SQ Host Interview: Ben Howarth

This week we head all the way up to the Wirral and talk to host, Ben Howarth.

Name? (and company you operate for if you do)

Ben Howarth

Where do you live?

Wirral

Which venues do you host quizzes at?

Arrowe Park Hotel, Kings Arms

How long have you been hosting quizzes?

Over 4 years

How long have you been using the SpeedQuizzing software?

Over 2 years

Favourite Quiz team name?

Quiz Akabusi

Which of your venues is the most popular?

Arrowe Park

Which of your venues is the rowdiest / best atmosphere?

They are both the same great banter to be had in both venues

If you could host a quiz anywhere where would it be?

Some place hot and sunny, so it can be done outside

What’s your favourite thing about SpeedQuizzing?

The Banter you can have between you and the teams, as the revealing of the answer straight away lets me able to pick up on stupid answers people put and if they seem to be up for a laugh I will make a point of their stupid answer

Do you use any unique rounds / ideas / features of your own or do you just stick to the SpeedQuizzing format?

In the last round I deploy evil mode but also I say thy lose 10 points if they get they don’t answer, this does lead to some big swings in the leaderboard on the last round, plus I hide the scoreboard so people can’t keep track.

I also have L plates that I hang around people necks for stupid answers and a chair of shame as well.

I have also been known to award bonus points for doing shots of ghost chilli sauce (when the pub launched a new menu) and also in a previous venue i had the teams up twerking on the pool tables for bonus points.

Any tips for people wanting to host quizzes?

Just embrace the concept and have fun with it, make sure you have the personality to stage presence to take the quiz and run with it, as with this kind of quiz you can’t hide behind your table and read out the questions, get involved with it and have a laugh.