CORPORATE
The history, vision, and learning moments at Last Call Trivia
How Last Call has Pivoted
By Brooklynn Holtz
Aww, our wittle baby team learns how to walk.
It was only the six of us at a couple of large tables at 300 E. 3rd St. when I joined the team in 2012. When we needed to "split up" into more private meetings, a few of us would sneak into the windowless storage closet. We had a mix-match of chairs, but a fully supplied bourbon bar. We'd gather together for all-day meetings to try to solve our toughest problems in one go.
The six of us were determined, hard-working, and eager to collaborate, but perfectly different enough that we brought unique perspectives and solutions to the table. It was a beautiful mess in the beginning and I wouldn’t change the lessons we learned in those years for anything. For example, by simple trial and error, we developed the following model for meetings:
- To begin, clearly define the problem.
- Allow coworkers to ask questions to gain a deeper grasp of the situation.
- With an open and grateful mind, listen to all possible solutions.
- Finally - this may seem obvious, but it took us a while to get there - formulate a plan.
This was pivotal in the development of our meetings. At the end of a session, we would state what the plan was, what support we might need, and when we expect to be finished. To this day, we use this approach at all important meetings.
We used to call these meetings “Buffalos”. It's the only word that may be repeated multiple times to form a grammatically correct phrase. Over time, our buffalos have become more about teamwork and inclusion, but more on that later.
Walking is exciting, but you really should take it one step at a time.
We started our first real marketing campaign in 2014. We developed a newsletter and merged all of our disparate Twitter and Facebook accounts into a single brand. We updated our logos and brand language, too. Last Call Productions became Last Call Trivia, and the obvious question mark was replaced with the eye of a night owl. We eagerly adopted the wise owl character and, as a result, began to naturally develop a new language. Our gatherings became known as "Parliament," and we began to refer to one another as "the Flock", which eventually evolved into "Flocker". Whatever; we’re going with it.
As we discussed leagues, our teams, and the community flame we wanted to fuel, the idea for a national Trivia championship sparked in that room at 300 E 3rd. Our teams were incredibly dedicated and the company was rapidly expanding. How could we express our gratitude while also establishing a precedent for community engagement for the brand we wanted to be? Well, Ludimentis, of course.
Ludimentis: the granddaddy of all our major growth experiences. Even today, the mere mention of the phrase, which roughly translates from Latin to "game of the mind," elicits a whirlwind of emotions in the office. Some of us have wonderful memories of teams cheering, while others recall long hours and weary feet, and yet others recall blunders that led to honest apologies to our most committed and loyal teams.
Between 2015 and 2019, Ludimentis hosted five spectacular events. From those experiences, we learned to set appropriate expectations, focus on making the event's core experience the best it could be, cut back on distractions, and openly solicit feedback with the purpose of listening and adapting as much as possible. We ended our national competition on a bright note in 2019 after giving away over $50,000 in cash prizes and raising funds for the Alzheimer's Association. One day, I'll write about what we learned each year, but for now, that'll have to wait.
Last Call on a screen
Do you remember this? You had to get your cursor over the minuscule arrow and scroll for 45 minutes in order to peruse the list of shows. When we moved to our first custom-built website, we finally acquired filters and a search option for our schedule. You could even register for an account and collect points for your team, which would then be displayed on an interactive scoreboard. We were certain we had made it to the big leagues. Pun intended.
No one could have predicted that the abrupt outbreak of COVID-19 and the subsequent shutdown would rocket us into our most ambitious aspirations less than three years later. We quickly created a player app to help teams stay safely at their tables and decrease movement and contact points, but it also established the groundwork for something even better.
We designed a smarter, custom player experience that, as we've learned from previous endeavors, is focused on what matters to you. Now that we have a development staff and a lot of gumption, our sights are set on an exciting technological future. We've cut back on frills and focused all of our efforts on creating a clean, user-friendly system that works. And, as usual, we invite your feedback and areas of improvement.
Coming soon. Wink, wink.
How to do Culture on purpose
Our ability to quickly shift gears is something we respect about our organization, and in many cases, it has helped us stay afloat. The “Old Flockers” have worn a variety of hats over the years, stepping in when a coworker became overwhelmed or stretched too thin That, in my opinion, is one of the most charming and character-building things about a startup.
We found that we enjoyed working together and that we wanted to maintain that culture of respect and camaraderie as we grew. With new employees, we not only increased the size of the team but also changed how we worked together and held meetings. From a few remote workers to a completely remote workforce, we've come a long way.
That's when we recognized that we wanted to prioritize character over skill when hiring. While we start with the fundamental skill-related questions, we quickly move on to questions that allow us to discover more about the person behind the resume. What superpower would you most like to have? What do you do when you've finished your work? What would you do if you won the lottery? Write a poem.
Yes, I'm serious. That's how we discovered some of our favorite Flockers. The right person will feel involved, supported, encouraged, validated, and accomplished within our Flock. Because of that, that person aspires to work hard, be proud of their accomplishments, grow and develop. And, if you provide continuing education, milestone celebrations, authority trust validation autonomy the opportunity to speak up, you'll get exactly what you both want: a respectful work environment and a badass corporate culture.
Closing with the Pandemic
During the pandemic, we learned a lot about pivoting. I vividly remember the call I had with Adam in March of 2020 when I said, “I think we should take a step back and do our best to ‘keep the lights on’”. Many of us were furloughed for almost a year.
