There are a lot of elements in a game show setup. When using software, you may have a computer, a projector, ring-in devices, other notes…not to mention your trainees. You have to make sure that the game can be played smoothly, playing contestants can participate with ease, and all audience members are in position to see the game show. Here are our top 5 tips for setting up your game show:

1. Make Sure Everyone has a Clear Line of Sight. One of the most important parts (if not THE most important part) of a training game show is conveying the information within the game. When setting up a room for a game, make sure that everyone will be able to see (and read) questions, answers, and media materials. Make sure pathways are clear of chairs if contestants are getting up to answer questions, and watch out for support beams, center islands, tables and podiums in the line of sight. If you’re dealing with a large room and a large group, you may want to consider using a projector system with game show software. You’ll also want to make sure that everyone can hear both the questions (as you read them) and the answers (as contestants give them). In a particularly large room, you may want to consider using a microphone for each playing team, and a microphone for the host.

2. Give Individual Participants a Separate Space. If only part of your audience is participating in a game show, separate the “players” from the rest of the audience. Having their own separate space will allow team members to be heard, and will also allow you to see who is ringing in (and ringing in first) to answer questions. Highlighting the playing members in a game show also gives a more authentic game show feel, and provides an entertaining experience for the audience. Something as simple as setting up two opposing tables in the front of the room where contestants can both see the screen and turn to face the audience is effective.

Test the Experience Beforehand. The only way to know how your game show will play out is to do a trial run.

3. Have Access to your Game Show. You’ll want to be in a position to access your game show technology-be it in the front of the room, or to the side. Some hosts choose to have a “helper” who walks through the game show logistically, leaving the host to walk around the room, interact with participants, and train apart from the computer or game board. Some trainers have found wireless keyboards and computer mice to be invaluable so they can walk around and control the game show at the same time.

4. Give Teams Opportunities to Collaborate. If the whole audience is playing along, set your teams up in rounds (round tables), or in a manner where they can easily turn to speak with each other. Providing opportunities for teams to discuss content and formulate answers allows for a more collaborative game show, and involves everyone-whether they’re answering for their team or not.

5. Scale Your Game Show to the Size of the Room and Audience. If you’re in a large room or auditorium, you’ll want to take different things into consideration than if you’re in a smaller room with a smaller audience. For instance, in a big room, think about encouraging the audience to seat themselves towards the front of the room. Also take into account provisions for amplifying game show sounds and enlarging the screen size. For a smaller room and a smaller group, you can play a software-based game show directly off of a laptop or a small projector, and the sound provided by the computer speakers will be adequate.

Bonus Tip: Test the Experience Beforehand. The only way to know how your game show will play out is to do a trial run. When running through the game show, try to have at least one practice session in the room you’ll be using. This allows you to pre-arrange the tables and chairs (if mobile), judge and account for any seating challenges, and take care of any technology issues that may arise when running the game show.

We’ve always been of two minds whether or not to use prizes when playing a game show.

To Use Prizes: On one hand, most trainers we speak to like to give their trainees something for playing the game. There are several benefits to giving out prizes for your game show:

• Prizes contribute to the game show atmosphere
• Prizes increase competition, and motivate trainees to win
• Prizes can be compatible with your training content
• It’s nice to walk away with something after a training session-even if it’s something small

Not to Use Prizes: On the other hand, we don’t always give away prizes in our game shows. If we do give away prizes, we keep them very small and often frivolous or just-for-fun. This is because:

• We often want a more collaborative, and less competitive experience
• Big prizes can increase scrutiny of the answers, game and even the trainer/host
• Prizes can eclipse the purpose of the game show and/or the content you’re teaching if they’re too large
• Prizes are NOT typically necessary to motivate trainees to participate fully in a game show.

Prize Ideas: Silly or trivial prizes are perfectly okay in the context of a game show. We like to keep prizes fairly inexpensive and “invaluable”. Examples of prizes you can use are:

•  Play money that cumulates throughout the game show
• Company “merchandise” (like pens, t-shirts, leftover trade-show swag, magnets, stickers, can coolers, etc.)
• Silly dollar-store toys (like rubber balls, pens, silly string, etc.)
• Books that support your content
• Certificates of achievement or faux diplomas
• Work incentives (like an extra lunch break, or getting to leave an hour early that day)
• Food/beverage gift certificates for $5 or less

Prize Tip: Give everyone a prize-particularly if some trainees didn’t have the opportunity to participate in the game show (even if these are smaller or “token” prizes). This way, no one feels they were purposefully left out, and everyone can walk away with something.

Remember: Never let the prizes eclipse the game show. If things are getting too competitive try your next game without prizes, remind trainees that the real prize is learning the content at hand, or bring down the value of your prizes.