Time Out Interview - Paul Sinha

Time Out have an excellent interview with The Chase quizzer Paul Sinha. You can find it HERE

K2 Promotions

I often get messages and emails asking me for recommendations of sites to use for the purposes of buying quiz questions. Over the past year I have recommended a number of sites and would like to add to that list today by recommending K2 promotions as a trustworthy, reliable and quality site on which to purchase questions. You can find the website HERE

What is K2 all about?

What better way than using the blurb from their own site...

"http://k2pubquizzes.co.uk/wp-content/uploads//k2-man-184x300.gif


"Tired setting up your own pub quiz?
Did it take ages?
Tired of trying to think of the last few questions?
Photocopying those extra few sheets at the last minute?
Received just another set of questions and answers?
Questions were too easy, hard or obscure?
Want a pub quiz but are unsure where to start?"


The whole motto of the company is to ensure users get a quiz tailored to them and thats refreshing to see. So many sites sell questions in bulk but do not take into account the differences we all know that exist between pub quiz to pub quiz. A set of questions the may go down well in one quiz, could bomb in another and vice versa. K2 recognise the variation within the pub quiz scene and from what I have experience do their best to ensure the punter gets the right questions for them.

Questions, answer sheets, posters....you name it they have it covered and all at very reasonable prices. You pay for what you get essentially and here with K2 you get good value quizzes that are smart and professional.

There is a free sample online if you want to test out the questions and they are good quality teasing and fresh questions. Not littered with chestnuts and mistakes, just solid brainteasers.

The site is professional, the staff have been very friendly and helpful and the company has build a good reputation. So whether you are after a new way of setting a quiz, buying some extra questions to test yourself or looking to move away from the likes of Redtooth, then K2 offer a professional alternative with good solid question writing and an emphasis on making the right quiz for you.


The website is HERE

Wiped out by a wrong question…

It happens to be that at the quiz I mentioned that was blighted by cheating yesterday is the subject of this post. Despite the quiz being hard we had a better week than usual scoring 51 points. The cheats obviously googled their way to 57-58 to take the top 3 but I was the cause of us being wiped out.

The wipeout round was going well…7 definite answers but one was causing us problems. It was something along the lines of “Mary King and whom are the only two women to have competed in 6 Olympic Games?”

Immediately the name Allison Williamson came into my head. I knew the answer and in fact thing I asked it as one of my questions on this blog before! Because I had such a strong conviction I did not doubt it regardless of everyone else in the team seemingly raising eyebrows and not wanting to tell me that they didn’t feel confident putting it.

Sheet came back….The answer wiped us out. We lost what should have been 7-8 points and a probable win. In the back of my mind I knew I was right but just accepted that perhaps I was wrong. The answer given was Tessa Sanderson. 

As soon as I got chance the next day I researched it and sure enough I was right. Allison Williamson was not a wrong answer, the question was horrible and I have not even researched to see if there are indeed more than those three who have been at 6 or more. It was either badly researched or out of date. Either way it did not strike me in the quiz how right I was and thus walked away. I know the quizmaster and have informed him in a playful manner but still very annoying!

Quiz Advice....

In the past week I have a had a few emails asking if I would do a tips list of some sort on how to be a good quizzer. Also, someone seemed to have me confused with a Mastermind contender this year and wanted some advice on getting on that show. To clear that up, I have not been on Mastermind, in fact I am still waiting my TV debut. My Mastermind audition this year was seemingly unsuccessful.

Anyway, regarding the advice I am not in any real position to give it as there are quizzers out there with far greater knowledge and far wider experience. One such quizzer is David Clark (Mastermind winner) and one of the best sources for advice is his e-book "Be a Quiz Winner". You don;t even need a Kindle to read it as if you download the free software you can read in on laptops and mobiles etc.

I have recommended it before but here is the link again...

Olympic Quiz 4

Another set of questions about the events of the past few days. Answers in the comment box as usual...


