Event Recap: VH1 Save The Music Foundation Trivia Fund Raiser
What a spectacular event! By every measure, last night’s night of pop culture trivia in support of VH1 Save The Music Foundation was a huge success. Demonstrating the tremendous passion New Yorkers feel for both music education and trivia,a sold-out audience of 250 people came out to The Bell House to support the cause of keeping music and the arts in our schools, raising over $5,000 for the foundation!
Following incredibly inspiring and informative opening remarks by VH1 Save The Music Foundation executive director Paul Cothran, attendees were treated to an amazing performance by the students of Brooklyn’s P.S. 58, the very first school to receive a grant from Save The Music, and all of whom were playing on instruments donated by the foundation. We were thrilled to be partnering with the incredibly addictive Bananagrams, who graciously donated both games and strategy books to the students, as well as to the adults playing trivia in the form of prizes.
Our TrivWorks “Special Host” Pat Kiernan then took the stage, with the house appropriately blaring Canadian artist Bryan Adams’ “Somebody” to get everyone on their feet. Following explanation of the rules, including an introduction of his score collecting assistants, “Pat’s Pages,” Pat dove right into the trivia with a “Movie Taglines” round, followed by a “TV & Movie Plotlines” round. Other rounds at this event included “Pat’s iPod” where 10 songs were played off of Pat’s personal device, with audience members receiving points for naming the song/artist, and “Pat’s Picks” round of hard pop culture questions.
In between rounds, while the answer sheets were being graded, Pat would draw a raffle from those who had paid $5 for tickets and bring two winners onstage for special head-to-head questions. These “mini-games” included rounds such as “Song Lyrics,” where Pat would read off hysterical lyrics in his signature deadpan voice with witty inflection, “Fast Food,” “Seinfeld” and “Commercials.” Winners were then able to take a spin at the huge prize wheel onstage, with the chance to take home great prizes such as tickets to off-Broadway musicals, upcoming shows at The Bell House, a NYC harbor Jazz cruise and yes, more Bananagrams!
As a finale, Pat brought up the top two teams, to compete in a head-to-head “showdown” in order to determine the winner. Reading off one question at a time to representatives of each team, players had to take their pick between two pop culture trivia categories. Each correct answer awards their team a point, and the first team to reach eight points won!
People had an absolutely fantastic time, which was so wonderful to see at an event supporting an incredibly good cause. We will have lots of photos and images to share soon, and hope to see yours if you attended!