“Check one, check two, can you hear me?”

My trivia hosting experience has improved over the past few months. I will admit to nerves and jitters the first couple of hosting dates, but now I feel more confident in my efforts.

However … there is one teeny weeny issue that’s essentially derailed my best efforts for a technically perfect hosting event.

My sound system.

Not every bar or tavern has a built-in broadcast system that’s ready-made for a trivia gig. And in those cases, I must bring my own sound system.

Well, that’s been a bit of an adventure. And a learning experience.

So when I first hosted at Beer Bones Bar and Grille, I was gifted a Mackie Mix5 mixer. It’s a small little workhorse with inputs for microphone, auxiliary and whatnot – as well as outputs to the bar’s sound system.

I even watched a few YouTube videos to make sure I’m operating the system properly.

First night with the Mackie. I plugged the Mackie in. Tested the microphone.

Nothing. No sound. Ick.

Then the mixer finally warmed up … after about five minutes.

Essentially, I have the electronic mixer equivalent of a state worker. (Cue state worker jokes – how many state workers does it take to change a light bulb? One – but he’s a specialist, he comes in from Elmira, it’s a union thing, you wouldn’t understand).

The second time I hosted trivia at Beer Bones … the mixer took ten minutes to warm up.

I do not need that kind of lazy in my life.

So … I decided to invest in my own purchased mixer. A quick trip to Guitar Center, and I purchased their house brand, a Harbinger Lv7.

Took it to Beer Bones the next week … and discovered that the unit had XLR sound exports, which were incompatible with the RCA inputs to the bar’s sound system.

Which meant … for that night, I basically had to channel my inner public speaking lessons and SHOUT AT HIGH VOLUME all the questions and answers. Boy did I need throat lozenges after that.

The next week, I returned to Guitar Center and bought some XLR to RCA adapter cords. Now this should work.

Went back to Beer Bones the next night. Plugged everything in … and … NOTHING. No sound. Nothing. ARRGGHHH

Back to shouting the questions and answers out.

So … after two weeks OF SHOUTING ALL THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS OUT AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS …

I purchased a Bluetooth-powered audio speaker with built-in microphone. Figured this would at least get things working.

And it sorta did … but it also had its problems.

Because if you sat next to the speaker … everything came out louder than an Eddie Van Halen guitar solo. But if you’re at the other end of the bar, it’s nearly impossible to hear.

It’s adequate … but it’s not professional.

And for that … I needed a unit that was self-contained, well-manufactured, and has a solid reputation.

Ladies and gentlemen … meet the Peavey Messenger M100.

This unit – complete with two speakers, a microphone and a carrying case – weighs about 35 pounds. So I can broadcast at trivia events AND work on my deltoids when I transport it. 😀

Took it last Tuesday to Beer Bones. Total setup time was about ten minutes.

And then something happened.

And by “something,” I mean that the unit worked flawlessly. Everybody in the bar heard me clearly and distinctly. The Peavey integrated with my laptop, so I was able to broadcast the music round in true stereo. Aces.

Now one event is a control test. Let’s see how well this thing works at my next trivia event.

On Wednesday nights, I host trivia at the Van Patten Golf Course in Clifton Park. First question is at 6:30, and I can’t leave my day job in downtown Albany until 5:00.

Clifton Park is only about 20 miles away.

That’s presuming you’re not driving home at rush hour, when the Northway turns into a parking lot around the Twin Bridges area.

Even with a shortcut by driving up I-787, scooting over Route 9 and avoiding the Twin Bridges by entering the Northway at Halfmoon, I was still white-knuckling it all the way to Clifton Park.

Arrived at the golf course bar room at approximately 6:05 p.m. Which mean I had less than half an hour to set up the sound system, activate the online game commands, and integrate into the big screen TV for the visual rounds.

Let’s put it this way. I was fully set up and broadcasting with ten minutes to spare. Fist pump.

So for all intents and purposes … I’m now fully mobile and ready to broadcast at most trivia events in the Capital District. And I can rock this Peavey Messenger M100 sound system at the same time.

Yeah, I’m liking this trivia hosting gig thing.

Liking it a lot.