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 Monroe, Lake Stevens, Snohomish, Smokey Point, and Kirkland
Email your resume to Mark or talk to your favorite Beat the Geek Trivia host to arrange for an audition today!
Famous Threesomes
Yellow Stuff
Pictures - Restaurant Logos
Music - Missing Lyrics
and Before And After
BONUS - To what house at Hogwarts was Albus Dumbledore assigned? - 3 pts.
The Titanic
World Capitals
Pictures - Celeb Shots - Mononymous Musicians
Music - Girl Bands
and Before and After
BONUS - What year was Stan Lee awarded his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? - 3 pts.
90s Three on TV
Famous Explorers
Pictures - Beer Logos
Music - Reggae Cover Songs
and Anagrams
BONUS - Who was the Second Dr. Who? - 3 pts.
Ad Slogans
Famous People with Definitive Titles
Pictures - Rebuses
Music - Riffs and Solos
and Family Matters - Movie Titles
BONUS - Bring foreign currency! - 3 pts.
Sports Athlete Nicknames
Science!
Pictures - Logos
Music - 2000s Vitamin String Quartet
and Palindromes
BONUS - What is the name of the ace daredevil pilot created by author Eugene Martin? - 3 pts.
Fast Food
Black and White Movies
Pictures - Tech Logos
Music - Disney Music
and Crazy, Mixed-Up Girls
BONUS - Vincent Marotta and Samuel Glazer founded what company in 1970
Three on TV - The 2010s
WWII
Pictures - European Country Outlines
Music - Missing Lyrics
and Family Matters - Movie Titles
BONUS - What supermodel (in)famously said, Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels? - 3 pts.
In 2007...
JD
Pictures - Celeb Shots - Famous Chickens
Music - Which Beatle
and Am I Bullshitting?
BONUS - Which home appliance mogul was famous for greeting his employees with the phrase Is everybody happy? - 3 pts.
Toys and Games
In 2012...
Pictures - Celeb Shots - Chris, Kris, and Christina
Music - 2000s One Hit Wonders
and In Other Words - Candy
BONUS - Who are (were) the three members of The Sugarhill gang? - 3 pts.
Ad Slogans
Green Stuff
Pictures - Musical Instruments
Music - 2000s Women Musicians
and Before And After
BONUS - What European country has two elements on the Periodic Table named after it? - 3 pts.
Current Events
7th Grade Math
Pictures - Celebs Without Makeup
Music - Riffs and Solos
and Potpourri
BONUS - What's at 2401 Utah Avenue South, Seattle, Washington? - 3 pts.
Current Events
State Capitals
Pictures - Famous Captains
Music - Songs of 2019
and Anagrams
BONUS - Who was the legendary first king of the Andals? - 3 pts.
Current Events
Butt Stuff
Pictures - Disney Henchmen
Music - Mashups
and Potpourri
BONUS - What is the name of the Monopoly mascot? - 3 pts.
Current Events
Nic Cage Films
Pictures - Lockpicker
Music - Baby Songs
and Rhyme Time
BONUS - Niagara Falls is on a river which connects which two great lakes? - 3 pts.
Current Events
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Pictures - Watercolor Cinema
Music - Disney Music
and In Other Words - RomComs
BONUS - Use the word chihuahua in your team name - 3 pts.
Current Events
World Capitals
Pictures - Rebuses
Music - Songs of 2014
and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
BONUS - An Ohio Law says (with some exceptions) that no person shall be arrested on what holiday? - 3 pts.
Current Events
Number Movies
Pictures - Celeb Shots - Red Heads
Music - Mashups
and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
BONUS - What is the capital city of Zambia? - 3 pts
Current Events
Films Set in Seattle
Pictures - Musical Instruments
Music - Disney Music
and Am I Bullshitting?
BONUS - Who played bass for Nirvana? - 3 pts.
Current Events
The Princess Bride
Pictures - Star Wars Characters in Lego
Music - Color Bands
and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
BONUS - What item got its contemporay name from U.S. WWII soldiers who couldn't pronounce Offiziersmesser? - 3 pts.
Current Events
Tom Hanks Movies
Pictures - Celeb Shots - Shirtless Guys
Music - City Songs
and Potpourri
BONUS - Wear mismatched socks - 3 pts.
Current Events
Marvel Cinematic Universe
Pictures - Beer Logos
Music - Songs of 2019
and Potpourri
BONUS - What is the name of the Argentinian photographer Justin Bieber's bodyguards allegedly beat up in 2013?
Current Events
Marvel Cinematic Universe
Pictures - Lockpicker
Music - Songs About Alcohol
and In Other Words - RomComs
BONUS - What is the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) SRM item 2387? 3 pts.
Current Events
Science!
Pictures - European Country Outlines
Music - 80s Hip Hop
and Anagrams
BONUS - Actor Larry Thomas is most famous for what role? - 3 pts.
Current Events
Americana
Pictures - Watercolor Cinema
Music - Bluegrass Covers
and Anagrams
BONUS - What item got its contemporay name from U.S. WWII soldiers who couldn't pronounce Offiziersmesser? - 3 pts.
Ad Slogans
Toys and Games
Pictures - Rebuses
Music - 90s One Hit Wonders
and In Other Words - Literary Titles
BONUS - Show up and say Hi, Hola, Howdy, Bon Jour, and Ciao! - 3pts.
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.
Beaumont Cellars Winery – Woodinville
The Bellevue Club – Bellevue
Buzz Inn Steakhouse – Lake Stevens
Castillo de Feliciana Winery – Woodinville
Churchkey Pub – Edmonds
Daman’s Bar and Grill – Redmond
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.