The quiz world is, say experts, often a male bastion. There are mainly people in their forties and fifties sitting around the Flemish tables. “It’s not too bad in Brussels,” says Hannes De Ridder, who himself participates in the Flemish competition. “You hardly see any female teams there. It’s all about facts and knowledge, so you often attract know-it-alls. I think men enjoy showing each other what they are best at.” “Or have more space to remember trivial things,” suggests Sandra-Lena from Brussel Quizt. Anyway, the gender balance in this cafe is quite well kept. The female quiz masters, who know each other from their Scrabble club, have recruited some of their own acquaintances.
Useless knowledge
Facts, learning, boasting with knowledge: it gives quizzes a somewhat nerdy image. “It can also be a team building or family activity,” says Géraldine Lizard, spokeswoman for Quiz Room. Since last year, this French company has had a branch in Brussels, near Place de la Monnaie. Last year, just under 20,000 players attended. They are already dreaming of a second branch.
“People so often watch television quizzes with buzzer buttons and would like to do that themselves, but they are usually not selected. We therefore furnish rooms according to formats such as Who will become a multi-millionaire? It is not just about knowledge, but also about being alert to the videos we show. And you can challenge other players.” This way you can steal someone’s points or block the competition for a while. “Or decide for yourself to let the loser pump or have a drink. Jokes like that make it sporty.”
There is indeed laughter when using jokers during the game, but in practice you mainly play alone at Quiz Room. Everyone has their own buzzer and the quiz master has been replaced by an anonymous voice-over voice, applause sound and memes on the screens. It makes it less personal than a café quiz. Yet the concept is rapidly expanding in France. Quiz Room wants to follow the success of escape rooms. “I don’t see it as a temporary trend, because we can easily adapt our offering to themes such as Halloween or Christmas, but also in terms of language and pop culture,” says Lizard. Brussels is the only city where the French company offers a Dutch-language quiz so far.
The Quiz Conundrum: A Cheeky Look at Trivia with a Twist
Ah, the quiz world—a place where facts are sacred, scores are settled, and of course, men are allegedly kings! It seems, according to experts, that these trivia battles have turned into a bit of a male playground. Who knew information-based competitions could be so lad-centric? Hannes De Ridder, our brave quiz warrior, claims it’s not all doom and gloom in Brussels—though you’d still have more luck bumping into an actual unicorn than witnessing female teams dominate the scene. It appears men enjoy flaunting their encyclopedic brainpower like it’s some kind of peacock display. A few trumpets, a few facts, and voilà: a successful night of boosting male egos!
Useless Knowledge or Just a Bit of Fun?
So, what do we have here? Apparently, we’ve got a crew of “know-it-alls” canoodling over trivia in cafes reminiscent of a scene from The Big Bang Theory. Sandra-Lena suggests that perhaps men have a tad more room in their cerebellums to harbor these trivial tidbits—bless their hearts! Meanwhile, our female quiz masters are doing their bit to even the odds, possibly channeling their inner avengers from a Scrabble league. Talk about a plot twist—who’d have guessed the true female superheroes were undercover in cafes trying to level up the quiz realm?
But let’s pause and reflect—quizzes have this nerdy warrior image, don’t they? With facts flying around like confetti at a wedding. But fear not, dear reader! Géraldine Lizard from Quiz Room has arrived to sprinkle a bit of magic over the scene. Who said quizzes can’t be fun? With nearly 20,000 players flocking last year, this French marvel may just be onto something. Trivia can transcend being a battleground for intellectual dominance; it can morph into family bonding time or a team-building escapade. And climb aboard the “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?” express—because nothing beats the thrill of inflicting mild embarrassment onto your opponents while frantically hitting buzzers!
A Sporty Quiz Revolution
And let’s not forget the temptation of the ultimate blackout… no, not the kind involving ‘all-you-can-drink’ nights but rather the idea of stealing points like a mischievous quiz ninja or placing an obstacle in your competitors’ path. Nothing screams “fun” more than an opportunity to make someone “pump” while you sip away. A bit of jest makes it sporty, right? But here’s where things get interesting: Quiz Room isn’t just any quiz—it’s a futuristic, tech-savvy playground! Everyone’s got their own buzzer, and the quiz masters have been replaced by an anonymous voice that could belong to a disgruntled Siri.
Now, that’s a brave new world! It feels like the café quizzes have taken a bit of a backseat—and they were once the bread and butter of our trivia-loving community. But let’s give credit where it’s due; Quiz Room is spreading like wildfire across France! Their secret? Adaptation. Themes for Halloween, Christmas, and even pop culture. What’s next, a quiz that focuses on the most memorable memes of 2023? Challenge accepted!
In conclusion, who knows where the quiz world is headed? Male-dominated and nerdy, or on the cusp of an epic revolution led by clever queens of trivia? As they say, knowledge is power—unless, of course, it means you’re stuck in a back-and-forth about who can name all the capitals of Europe faster. Here’s to laughter, buzzer beater moments, and the unquenchable thirst for useless knowledge, all while ensuring that everyone gets a chance to pump their way to glory. Cheers!
