This is a fun way to mix up the typical dinner party where everyone just hangs out, and it gives you a low-pressure way to test your hosting skills.

A children’s hospital, a service club like Kiwanis, or your church might have a yearly fundraiser for a certain cause, so you could ask a few places like this if having your host would interest them. If they don’t already have a fundraiser, you could suggest a game show night with prizes donated by businesses and proceeds going toward a special cause. A fundraiser through a church that raises money for a missions team could host a game show that focuses on trivia from the country the mission trip is going to.

People hired as game show hosts have often been in show business for a long time in other areas. However, channels like Game Show Network or your local TV networks may have open casting calls for new shows they are developing. A good place to start might be at a business that hosts experiences like an escape game or endurance challenges. You might not be on TV but could start getting hosting experience. Another good starting option might be working for a party service where you would host games and challenges for the kids.

One aspect of this is making the question as specific as possible. Rather than asking, “Who directed the movie Psycho?” you should say, “Who directed the 1960 film Psycho, starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh?” Giving the year and the actors help make sure the players won’t be confused since there is a 1998 remake of the film. An example of a question with multiple answers would be, “Who was president in 1809?” as this was a year when Thomas Jefferson ended his term and James Madison began his term.

Some aspects of the script may need to be memorized if reading from a card or screen is not possible. Besides reading through the material, it’s good to rehearse through the whole show to get a feel for how it flows. If you can run through the script with players, this is also a good idea.

Names with unique spellings like Halle (which could be Hal-ee or Hay-lee) can be tricky. You may also have names with different pronunciations like Alicia (uh-lish-uh or uh-leesh-uh).

You may need someone to click through slides containing questions, move game props from one place to another, or reset game pieces. Your job as host is to help your contestants play and keep your audience’s attention, so your assistant or crew’s job is to keep the other parts of the game moving smoothly.

The amount and type of information that it is necessary to tell them will depend on the game itself. If there are rounds or stages to the game, you may want to explain each part separately just before moving to that part or explaining the whole process from start to finish. Do the contestants all play through a certain puzzle at the same time? Do they each get separate questions or chances? Can you lose money for wrong answers? This is the type of information you want to make sure the players know. For example you might say, “Contestants will answer a series of questions, each worth a certain amount of money. You will have a chance to answer each question by being the first to hit your buzzer. If the first player gets the answer wrong, the other two players will write their answer down and being awarded half of the points if the written answer is correct. ”

Consider whether or not there is only one winner, or if the players who don’t finish first still get any prizes or money. Maybe all of the contestants win something, but only the top player gets the top prize or their earnings. If there are multiple rounds or parts to the game, explain if different players could win each section and how the final winner is decided. You might say, “Each player will attempt to solve 5 puzzles, worth 10 points each. Whoever earns the most points will play in the winner’s circle for the prize money. The winner’s circle has five more puzzles, each worth an increasing amount of money. You win money for each puzzle you solve correctly. Ties after the puzzle round will solve one final puzzle, the winner being whoever finishes first. Those players who don’t make it to the winner’s circle will receive complimentary concert tickets as our thanks for playing. ”

You could ask the players what they would do with the money if they won. Ask if they watch and play along with the game at home. Try to find out if they have done something that many people never would like skydiving. Say, “I’ve been told that you have a knack for whittling toys out of wood. How did you come into that hobby?” Or, “Most people don’t like to file their taxes, but you have made it a practice of doing tax work for all of your friends. Why is that?”

Game show hosts often say things like, “That’s all the time we have for this round, let’s see what happens next. ” You could say, “I’m sorry Shelley, you’ve run out of time. It’s John’s turn to give it a try. ”

You might say, “It’s been a close game, and everyone still has a shot to win. Stacy leads with 1200, Rick follows with 1050, and Molly is still in the game with 900. ”

Use the players’ names throughout the game to make them feel good. Speak with an upbeat voice and smile a lot. This will help the players feel at ease if the game starts to get stressful. Say, “Well Stan, you are currently behind, but this is the game of second chances, so don’t give up!” Or to a wrong answer, you could say, “No, I’m sorry. That’s incorrect, but a good guess. ”

With particularly difficult contestants, hosts sometimes cross the line between joking banter and insulting. You want to make sure you keep it friendly. You could say, “Can someone check Stacy’s buzzer, she seems to be a little behind. ” But don’t say, “Whew, Stacy, you don’t seem to understand this game at all. ”