Live, interactive, irreverent pub trivia since 2009
Now is your chance to fulfill your lifelong dream of becoming a Beat the Geek Trivia host!
Beat the Geek Trivia has openings for hosts in Bothell, Lake Stevens, Snohomish, Smokey Point, West Seattle, Renton, and Kirkland
Email your resume to Mark or talk to your favorite Beat the Geek Trivia host to arrange for an audition today!
Patrick Swayze Movies
Red Stuff
Pictures - Pro Sports Logos
Music - Mashups
and Rhyme Time
BONUS - Where was LeBron James born? - 3 pts.
Ad Slogans
The Simpsons
Pictures - U.S. State Flags
Music - Party Rock
and Potpourri
BONUS - What does R.S.V.P. stand for? - 3 pts.
Three on TV - TGIF Shows
Will Ferrell Movies
Pictures - Movie Posters
Music - Country Music
and Acronyms & Initialisms
BONUS - When is Elmo's Birthday? - 3 pts.
Double P
Clear Stuff
Pictures - Lockpicker
Music - Mashups
and Before and After
BONUS - In an alphabetical list of U.S. Presidential monograms, who would be last? - 3 pts.
Ad Slogans
Toys and Games
Pictures - Two-State Outlines
Music - Vitamin String Quartet
and Family Matters - Movie Titles
BONUS - Who played The Phantom in 1925's The Phantom of the Opera? - 3 pts.
Sports Athlete Nicknames
World Geography
Pictures - European Country Outlines
Music - Riffs and Solos
and Potpourri
BONUS - Can I fit an adult Monodon Monoceros in my bathtub? - 3 pts.
Ad Slogans
U.S. Presidents
Pictures - Video Game Sidekicks
Music - Mashups
and Idiom Nexus
BONUS - What year was Kia Motor Company founded? - 3 pts.
Toys and Games
The Solar System
Pictures - Rebuses
Music - Richard Cheese
and Potpourri
BONUS - What is the year Charles Darwin was born minus Steve Largent's Seahawks jersey number? - 3 pts.
Famous Foursomes
US Historical Figures
Pictures - Tech Logos
Music - Postmodern Jukebox
and Potpourri
BONUS - What Sesame Street monster's real name is Sid? - 3 pts.
The Office
Seattle Pro Sports
Pictures - Rebuses
Music - Musicals
and Anagrams
BONUS - Finger-Stache - 1 pt. each, max 3 pts.
Famous Couples in Cinema
Science!
Pictures - Celeb Shots - Bad Wax Celebs
Music - Disney Music
and In Other Words - Literary Titles
BONUS - What kind of creature is Trogdor the Burninator? - 3 pts.
Good Stuff
Religions, Faiths, and Cults
Pictures - Celeb Shots - Supermodels
Music - Mashups
and Am I Bullshitting - Disney
BONUS - Grawlix on your answer book! - 3 pts.
State Capitals
Harry Potter
Pictures - Celeb Shots - Presidential Election Losers
Music - Postmodern Jukebox - 90s Music
and Disney Before and After
BONUS - Bring an artifact from the 90s - 3 pts.
2000s Three on TV
JD
Pictures - Rebuses
Music - Songs About Clothing
and Family Matters
BONUS - Who popularized the catchphrase Heavens to Murgatroyd!? - 3 pts.
The American Revolution
Video Games
Pictures - Rebuses
Music - Mashups
and Potpourri
BONUS - How many Grammy Awards did MC Hammer win? - 3 pts.
Free Stuff
7th Grade Math
Pictures - Rebuses
Music - Richard Cheese
and Three-Word Rhymes
BONUS - What iconic horror actor was known as The King of the Grand Guignol? - 3 pts.
Blue Stuff
Fictional Vampires
Pictures - Celeb Shots - Bad Hair Dudes
Music - Songs About Butts
and Potpourri
BONUS - What is the nickname of the biannual award given for excellence in obituary writing? - 3 pts.
Clear Stuff
In 2004...
Pictures - Rebuses
Music - Songs About Clothing
and Rhyme Time
BONUS - What is the nickname of the biannual award given for excellence in obituary writing? - 3 pts.
Ad Slogans
Cat Stuff
Pictures - Ad Animals
Music - Classic Rock
and Before and After
BONUS - Who was the Second Dr. Who? - 3 pts.
