SpeedQuizzing... Now there's a word. It sounds far more geeky than it really is. Instead of using a quiz sheet and waiting for the rounds to go by before you learn the answers, you download an app to one of the phones in your team. You answer using the app!! It's fast moving and much more fun than a traditional quiz. I've been twice. Once to a record breaking speed quiz attempt. (I lasted two hours!) And then to the Yelp Speed Quiz at Chung Ying Central. Quiz night plus dimsum!! If you want a unique quiz experience come and play this. read more

Stoo from Box Entertainment throws some of the most tense, nerve-racking quizzes I've ever been to. Yes, we all know pub quizzes are just supposed to be a bit of fun but throw Speedquizzing into the mix and it's like your very own game show but with booze (and usually lots of swearing). These quizzes are totally uncheatable, there's no going back and changing your answers three rounds down the line as once the 10 seconds are up that's it - your answer is in, the points are tallied and the scoreboard updated. My most recent experience of Speedquizzing was down at XP at the Mockingbird Theatre - and Stoo provided us with a suitably geeky quiz to befit the occasion (apart from the music round, Flashdance Stoo? Seriously??). Tensions run high, rivalries develop and every time you hear your buzzer to signal your team got the right answer fastest (and gained extra points) is like a little victory all on its own. If you haven't been down to a speedquizzing event hosted by Box Entertainments Stoo is running them at loads of places now - The Actress and Bishop, The Lord Clifden, The Mockingbird and loads more. read more

So, apparently I do this thing called "Active Citizenship" in the Jewellery Quarter. As part of the Neighborhood Forum, we try and make a difference to the area and the lives of the people that live here through markets, trips and Community events. Now, one of my treasured JQ neighbors puts on quizzes for the local populace once a quarter. It was my first time attended a quiz as run by Box Entertainments last week. It was with some excitement that I learned it was to be a quiz run off a Smartphone App (rather than pen and paper). This "uncheatable" method has been hosted by Stu/Box Entertainments at a number of venues around Birmingham and the Midlands to great success, so I was dying to give it a go for the first time! It's actually notoriously simple to be involved in. First things first though, make sure you (or a member of your team) has decent battery life on their phone. You need to download the app before typing in a team name and then you are ready to go! The quiz we attended was made up of 6 or so rounds including number based, picture and multiple answer questions. The pictures flash up on your device and you type the first letter of the answer on the keyboard to submit your answer. As each question has a maximum of 10 seconds to answer - it really is quick fire (and impossible to find the answer on another smartphone). Another fun quirk with speed quizzing is that teams get a buzzer song when they win the round. Queue us dancing every-time we heard Jazzy Jeff play at the end of the question. With a mix of rounds and teams randomly allocated, it really was a fun way to get to know people and give the smartphone quiz a go. If you haven't given it a go before and you are a fan of the humble pub quiz (which I most certainly am), then I recommend you keep an eye out for future events. It's novel and a great way to test your knowledge (and trigger finger). read more