1. Andy Murray plays in the mixed doubles final this afternoon with whom by his side?

2. Which two players missed penalties in Team GB’s Olympic football match with Korea, which they lost on a shootout?

3. Which 100m sprinter was sent home from the Olympic Games for “visiting” his wide in a nearby hotel?

4. Jessica Ennis performed so well in which event during the Heptathlon to the point that she would have won individual gold in that event in Beijing had she competed?

5. In what class of sailing has Ben Ainslie been competing?

6. Which sport made its Olympic debut on the second Sunday?

7. Which male cyclist is representing GB in the Velodrome in the Omnium event?

8. Vollmer and Schmiddt were part of a relay team that won gold in the swimming pool. What country do they represent?

9. Hannah Starling represented Team GB in what sport?

10. Michael Phelps finished the games as the most successful Olympian of all time. How many golds has he won over the course of his career?

11. Who retained her 100m sprint title shortly after Mo Farah’s victory in the 10,000m?

12. Name the junior Athlete who was the second highest Briton behind Jessica Ennis in the Heptathlon?

Does the Quizmasters Setting Ability Influence Cheating?

I have discussed the issue of cheating in pub quizzes on several occasions in this blog but after attending a quiz this week in which cheating is usually rampant, it did make me think of one aspect…..Can the quizzes with rampant  cheating be blamed on the quizmasters question setting ability?

The quiz in question is not so much hard in the sense of tough teasing questions, but it usually is a case of obscure questions on topics the general pub goer would not care about outside of the quiz. The questions in my view are pitched at a level totally averse to what is needed in the pub. Even the current affairs round is tough with much more than browsing the daily papers needed. It contains the hardest picture quiz I have known too!

This leads me to think, maybe just maybe, cheating in this quiz doesn’t just happen because teams want to win…..they maybe just don’t want to look stupid. It’s a busy quiz with regular teams galore but cheating is rampant. Every team, bar mine, pretty much cheats and the winner is always the person who has been able to google most effectively. But I think part of this may be due to the fact that the questions are too hard for the setting.

I am not in anyway being arrogant or disrespecting anyone involved in the quiz. Heck, the questions are often too hard for me and combined with the cheating we are rarely do very well. We compete against our score from previous weeks and as mentioned in a previous post this is more of a social quiz for me.

Because the questions are hard and obscure for 90% of the time, this means people worry about low low points. Sometimes a really low score will come in, 15/65 etc which you know is at least genuine but most teams don’t want that sort of score being read out so can only cheat to boost their score.

I heard the team on the next table last week discuss who was going to google what on the break, and their only aim was to make sure they got “about 40” so they won’t  last. 40 never wins, its around 20 points below the usual winning score, but 40 also is never last. So case in point, this team were cheating not to win but to avoid a low score….if the questions were easier and more appropriate, maybe they would not cheat!

The quizmaster is up against it in any quiz, anywhere in the country when it comes to facing up to and dealing with cheaters but at the end of the day the scenario above occurs elsewhere. Cheating will always happen, but maybe just maybe, the quizmasters ability to set an appropriate set of questions plays a bigger role than anything else!

Jackpot Joy

Jackpots have became a key attraction at many quizzes up and down the country. The Jackpot, with the amount available, always tend to be advertised on the posters and boards for the quiz and I am sure that the big money on offer pulls in customers.

Having played in various types of Jackpot rounds I am keen to know what types of rounds people prefer and also for any quizmasters out there what type you use and find most popular?

The main few I have come across are

1) The Wild Guess - This usually involves paying a certain amount for a guess at a question that nobody will really know. In a quiz I used to go to people would come in just to play this kind of round and it really made the round wide open as the question was often something everybody in the pub would be guessing at. Of course, educated guesses/wild guesses are still just guesses so there is some luck involved. Questions include things like "How many episodes of Stars in Their Eyes were ever made?".

The closest wins which means jackpots are being given away every week and to be done properly the quizmaster has to give only a short time to give an answer to avoid cheating.

I like this sort of Jackpot, it makes everyone feel involved, pulls in punters on quiz night and gets you using what knowledge you can to make a guess at something you would never imagine having to answer. Hard to won but fun!