Are you interested in a private trivia party or event for your group or organization? Beat the Geek Trivia does:
and more!
Beat the Geek Trivia is a great way to entertain your customers and keep them coming back week after week. If you’d like to learn more about regular Beat the Geek Trivia shows at your bar or restaurant, Contact Mark for details.
Ambassador Wines Woodin Creek – Woodinville
Beaumont Cellars Winery – Woodinville
The Bellevue Club – Bellevue
Buzz Inn Steakhouse – Lake Stevens
Castillo de Feliciana Winery – Woodinville
Churchkey Pub – Edmonds
Crave 80s – Marysville
Daman’s Bar and Grill – Redmond
Harvey’s Tavern – Edmonds
The Lime – Kirkland
Love That Red Winery Tasting Room – Woodinville
The Lucky 7 – Kirkland
Ounces Taproom and Beer Garden – West Seattle
Page Cellars – Woodinville
The Pizza Coop and Alehouse – Woodinville
Rustic Cork – Lake Stevens
Rustic Cork – Mill Creek
Redmond’s Bar & Grill – Redmond
Rooney’s – Woodinville
Sam’s Tavern – Bellevue
Snohomish Valley Golf Center – Snohomish
Thrasher’s Corner Pub – Bothell
Tony’s Sports Bar – Kirkland
Who’s on First – Snohomish
Gameplay
Beat the Geek Trivia is a live, interactive pub trivia game. You can play by yourself or as a team. Trust us, it’s more fun with friends. If you don’t have any friends, you can probably find some on Amazon.
There are five rounds of trivia – two standard Q&A rounds, a self-paced visual round, a music round, and a final round. Your host will read each question out loud; you write your answer in your answer booklet.
Team Sizes
The maximum team size is eight players (limits may vary per venue). If you have more than the maximum number of players, you should split into smaller teams. You can play with more than the maximum number of players, but your team will be ineligible for a prize.
Prizes
If you and your team score more points than all the other teams, that’s called “winning”. YAY YOU! Winners get a prize – Prizes vary per venue. Regardless, you should call your mom right away and let her know that she raised a winner!
2. “Don’t yell out the answers!”
I already know the answers, I don't need to hear them from you. Confer quietly with your teammates and write the answer down in your answer book. Remember, other teams are sitting close by so keep your discussions between yourself and your teammates.
3. “I am the judge, jury, and executioner…”
I have the final say whether an answer is correct or incorrect. If an answer is questionable or “almost right”, please let me make the call. If you have a dispute about a decision please discuss it with me at the appropriate time (like during a break or at the end of the game).
And just so you know…
Q. Where do you get your questions?
A. I write my own questions. I stare at a wall for hours until inspiration strikes. I drink a Marktini, do some research on the interwebz, and then carefully script out the questions.
Q. Can I suggest a category for your trivia game?
A. Sure, if it’s a good category and I can write 10 good questions for it. If you have an idea, let me know.
Q. Do you host for private parties and events?
A. Yup! Beat the Geek Trivia does several private parties and custom events all year long. Contact me and we can talk about your event.
Q. What’s up with the AC/DC - Thunderstruck?
A. It’s a great song! That wicked riff and thundering drums always fires me up! I've tried a few times to mix things up and use a different opening song, but you guys didn't like it.
Q. The songs you pick for the music round are... (pick one)
A. I have regular players with ages ranging from 20 to 70. I try to cater to several time periods and genres in popular music. Considering the vast amount of music there has been in the last 50 years, if you only know half of the songs I play you should feel good about yourself. If your team is struggling with the music round, my suggestion is to add a couple of team members who know more music. Or, just feel good about the fact that you are being exposed to something new and different.
Q. What are you drinking?
A. Usually too much. I like Rum & Coke, Jack & Ginger, or a Marktini.
Q. What is a Marktini?
A. This is a Marktini. The more Marktini's you drink, the better they are!
Q. Are you looking for new places to do Beat the Geek Trivia?
A. Sure, contact me.
Q. Are you looking for more trivia hosts?
A. I've always got my eyes open for enthusiastic, interesting, and engaging people. Ask me for an audition. If you're good, we'll move forward. If you suck, I'll let you know. Email me.
