Kory Kelley, Manager of Amherst Brewing Company talks about how Catch the Mania turned around a slow Tuesday night by tripling sales. Not only do the customers love it, so does the staff.
Posts Tagged ‘Catch The Mania’
Big Winners at the Brickhouse Pizza and Grill in Clifton Park, NY!
Posted: September 14, 2012
Woweeeee!! What a night at BrickHouse Pizza! Winning the Grand Prize of a 50 inch big screen TV was the Hounddogs! and winner of the DJ party was Sir Bud of Weiser (love that name!) Congrats! Great job to everyone, and know that a new contest starts next Wed for 12 weeks…..be sure to get in on that action!
How Can I Play The Embedded Music and Videos?
Posted: March 16, 2012
Catch The Mania is a Powerpoint presentation. It is designed to play across multiple formats and computers. However some computers have software that might be older, or hasn’t been updated and therefore doesn’t play the media files that are embedded in the presentation. If you have one of these set ups have no fear, there is a dynamic presentation designed specifically for you, read about it here.
If you aren’t able to play music and video files but want to here are some suggestions, each suggestion differs between Mac and PC.
For a PC
You may be able to download a free version of Powerpoint – this will allow you to take advantage of the full range of dynamic media contained in each presentation. The download is quick, it’s free and you don’t have to have Powerpoint to use it.
You can upgrade to Powerpoint 365, which may cost some money but you get a pretty powerful set of tools including Word, Excel and more included with a fully functioning version of Powerpoint.
For a Mac
Upgrade to Powerpoint 365 for Mac here or Keynote here. Keynote is a great alternative.
With Catch The Mania you can present either a Media or Non-Media show for your trivia night. Both are designed to be dynamic and engaging, and are the same presentation (just missing the audio round in the Non-media) We think you’re getting the full effect of our product when you are able to play the embedded music files, but it is not necessary for your success!
What Game File Do I Download From The Member Page?
Posted: March 16, 2012
Catch The Mania is designed to play across a wide range of formats and computer types. However, there are licenses that allow venues to play copyrighted music, so if the venue where you are hosting trivia doesn’t have these licenses, you may consider using the non-media file.
Inside the Catch The Mania Member page there are two different types of game files, “Media” and “No Media”. Each file is exactly the same except the “No Media” file is designed with no audio files.
Converters, Cords and Other stuff
Posted: February 7, 2012
Don’t sweat the small stuff. Catch The Mania is a great program for building business and for generating income for yourself. It’s designed to be simple, cost effective and easy to produce but with every great service based product there are a few things that can be done in preparation to ensure your success. One of these things is making sure you have all the right equipment and part of your equipment are the few adapters and cords that will help you to more easily connect from all types of computers to all types of TVs and projectors.
Take a look at the pictures to get a better feel and read the descriptions to see what each adapter does.
Outputs, Adapters, Converters and Cords For PC users:
PC’s generally have either an HDMI output or a VGA output, and some have both. This makes PC’s one step and one adapter easier than Macs. Here’s the difference between the PC outputs
–HDMI Output – this allows you to plug a straight HDMI cord from your PC into any TV or projector that has an HDMI input. HDMI is where video technology is going but the thing about it is that HDMI and VGA is only a one way connection, meaning that you can convert HDMI to VGA but you can’t convert VGA to HDMI. This means that having an HDMI output on your PC gives you the most flexibility because most TV’s accept HDMI and those that don’t usually accept VGA so all you need is an HDMI to VGA adapter and you can plug into 95% of the TV’s out there.
–HDMI to VGA Adapter – This allows you to convert any HDMI (digital signal) to VGA (analog signal). It’s great for making sure you can connect to any VGA TV or projector.
–VGA Output – Some PC’s have this output instead of HDMI, these are generally older PC’s and they work great but the only limitation is the TV or Projector you want to broadcast the presentation to, as long as you are connecting to a VGA input on the TV or Projector it’s a very simple, straightforward connection. All you need is a straight VGA to VGA cord, plug one end into your computer and the other end into the TV or Projector. The challenge with VGA comes as TV’s get cheaper and more and more do away with the VGA input in favor of HDMI. If you were going to buy a new computer today you would want to make sure it has HDMI output.