Experts assert that the world of quizzes is predominantly a male stronghold, with a noticeable lack of diversity in its participants. Around the Flemish tables, you typically find groups of individuals in their forties and fifties, largely male, engaging in spirited competition. “It’s not too bad in Brussels,” observes Hannes De Ridder, an active participant in the Flemish quiz circuit. “You hardly see any female teams there. It’s all about facts and knowledge, which often attracts a crowd of know-it-alls. I think men enjoy showcasing their intellectual prowess to one another.” Highlighting a possible disparity, Sandra-Lena from Brussel Quizt adds, “Or maybe they simply have more capacity to retain trivial information.” Despite the general trend, the female quiz community in one cafe manages to maintain a commendable gender balance, as the female quiz masters, who bonded over their shared love for Scrabble, have proactively involved their own circle of acquaintances in the quizzing experience.
Useless knowledge
Quizzes are often associated with facts, learning, and the boasting of knowledge, which gives them a somewhat nerdy image. “It can also serve as a fantastic team-building or family bonding activity,” elaborates Géraldine Lizard, the spokeswoman for Quiz Room, a French entertainment company that initiated its Brussels branch last year, strategically located near Place de la Monnaie. The venue saw nearly 20,000 players participating over the past year, and they are already setting their sights on establishing a second branch to accommodate the growing interest.
“People watch television quizzes featuring buzzer buttons and yearn to partake in such experiences, but they often go unselected. Therefore, we design rooms according to popular formats like Who will Become a Multi-Millionaire? The experience encompasses more than just knowledge; it requires players to be vigilant and responsive to the videos we showcase, and you have the opportunity to challenge competitors directly.” Participants can even steal points from others or temporarily block their advancement, adding an exciting twist to the traditional quiz format. “You can even decide to let the loser perform a fun challenge or share a drink with someone. These playful elements introduce a competitive yet lighthearted aspect to the game.”
While laughter ensues from using jokers during the game, the structure at Quiz Room primarily involves individual play. Each participant has their own buzzer, and the classic quizmaster has been replaced by an engaging voice-over, coupled with applause sounds and vibrant memes projected on the screens. This shift results in a more detached experience compared to the intimate atmosphere of a café quiz. Yet, despite this, the concept is rapidly gaining traction across France. Quiz Room aims to replicate the popularity of escape rooms. “I don’t perceive this as a fleeting trend; our offerings can be easily tailored to suit various themes such as Halloween or Christmas, and we can adapt to different languages and trends in pop culture,” states Lizard, emphasizing the innovative nature of their approach. Notably, Brussels is currently the only city where the French company offers quizzes in Dutch.
As a manager, you have been asked to work with your employees to develop goals
Up plans for a second branch. “Many people enjoy watching quiz shows on television with buzzer buttons and want to recreate that experience themselves, even if they’re often not chosen to participate. We design our quiz rooms based on popular formats like *Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?*, where it’s not just about knowledge but also about quick thinking and engagement with multimedia content. Plus, there are opportunities to outsmart other players,” she explains.
**Interview with Géraldine Lizard, Spokeswoman for Quiz Room**
**Editor:** Géraldine, thanks for joining us! The quiz scene appears to be quite vibrant in Brussels. What do you think sets Quiz Room apart from traditional café quizzes?
**Géraldine:** Thank you for having me! Quiz Room offers a unique experience where technology meets trivia. Unlike traditional quizzes where everyone gathers around a table, we have individual buzzers for players, and the atmosphere is enhanced by sound effects and visuals. It creates a competitive but fun environment that feels very fresh.
**Editor:** That’s interesting! You mentioned that quizzes serve not only as competitions but also as bonding activities. Can you elaborate on that?
**Géraldine:** Absolutely! Trivia nights can be a great way for friends or family members to connect and spend quality time together. It’s less about who wins and more about laughing together, reminiscing, and creating memories. We find that people enjoy both the challenge and the camaraderie that comes with it.
**Editor:** The gender disparity in quizzes has been noted, particularly regarding male dominance. Have you seen any shifts at Quiz Room in terms of gender balance in participation?
**Géraldine:** Definitely! While we recognize that the quiz world traditionally leans male, at Quiz Room, we actively encourage a diverse audience. We’ve seen an increase in female participants, especially since our concept allows for team mixes and creates an inviting atmosphere. Our female quiz masters are great at fostering this inclusivity, and we’re proud to support diverse quiz teams.
**Editor:** It’s great to hear that you’re promoting inclusivity in the quiz space. What’s next for Quiz Room? Any exciting plans on the horizon?
**Géraldine:** We’re really excited about expanding our offerings! This includes themed quizzes for holidays and pop culture, and perhaps even special events that cater to different demographics. We’re always looking at ways to innovate our quizzes to keep them engaging and relevant for everyone. Our goal is to make trivia fun and accessible for all!
**Editor:** Sounds like Quiz Room is on an upward trajectory! Thank you, Géraldine, for sharing these insights with us.
**Géraldine:** Thank you for having me! I hope to see everyone at Quiz Room soon—let’s have some fun with trivia!
