 117**

Other related links

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