2) The Knowledge - Sorry for the bad title. But one or two quizzes I go to have Jackpots that have tough questions but everyone gets a guess. The difference here being the questions are ones you may know (i.e. dates of deaths, obscure place names and locations etc). Things you may actually have come across and can win without having to guess.

Usually Quizmasters may only accept one winning answer...so if two teams get it it rolls over etc.

Again I like this style but it doesn't seem as popular. Whereas a Wild Guess question pulls in extra punters I have found this sort of Jackpot may not even retain the punters in the normal quiz.

I prefer this sort of Jackpot though mainly because if something I have worked hard to learn comes out then it gives me a chance. It also works for the pub in getting easy roll over jackpots and then getting to large amounts they can advertise.

One quiz I go to will let it roll for a while then have one week where they will take a "Wild Guess" question with a certain winner (whoever is closer).

3) The Raffle - This involves you buying a raffle ticket and answering a question if your number comes out for the Jackpot. Very simple, but very effective. This is a different kind of jackpot to the above two as it means not everyone is involved in the question.

In a local quiz my friend runs, he uses this style and it works a treat. The Jackpot builds and builds and this attracts more players. The questions he uses are tough questions but ones that experienced quizzers would enjoy trying out. He uses 5 questions and you pick an envelope so to speak to decide which question you tackle. The first person plays for the full jackpot, if they fail another draw and attempt for a smaller amount and so on for a third.

This sounds like it may not be appealing but it really works. The whole pub listens in on the questions with groans, cries of "I would have got that", players knowing the questions they didnt pick etc. Really good banter and atmosphere.

I think this works a treat but I still prefer actually being involved!

Mastermind Returns and Website Update

It does not seem like two minute until Gary Grant stormed to victory in the last series of Mastermind but already it is time for the new series which begins this Friday. I did apply this year and had an audition but hear nothing so I will have to wait until next year.

Either way its fantastic to have it back and I look forward to the series!#

On another note the Mastermind team seem to have updated their website with a new look, some behind the scenes video clips, an "interesting" round of the week feature and some more information on the show.

Only Connect Returns!

Finally....

Only Connect, perhaps the finest quiz show on TV, returns to BBC Four for the next series on Monday August 27th. Roll on!

Quizzer - New App

Being an iphone user, I am always on the look out for good apps relating to quizzing. I used to post about them more often but the sheer amount I try out (most of which are deleted after one play) it would be very time consuming so now I am restricting myself to mentioning only the best of the Quiz Apps around for iphone.

Quizzer is a Free app on iphone and soon to be on Android that is built around quizzing against friends and random opponents. Similar in style to SongPop (where by you log on, start a game and can jump in and out of games as you wait for opponents to play. Each game has a target score which you have to reach by answering multiple choice questions. Bonuses are awarded for streaks etc and both players face the same questions!

One trouble a lot of apps have that aim to pitch players against each other is a lack of players online. Quizzer does not suffer from this. I logged on last night and within seconds was involved in several games and every time I logged on over the course of the night players were there to play. It does get addictive....

The questions are the main thing in any quiz game and Quizzer does not disappoint. Quizzer boasts an impressive database of questions with a range of difficulty but none too east. I certainly learned a thing or two in the few games I played. The questions are well written, precise and flow well.

All in all I would recommend Quizzer to anyone. After all its free and there is no harm in giving it a try!

Contestant Call - Catchphrase

I will copy and paste the call for contestants for the new series of Catchphrase, well a pilot of it. I am glad to see this show back, cannot make the pilot but I will be applying for the full show for sure!

"TV CONTESTANTS WANTED FOR A PILOT OF THE CLASSIC GAME SHOW CATCHPHRASE!

Are you outgoing with a big personality and up for a fun day out? If you think you could ‘Say What You See’ in front of a live studio audience then we want to hear from you.

We need contestants for a pilot, so if you love Catchphrase, you’re up for a laugh and interested in finding out more, please get in touch.

Email: catchphrase@stv.tv

Application deadline is 15th August 2012 but do apply ASAP.

The Pilot will take place in London and contestants must be available on 27th August (Bank Holiday Monday). "

Book Recommendation - Brewers Dictionary of Phrase and Fable

My Recommendation of essential reference books this week, for quizzing purposes of course, is one I am sure everyone is familiar with. This edition is the 18th in a series of books that continue to get better and better.