–VGA to HDMI Converter – If you have a PC with the VGA output but you need to plug into a TV or projector that only takes HDMI you can pick up a number of different converter boxes that will do the trick. They are relatively inexpensive and with them you will be able to cover 95% of all TV or Projectors.
Once you have the right adapters and converters it’s simply a matter of getting the right cords. Ideally if you carry a 20 foot HDMI cable and a 20 foot VGA cable you will be ready for anything.
Outputs, Adapters, Converters and Cords For Mac users:
Macs are great for audio/visual presentations but their hardware and software is generally proprietary meaning that if you want to connect to anything Non-Mac you will need some type of adapter.
The two main outputs are as follows (there are others but these two are the main outputs)
Mac Book (the white notebooks) – This is what a Mini-DVI (digital video) Out looks like on the white Macbooks.
Mac Book Pro (the silver notebooks) – This is what a Mini-Display Out looks like on the silver Macbook Pro. Notice the slot is smaller and in a different location from the white Macbook.
**NOTE** There is a difference between the older white Macbooks and the newer silver Macbook Pro’s. The older white laptops have what is called Mini-DVI adapters. The silver Pro’s have what is called Mini-Display Port. Check this link to really see the difference well explained.
Depending on which computer you have you will get the correct sized adapter. From there it’s a matter of just covering your bases, the same way as with a PC. Each Mac Mini DV Out has multiple ends to connect VGA, DVI, HDMI and more. If you want to cover 95% of your TV’s and Projectors simply get a Mini to VGA and a Mini to HDMI remember that depending on your Mac you will need the appropriate adapter, the Macbook White laptops are older and have bigger outputs and Macbook Pro Silver laptops have outputs that are smaller (See pics above). From there just plug the mini adapter into your Mac and then the VGA or HDMI cord into the adapter and run the other end to your TV or Projector. Click this link to see what adapters you need for your computer and to order.
The cables are no different for Mac or for PC.
What Kind of Computer do I Need
Posted: February 7, 2012
Catch The Mania is a Microsoft Power Point based presentation that is designed to play on any computer with the right software. What’s most important about the computer that you choose is reliability and the ability to play media files, like music or movie clips. If your computer can easily play music and movie clips, meaning they don’t skip or distort when you play them, you should be fine.
As far as other things to consider about your computer is the audio and video outputs. CTM is designed to be presented on a TV or Projector and therefore you need the ability to broadcast it from your computer to whatever devices you will be showing it on. The way to accomplish this is to check your computer for the following:
1. VGA output
2. HDMI output
3. Mini Output (Mac)
VGA output is most common on PC’s. You will see, either on the side or the back of your PC a port that looks like this. HDMI is the same, most common with PC’s you can look for a port that looks like this. With Macs it’s a little different. Most Macs have a Mini-Digital Out port and some are different than others. This is what a white Mac Book mini-DVI out looks like and this is what a silver Mac Book Pro mini-Display Port out looks like.
With the Macs you will need to get an adapter that will then connect you to the proper cord and proper input to the TV or projector
You can check the links in this article for more particulars but really what you need is the ability to play music and video and some kind of video output port. That’s it!
Let the show flow
Posted: January 31, 2012
A good friend and burgeoning awesome Catch The Mania host recently described to me a revelation he was having while doing CTM shows. He realized that he wasn’t the show! Sounds simple right? Well it’s a bit more depthy and an important distinction to make to optimize success.
Catch The Mania was designed to be super easy, super effective and interchangeable – meaning anyone can do it at any location without deterioration of the product – that is as long as the host realizes that the reason people come to Catch The Mania nights…actually more accurately, the reason YOU WANT people coming to Catch The Mania Trivia nights is because of the presentation itself. You want people to come to PLAY TRIVIA, you want people to come to PLAY THE BEST TRIVIA GAME AROUND.