Beat the Geek Trivia has switched to using 100% recycled paper for all answer booklets, hand-outs, and internal use. This accounts to 94% of all paper used by Beat the Geek Trivia. Please join us by not only reducing, re-using, and recycling as much as possible, but purchasing products made from recycled materials.
Mark Ricker
Owner, Host, Jedi Master
I started Beat the Geek Trivia in 2009 when I was recently divorced, unemployed, and a little drunk. I had always had a head full of trivial knowledge, but just knowing things like Albert Einstein’s middle name wasn’t getting me very far in life, so I put that useless knowledge to use. Since then, Beat the Geek Trivia has grown beyond my expectations and is now a full time job for me.
Before Beat the Geek, I worked in IT, sales and business development, and mortgage lending. I shaved my head in 2001 and never looked back. I don’t have any kids or pets, but I’ve kept a houseplant alive for over 10 years (I think I might be ready for a goldfish now). I was born in New York, but I’m a Chargers fan. In my spare time, I invent new ways to insult Ariana Grande and negative reviews of the movie Armageddon. My go-to drink is the legendary Marktini.
Mike Faris
Host, Manager, protocol droid fluent in over 6 million forms of communication
I gave the worst performance of my life as an 18-year-old at summer camp while emceeing a talent show. After that night I may have never picked up a microphone again except that later that year my college dorm wanted me to host the school-wide lip-syncing contest. Not bad, but not all that good either. These days I’m pretty comfortable behind the microphone whether it’s as the public address announcer for high school basketball games, the master of ceremonies for more wedding receptions than I recall, or hosting trivia for years now.
Highlights in my life up to this point are riding the bike from the ET movie at Universal Studios, winning the grand prize in a radio station giveaway for a Felix Hernandez signed baseball and discovering I don’t like Waldorf salad. My geek credentials include that I’ve willingly been to a Star Trek convention, I read tech blogs every day, and that my mother-in-law says that I’m “good with the computers”. Next time you’re at trivia, fill me in on some of your geek cred.
David Zazzo
Host, Marksman Stormtrooper
Hi there, I’m David – but most people call me Zazzo.
My best friend and I stumbled across Beat the Geek Trivia in 2016 at one of our guys’ nights and have loved it ever since. After playing for several months, I thought to myself, “it would be really fun to be a trivia host.” I talked to Mark, gave it a shot and auditioned, and here we are!
By day, I work at a local software company doing cloud-y things. By night, though, I indulge my strong passion for technical arts and production – lighting design, audio engineering, video engineering, etc. When I’m not geeking out on that stuff, you can find me at Sounders FC home games cheering on the boys in Rave Green.
I’m excited to be your Beat the Geek Trivia host!
Clint Cheves
Host, C-3P0’s Psychotherapist
Hey!
I’m Clint and I am one of those stupid millennials. I have a fear of change. I still live 15 minutes from where I was born, and I don’t plan on leaving anytime soon. Pop culture, movies, music, technology, ancient history, and general nerdom have always been a big part of my life; just ask the people that cheated off me in high school.
While the rest of my friends were scoring touchdowns, I spent my nights reading an episode-by-episode synopsis of Scrubs. It took until the seventh grade for me to get out of my pre-pubescent cocoon and, despite my Coke machine-like physique, I started playing sports. I never forgot my first love of knowing things that probably won’t matter, though, but it now included athletics.
I love sports, technology, religion, the Lakers, and [censored]. My other loves are Jameson, a good light beer, and [censored]. I’m super stoked to be doing trivia for you guys. Let’s get drinks and talk pop culture!
Jax Alspaugh
Host, Palpatine’s Cosmetician
I’ve worked in a variety of industries and positions – marketing, customer correspondent for a prostate supplement company, barista, birthday party hostess at a bowling alley, apartment complex manager, CNA, laser hair removal technician, snowboard instructor, and car saleswoman.
At my audition, I bragged about being the MC in 5th grade for my elementary school’s talent show. I love entertaining, having done both stand up comedy and performed with a band playing a mean cowbell. I also currently host karaoke on the weekends.
