Quiz Night SOP: A Staff Guide for Setup & Hosting

Quiz Night SOP: A Staff Guide for Setup & Hosting

Apr 14, 2025

Purpose: This SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) ensures your team consistently delivers fun, engaging, and well-run quiz nights that boost customer retention and spend.


Running a quiz night at your venue? Whether you're a manager, bartender, or host, nothing increases midweek revenue and customer loyalty quite like a smooth, high-energy pub quiz. But behind every legendary quiz night is a solid system that keeps things running like clockwork.
This staff SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) breaks down everything your team needs to do before, during, and after your quiz — so you deliver the kind of experience that keeps customers coming back, week after week.

🔧 Pre-Event Checklist

2–3 Days Before

  • ✅ Promote the event on social media using SmartPubTools’ AI Post Generator
  • ✅ Update your website or events board
  • ✅ Print or place up-to-date posters (SmartPubTools includes printable templates)
  • ✅ Prepare quiz materials — answer sheets, devices, chargers
  • ✅ Check prizes: drinks, food vouchers, bar merch, etc.

Day of Event (Before Opening)

  • ✅ Set up MC mic and speakers if used
  • ✅ Place signage at key points (entrance, bar, tables)
  • ✅ Load SmartPubTools' quiz rounds
  • ✅ Print any required sheets or display QR codes
  • ✅ Confirm tonight’s host is trained and confident

1 Hour Before: Staff Briefing

  • ✅ Walk through tonight’s format and schedule
  • ✅ Assign roles (host, answer checker, prize manager)
  • ✅ Remind staff to upsell any quiz-only specials
  • ✅ Review emergency plan and customer dispute protocol

🎤 During the Quiz

MC Duties

  • Welcome guests with personality and banter (use SmartPubTools’ Banter Line Generator!)
  • Explain rules clearly
  • Keep energy high and rounds moving (10 min max each)
  • Interact with teams — shout out regulars!
  • Promote mid-quiz specials

Bar/Support Staff Duties

  • Deliver food/drinks discreetly during rounds
  • Collect answer sheets or monitor digital responses
  • Handle disputes with diplomacy
  • Keep the vibe fun, fair, and inclusive

🏁 After the Quiz

Winners & Wrap-Up

  • Announce scores and winners confidently
  • Hand out prizes — snap photos for social media
  • Thank all teams and invite them to next week’s quiz
  • Encourage VIP Club signups or newsletter opt-ins

Staff Close-Down

  • Clear and tidy quiz materials
  • Log key details in event notes:
  • Number of teams
  • Popular rounds or drinks
  • Any challenges or feedback

📌 Pro Tips for a Standout Night

  • Use the AI Quiz Generator to prep your entire quiz in under 5 minutes
  • Offer a loyalty card or leaderboard to keep teams coming back
  • Add a bonus prize for best team name (or worst answer!)
  • Encourage photo-sharing by creating an Instagrammable moment

🧰 Get the Tools to Automate the Workload

No time to prep the rounds, posters, or promo copy?

🛠 SmartPubTools gives you:

  • AI-written quiz rounds
  • Ready-to-go social media posts
  • Printable answer sheets
  • Event promo captions
  • Banter scripts for your MC

🎯 Build your next quiz night in under 5 minutes — and make it look like you spent all week on it.

🔗 Related Resources: