# How to prepare for trivia show? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 7, 2013, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-prepare-for-trivia-show/660361 "2013-06-07T06:23:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![midnight-dreary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@midnight-dreary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/midnight-dreary)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-prepare-for-trivia-show/660361/1 "2013-06-07T06:23:23Z")
I applied for a trivia game show a few months ago and I assumed I just didn’t make the cut. But I got a email yesterday to invite me to the next round of auditions. Now, I’m kinda freaking out, trying to find a way to prepare myself. This show isn’t too hard, and answering at home I seem to do well, and I nearly got 100% on their very short application quiz, but never hurts to be prepared, right? I’m thinking about watching the show, making note of both which categories seem to come up more often, and of which categories I do not do well in, but other then that, I have no idea what to do! any tips? ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-prepare-for-trivia-show/660361/2 "2013-06-07T06:46:23Z")
I used to join them. In the days before computers, one categorizes painstakingly. Get an altas for place names and capitals, almanacs for recent major events and milestones, specialized publications for things like current heads of state, their cabinets. Try to memorize the names of all US presidents in the right sequence. Categorize history and go back, one century at a time. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-prepare-for-trivia-show/660361/3 "2013-06-07T06:52:21Z")
Yes, watch the show and learn its mechanics. Try finding a bar that hosts trivia contests and join that, to get practice being on the spot and answering in a public forum. Good luck, and have fun! ---
**Author:** ![midnight-dreary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@midnight-dreary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/midnight-dreary)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-prepare-for-trivia-show/660361/4 "2013-06-07T08:06:07Z")
Thanks! I just watched today’s episode, and I got two wrong. Much, much better than how the contestants did, but I’m still not happy with the result. But I already knew those two topics were weaknesses for me. (Australian music and celebrities.) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-prepare-for-trivia-show/660361/5 "2013-06-07T08:11:18Z")
> [@echo7tango](#): > > Yes, watch the show and learn its mechanics. Try finding a bar that hosts trivia contests and join that, to get practice being on the spot and answering in a public forum. > > Good luck, and have fun! I agree with this. You hopefully already have the knowledge you’ll need. But you should be practicing the format. It’s not just a matter of knowing the answer; you have to be able to answer the question before the other contestants and make sure you’re playing the game correctly. I’ve heard of _Jeopardy_ contestants, for example, who spend several hours practicing answering in the form of a question. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-prepare-for-trivia-show/660361/6 "2013-06-07T10:10:13Z")
Remember, if you have been called back, this is an audition. They already know you can answer trivia questions. They now want to see if you can answer them in a way that matches their audience’s expectation for being entertained. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-prepare-for-trivia-show/660361/7 "2013-06-07T13:42:31Z")
Smile, be open, personable, look interesting. They’re after what makes people watch TV. Remember, you may go out there a contestant, but you’re coming home a Star!