So what happens if you kind of make yourself the show? Does this ever happen to you? I know it does to me and I consider myself to be a seasoned veteran. But sometimes you find yourself, for whatever reason, getting nervous or feeling good about talking on the mic, so good in fact that you just want to keep talking, maybe there’s the person who wants to talk back with you and you carry on a conversation that seems to be engaged but is really just you and another conversing over a mic while everyone else waits. Maybe you feel nervous and want to make jokes or divert from the presentation. Maybe you just like to hear your voice on the mic. Or maybe it’s something that is specific to you.
Unfortunately although sometimes it may feel good to indulge in your “Mic Power” there is very little benefit. In fact even in the best case scenario, say you are an accomplished presenter and very polished on the mic and very comfortable…if you begin to make yourself the show, more than the presentation itself, what you will create is a situation where you, personally, will be locked into that particular show because whenever someone else comes to fill in people will be so desirous of your “Way” that they will feel the night suffers when someone replaces you. Now this doesn’t mean don’t be professional or don’t have fun, it simply means allow the presentation to be the focus of the night. And on the other side of this, say your not accomplished, just starting, nervous and you talk or make yourself bigger than the show – it can come off as grandstanding or not genuine and will be a turn off to people.
Remember, people come to play trivia. They make a night of it. They are not coming to see you, although they may enjoy your style, they are coming and you want them to come to experience Catch The Mania Trivia, the best of all trivia games. The true professional will create a night that does not suffer when he or she is not presenting it! So present well and let the presentation speak for itself – that’s what it’s designed to do. Have fun.
What hardware do I need?
Posted: January 6, 2012
What hardware do I need to be a CTM host?
We’ve designed Catch The Mania Trivia to be simple and easily accesible. Like with every great service base product there is an initial investment of time and money but you don’t need much; if you want to be able to a Catch The Mania Trivia night anywhere that has a TV you will need the following equipment.
Generic List
- Self Powered Speaker
- 3 Channel Mixer (1 mic and 2 line inputs)
- Microphone and Cable
- Assorted patch cords
- HDMI cable or VGA cable
- Computer
- Adapters for your computer
- Mp3 player, iPod or iPhone (if you aren’t going to use your computer to play music)
- Bag for your computer, mixer, cords, pens, score sheets ++
- Bag for speaker
- Tripod to mount speaker
Check out this gallery with all the equipment I use (as listed above). For a larger picture, click on the image.
Check out the pics to get a detailed feel for what the equipment looks like. As with all technology you can really spend as much as you want on things but you also don’t have to spend a lot to be up and running. In fact for a basic system (not including the computer) you can be up and running for between $500 and $750. With one Catch The Mania gig paying you can be paid back in less than 8 weeks!
Keep in mind that you may want to start small and simple while you are getting your feet wet. Once you get the feel for the program and people begin asking you to do Catch The Mania for them you will have time to upgrade your system. One of the things I’ve found very useful is as I upgrade I sell my used and well taken care of equipment to the hosts I am training.
Also you are essentially purchasing the ability to play amplified and mixed music and there are other opportunities to make money with a set up like that. For that reason some people like to invest a little more upfront and get a more solid system. For between $1,000 and $1,500 you can be well equipped to handle just about any small event.
To see what Software you need, click here.
Have fun with this an as always if you have any questions let us know.
2012 is the Year to Catch The Mania!
Posted: January 1, 2012
There has not been a way to present an exciting, professional, engaging, dynamic and profitable night at your location without shelling out $100, $200, $300 and trusting someone who’s not part of your business to do a good job…UNTIL NOW.
Catch The Mania helps you to make “Monday the New Friday” for no more than $50 per week. That’s right $50. Would you pay $50 per week to double your sales on a slow night? What if you tripled them? How about quadruple or more? With Catch The Mania’s business building program those types of increases are not only possible they are actually happening now at more than 20 locations.
Don’t wait. Everything you need to start next week is right here. Sign up today and start bringing in more business for less money in the most professional way. Catch The Mania has been developed for you…let us show you how!