You’ve done the work, you’ve invested the money, you have the equipment…you’ve got your FIRST SHOW coming up.  How do you prepare?

The first show, in fact the first 8-or-so shows are very important to the success of your Catch The Mania night.  As with any consistent night, it takes some time to build up a base, but once you do, it’s yours forever.  Here are some tips for preparing for your first show:

• Watch the tutorial videos.  Even if you think you can do everything you need to do, back that knowledge up by watching the short, informational videos.  They are all available within our Quick Start Guide.
• Do a dry run before the show at your house to make sure everything works (run through the entire presentation with your mic plugged in, your music playing and your computer hooked up to a TV screen)
• Gather all your support material like scoresheets, pens and your Q&A answer key
• Work on your Scripts live on the mic
• Make a music playlist that lasts at least 2.5 hours (this gives you time in case you run late or start early).  Having a good playlist will enhance the night, creating the atmosphere that you want.
• Show up to the gig at least an hour early, plug everything in and test the presentation before people arrive – this can also be a great way to introduce yourself and Catch The Mania to people who are there early
• Make sure you get your prizes lined up before you start
• Get the names of all the servers and bartenders who are working so you can give them shout outs and encourage tipping
• Lay out all your scoresheets and pens
• Greet people at their table even if they are not there for Trivia, encourage them to play (if they’re hesitant, a good strategy is to just leave a set of answer sheets with them…let them know it’s free to play, and they can join in if they’d like.  Many teams end up playing when the answer sheets are available.)
• Start on time

Preparation is a very important aspect of any successful venture.  Remember if you get this gig going it’s going to provide consistent, reliable income for years so invest the small amount of time necessary to make sure you are ready to go when it’s start time.