What is it? Well essentially its a little bit of everything. Ideal fodder for the quizzer's curious mind and one of those books that you will peak into for one reference and may emerge some hours later!

Quizzes in my work.... surprised me!

I have not often discussed my job on here but to make this post make sense I will have to mention a little of what I do. Basically, I work for a training company that aims to help people back into work by raising key employability skills. I am reluctant to describe myself as a teacher but my role involves taking small groups of up to 10 in a classroom based scenario.

Dealing with adult learners of mixed ages and abilities can be hard. Very hard at times! It is a challenge finding additional activities to engage the group and get people working together. For the work and content I deliver everyone in the class needs to be comfortable and in good communication. After all confidence is one of the main issues I have to work on with my learners!

I have always been reluctant to use quizzes for a few reasons.

A) I tended to feel that I should not involve something that I enjoy because my view of how beneficial it could be is clouded.

B) I was unsure of the reaction of people to a quiz of any sort.

C) I am rubbish at pitching difficulty of questions and did not want anybody to feel daft in front of others....that would have the opposite effect of what was intended.

But when putting together some new lesson plans I decided to run with it. A general knowledge quiz perhaps was not the best start so I opted for something more simple. A TV Themes Quiz I used from Youtube.

It worked wonderfully, brought people together, got the quiet learners talking and got everybody laughing and involved. I now use this as one of the first activities when I get a new group.

I noticed how much the groups were enjoying the quiz so put together a picture quiz....again it went down well. It had the effect of getting people talking and working together. It is much easier to teach the content I do when everyone is comfortable and alert and these quizzes can do this.

I have since started to use general knowledge quizzes, streaming from the pub quiz dvd's too as well as my own and its been a fantastic response. Feedback always mentioned how much they enjoy them!

Testing knowledge and quizzing therefore has now worked its way into my work life and I really enjoy seeing other people tackle the quizzes. People who would not normally quiz in anyway working together to work out answers and remember information.

As a team building device it has worked wonderfully!

Olympic Quiz 3

Its been a few days since the last Olympic Quiz, so here are ten questions about the events of the past few days at London 2012. Answers to the quiz as usual can be found in the answer box...........

1. Wiggins won the time trial, Froome won bronze…but who was second in that race?

2. At what event, specifically, did Michael Jamieson win his swimming silver medal?

3. Of the 19 Olympic medals Phelps has won, as of Wednesday night, how many have been gold?

4. Which British Athlete was declared fit for her 3000m Olympic Steeplechase event this week despite being hit by a car on her final training run?

5. Steve Grotowski has been representing GB this week at which Olympic sport?

6. To the nearest ten thousand, how many people attended the GB vs Brazil Womens Football match which broke UK attendance records this week?

7. Which GB team made Olympic history with a victory over Algeria?

8. Who scored the winning goal in the men’s football as Team GB beat Uruguay to advance to the quarter finals?

9. Yu Yang quit which sport after being disqualified from the Olympics amidst much controversy this week?

10. What was the name of Zara Phillips horse which she rode to aid GB to silver medal in the Equestrian this week?

Amusing.....

Well, it is not often that I look at the stats for this blog (number of views, sources, keywords etc) but every now and then I have a check. They are quite detailed and give you all sorts of information. Anyone who uses this to run a blog will testify that I am sure.

Anyway over the last few weeks I have noticed an interesting theme occurring which I have found. On the main quiz nights which are Sundays and Thursdays there is a slight spike in viewers searching for certain terms on google that lead here.

Namely (based on this week)...

"Redtooth answers 29th July"
"Who is red tooth picture 6 this week?"
"Red tooth object answers"
"Red tooth connection answers"
"Red tooth smart ass quiz answers july 2012"
"red tooth answer database"
"fun fortunes quiz top 5 things to sit on"


The list could go on, and guess what? Most of them appear to be from Android or Safari browsers....hence phones.

I find it amusing and partially glad that my blog is not helping people in their cheating quest.