Quiz night guide
How to Host a Quiz Night: A Step-by-Step Guide
Hosting a quiz night does not have to be stressful. You do not need a printed question pack, a microphone, or any specialist equipment. All you need is a phone with Shalose loaded, a few willing teams, and this guide. Whether it is a casual gathering at home or a fundraiser at the local pub, the steps are the same.
What You Will Need
- A phone or tablet with Shalose open in the browser — free, no sign-up
- Teams of two to five players each
- Pen and paper for teams to write down their answers
- A tiebreaker question prepared in advance (just in case)
- Optional: small prizes for the winning team
Step-by-Step Guide
Choose your format
Shalose offers two modes. Teams mode is the classic pub quiz format: players compete for points and you crown a winner at the end. Quickfire mode is better for relaxed evenings where everyone works through questions together with no scores or pressure. For a proper quiz night, choose Teams mode.
Pick your categories
Select three to six topics from the twelve available. Aim for variety: a knowledge round (General Knowledge or History), a pop culture round (Film & TV or Music), and a specialist round (Sport or Food & Drink). This gives every player at least one category where they have an edge.
Form teams and choose names
Aim for two to five players per team. Give teams a few minutes to choose their team name before starting — it sets the mood and gets people invested. Shalose supports up to four teams in the built-in scorecard.
Run the quiz
The quizmaster holds the device and reads each question aloud. Set the timer to 30 seconds per question — enough time for teams to discuss without dragging. Once time is up, teams commit to their written answer. Tap Flip to reveal the correct answer.
Award points and keep score
Tap the winning team's name to award points. Shalose tracks the running total automatically and shows a live mini-leaderboard after each question. Announce scores aloud after each category round to build tension.
Announce the winner
At the end, Shalose displays the full leaderboard and announces the winning team. Announce results with ceremony — even last place deserves a round of applause. For a tied result, bring out your tiebreaker: a closest-wins number question.
Expert Tips for a Brilliant Quiz Night
- Structure rounds well. Ten questions per round with a short break between rounds keeps energy high and gives people time to get drinks. Three or four rounds of ten questions is the ideal format for most home quiz nights.
- Start easy, build to hard. Beginning each round with straightforward questions gives everyone confidence and gets the room engaged. Save the hardest questions for the end of each round when the pressure is highest.
- Vary question types. Mix multiple choice, true/false and open answers. Multiple choice is faster and reduces arguments; open answers create more debate and drama.
- Never repeat an answer mid-quiz. If a team asks to hear the question again, read it once more but never confirm or deny guesses. This keeps it fair and prevents eavesdropping between teams.
- Keep the atmosphere light. Quiz nights are social events first. If a team gets a difficult run of questions, a brief joke or comment from the quizmaster keeps spirits up.
- Have a written tiebreaker ready. A closest-wins number question (population, year, distance) is ideal. Write it down before the quiz so you do not scramble for one at the end.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people do you need for a quiz night?
A quiz works with as few as four people split into two teams of two. The sweet spot is eight to twenty players across three or four teams. Above twenty, split into more teams and keep score separately on a whiteboard.
Do I need prizes?
Prizes are optional but add to the occasion. They do not have to be expensive — a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates, or simply the bragging rights are often enough to make the winning feel worthwhile.
How long should each question stay on screen?
Read the question aloud once, then once more slowly. Give teams 20 to 30 seconds to discuss. The built-in 30-second timer in Shalose keeps things consistent and stops teams agonising over answers.
What is the best number of questions for a quiz night?
For a casual home quiz night, 30 to 40 questions across three or four categories takes around 45 to 60 minutes including breaks. Pub quiz events typically run 50 to 60 questions across five or six rounds for a 90-minute session.
Can I host a quiz night without a projector?
Yes. The quizmaster reads questions from their own screen and reads them aloud. Teams write answers on paper. No projector, audio system or printed sheets are needed.