Besides trivia, I LOVE cheese, wine tasting, breweries, dancing, gaming, brunch, a GOOD bloody Mary, a well crafted/ironic mustache, live music, roller skating, vintage style/thrift store clothes shopping, supporting my community, and time with my family. Seeing my only son graduate from WSU in 2020 with his Bachelor’s in Social Sciences will be my proudest moment.
It should go without saying, but I’ll say it again, GO COUGS!
Miriam Krainacker
Host, Podracer Pit Crew President
Dia dhuit, geeks! Which is Irish for “Hello, ….. geeks” (Irish doesn’t translate super well).
I’m a Montana child, but have been a Seattle transplant for the last few years. I haven’t been kicked out yet! I’m a history nerd at heart, and I even spent four years at the University of Montana to get a piece of paper to prove it. Along with that, I spent a few years learning the history & language of my potato-loving ancestors, hence the Irish in the greeting. My pre-trivia life has consisted of a lot of different areas, including a brief EMT stint, a trial barista period (did NOT go well – I am better at drinking it than making), and a lovely couple of years as a tour guide of Pike Place Market. Nowadays, I’m a dog bather here in West Seattle Island. When I’m not spending my days wrangling and bathing dogs, I like to spend my evenings watching the weirdest documentaries I can find. Or cross stitching while listening to mellow jazz, living my best “retired” life.
After a year of attending Beat the Geek trivia at Ounces, I bullied my way into the host position. Hope to see you for a drink & some guesses soon! Slainte!!
Courtney Parham
Host, Darth Vader’s CPAP Technician
I’m Princess Courtney, Chairperson of the Galactic Prom Committee and supreme ruler of Planet Sucralose. At age 13, I was designated as the Protector of Galactic Freedom and Designer Fashion by King Zeus. He gave me three magical tools: The Fairy Wings of Gollum, the Emerald Wand of Horcrux, and a gorgeous Louis Vuitton studded black leather handbag with faux fur trim and a pocket for my iPhone.
I promise to protect the freedom of every sentient being in the galaxy and to gently but firmly advise on haute couture, as is my charge, as is my oath.
Ryan Zwirner
Host, Tatooine Sand Appraiser
Hey there!
About me: I’m 6’3”, because apparently that matters. I’m from Southern California (don’t judge) -I moved up to Washington 7 years ago and love it so far.
In my free time you’ll usually find me kayaking, telling dad jokes, brewing beer, pretending I like hiking, or being lazy and copy/pasting my Tinder bio when people ask me for “a blurb for the website”.
Lets grab a drink!
PS. Must love dogs.
Ben Brockman
Host, Ordained Ewok Funeral Officiant
I am proud to be known as the first ever inductee to the “Beat the Geek Trivia Host Hall Of Fame,” an honor I bestowed upon myself without the knowledge or approval of anyone else.
When not memorizing release dates and chart/sales performance of every popular movie and album released since the 1970’s, I can be found crashing neighborhood parties throughout the Puget Sound region, where I serenade confused attendees with “Wonderwall,” the most under-performed guy-with-a-guitar song of all time. I avoid being depressed during the wet and dreary months by cheering on our local sports teams live and in person as they inevitably fail in the biggest moments.
I can also beat the original Super Mario Bros on NES in 8 minutes and 30 seconds; it’s not a record time or anything, but I think it’s a pretty decent effort.
Deanna Haviland
Host, Queen Amidala’s Entourage Coordinator
I came to Beat the Geek night with friends and realized… I’m not particularly good at it but I absolutely love trivia!! We made it our weekly date night, and as the weeks went by, I got better and better at answering questions, solving rebuses, and identifying the songs in a Music Mashup.
I am so happy to get the opportunity to join Mark’s amazing team of hosts, and hopeful that I will learn a thing or two… about a thing or two.
When I’m not being the Geek, you can find me working around the clock at my four other day jobs.
When I have the time, I like listening to music, dancing, or just rocking out to Doja Cat, Nicki Minaj, Lizzo, Mac Miller, and Pearl Jam. If a TV is on, I’m watching Jersey Shore, Last Chance U, or The Office. I’m easily distracted by glitter, makeup, and puppies, And I LOVE LOVE LOVE football!!
You?
Host
Beat the Geek Trivia is always looking for energetic and funny trivia hosts. If you think you sound good on a microphone, you like talking in front of a crowd, and you’re not a moron, you should audition.
email Mark if you’re interested.