We spent the following two years reflecting on our journey, who we are, and who we aspire to be. From the beginning, we've endeavored to become America's Trivia Company, and while we weren't sure we were ready, the pandemic plunged us into the deep end of the pool, and we had to figure out quickly if we were going to sink or swim.
We're planning to make Trivia accessible to everyone. Why? Because we are convinced that Trivia makes the world a better place, it enriches people's lives, and it makes connections between the heart, mind, and world around us.
But Brianna can tell you more about that.
Trivia, Evolved
As a company whose bread and butter is live events, it’s no surprise that the pandemic led to some serious soul searching. How can we continue to help people make meaningful connections in a safe environment? Are there other ways we can offer our library of content to the world? What does the future of Trivia look like?
Sound like some big questions? You’re not wrong.
Of course, our first priority when bringing back Trivia Nights was safety. For years, we had focused on keeping phones out of Trivia Night. But as they say, necessity is the mother of invention. That’s why our tech team jumped headfirst into developing the Last Call Trivia app you heard about earlier.
At its core, the app was created to allow players to participate while maintaining physical distance from others – but without losing the mental and emotional connections that Trivia Nights offer. We focused on the ways we could make this new gameplay experience even more awesome than what teams experienced in the “before times.”
And there were some huge benefits from the get-go. Using the app removed the complication and distraction of repeatedly navigating through the crowd, making Trivia Night a more accessible experience. And that’s just the “1.0” version!
Since the initial rollout of the app, our development team has been hard at work on an elevated gameplay experience that will make Trivia Night even more welcoming to all. With in-app features like live questions, scoreboard updates, and more, the future of Last Call Trivia gameplay is all about removing any potential obstacles to the end goal of Trivia Night – making meaningful connections with the people you care about.
Filling in the Gaps
Another major goal that came out of our company-wide soul searching was how to find more ways to “meet people where they are.” Sure, the new app is awesome and makes the experience at our weekly Trivia Nights even better. But how can we provide Trivia for people who can’t make it out to one of our regular live shows?
The first solution might be the most obvious. If they can’t make it to a Trivia show, we can bring it to them, right? At the start of the shutdown, we began offering virtual Trivia events for people looking for a way to connect with their friends, co-workers, and family around the country. It may have started as a necessary adjustment for many. But virtual private events have continued to be a popular company teambuilding event even as many have returned to the office.
We also found creative ways to deliver Trivia to even more places and people than before. During the shutdown, our writing team began ruminating on all of the awesome Trivia content we have from over a decade of shows. From those brainstorming sessions, Full Frontal Nerdity was born. Full Frontal Nerdity is a Trivia card game that offers a creative twist on some of our favorite questions and categories. What better way to meet people where they are than by releasing a (completely portable) card game?
Hold on, we may have just answered our own question. What if you could enjoy Trivia anytime, anywhere, with no teammates or opponents necessary? Enter, the Last Call Trivia Podcast, a weekly show featuring a team of three Trivia enthusiasts challenging themselves with a selection of questions that previously appeared in live shows around the country. Now, you can carry all the magic of Trivia Night right in your pocket.
A Flexible Trivia Night Solution
Our new products and services allow us to provide a wide variety of experiences and gameplay options to people around the world. But that doesn’t mean we’ve abandoned our roots. In fact, we also have a solution for businesses with more unconventional Trivia Night needs.
Sometimes, a place isn’t cut out for a typical Trivia Night. Maybe their audience only likes questions about sports, 80s music, and romantic comedies. Maybe they’re located in a tiny, remote town in Wyoming and need to host the show themselves. Or maybe they just want to be in total control of their event schedule and that’s that. When flexibility is key, Flex is our answer.
Last Call Trivia Flex is a DIY service that allows subscribers to create their own custom Trivia shows using our database of over 20,000 professionally written – and crowd-tested – questions. The crown jewel of Last Call Trivia Flex is the Show Builder, which gives users the power to filter by category, difficulty level, and keyword to hand-pick each of the questions in their Trivia show.
Plus, Flex includes all of the other resources needed to run a successful show available for instant download. From game materials to printable posters, Flex is a one-stop Trivia Night hub.
Here’s a little secret – we’ve had Flex in our toolbelt for awhile. And often, it’s not the right fit for bar owners looking for a full-service, hands-off experience. But it has allowed us to offer something extremely valuable to groups that may otherwise have few solutions to turn to. Flex has found its footing in places like retirement communities, lodges, and yes, bars and restaurants that need customizable Trivia solutions. Think of it as our version of a “choose your own adventure” game.
Hopes and Dreams
As you can see, we’ve come a long way from our humble beginnings. We are immensely grateful for our clients, players, and hosts that have contributed to our success, supported us in the face of the unexpected, and helped us climb to where we stand today. While much has changed over the past 15 years of Last Call Trivia’s existence, above all, two things have remained constant - our curiosity and our passion for Trivia.
Though the pandemic put us in the face of adversity and change, it has allowed us to take time to focus on new developments that we can’t wait to share with you. These projects have become very near and dear to hearts, and we’re excited to see how they help carry us closer to our dream of becoming America’s Trivia company.
Throughout the past 15 years, we have strived to create “aha” moments that connect you to curiosity, cognition, community, and a cure. We are excited to continue to create these “aha” moments for you, your family, and your friends for the next 15 years, and invite you to ask yourself the question that has driven us and kept us moving forward through it all.
How far can your curiosity take you?