Prepare to shatter the stereotype! Quizzes, once deemed as exclusively for the “nerdy” crowd, have undergone a remarkable transformation in Goa. A wave of change is sweeping across the quizzing scene, attracting people from all walks of life who are eager to dive into the thrilling world of trivia. Gone are the days of dull and serious quizzing; today, it’s all about embracing the fun-filled journey that quizzes offer.
Meet Rajiv Silva and Aniruddha Sengupta (Annie), two of the founding members of Sunday Evening Quiz Club, affectionately known as SEQC. They are true quiz aficionados who turned their passion into an incredible community. In 2008, their journey began as a small group of friends hosting quizzes in their living rooms. As the number of participants grew, they sought bigger venues to accommodate the ever-expanding crowd.
Every month, SEQC hosts two thrilling quizzes, one in Panjim and another in Margao. In addition to these monthly fixtures, they also surprise their members with special quizzes throughout the year. With engaging rounds, innovative formats, and captivating visuals, they know how to keep the excitement levels sky-high. Instead of focusing solely on individual performance, SEQC emphasises teamwork, forming groups that collaborate to tackle the mind-bending questions. Leading the charge is a seasoned quiz master who orchestrates the entire experience.
But SEQC isn’t just about serious quizzing; it’s a place where fun and camaraderie take centre stage. “It’s more of a social club in that sense but quizzing is the backbone of it,” claims Srijit Kumar, a member of the club. Recently, SEQC celebrated its 15th year of existence with a spectacular cruise event where quizzing took the spotlight, but laughter and merriment filled the air.
Alroy Fernandes, another avid quizzer, started conducting quiz nights in 2021, and it has been going strong for two years now. Now, these quiz nights happen in various locations across both North and South Goa. “Initially, some people were hesitant to attend the quiz because they believed it would be very challenging and cover unfamiliar topics,” shares Alroy. “Convincing people to come for the quiz for the first time was always a challenge. However, once they experienced the quiz, they were hooked. There’s always a follow-up, and they come back for another quiz sometime or the other.”
Alroy adds, “I’ve had many people come up to me and say that quiz nights provide them with an alternative form of entertainment. We all love to go out partying, but sometimes we want to do something sober and engaging in the evening. Quiz nights have become that alternate source of entertainment for many people.”
To meet the growing demand, Alroy brought in another quiz master, Lyndon Pinto, his college mate, to help him out. He even founded his own quiz company, “The InQuizitors,” which has been steadily growing as well. With the success in Goa, the next step is to expand quiz nights outside of Goa, including metro cities like Mumbai.
Alroy also spices up the quiz nights with themed quizzes. Whether it’s a football-themed quiz during the World Cup or a Christmas or Halloween-themed quiz, these special events add an extra layer of excitement. One of the major successes was the “Friends” television show-themed quiz, which drew a sold-out crowd. However, Alroy acknowledges that while themed quizzes attract a specific audience, they might not appeal to the regular quiz-goers who aren’t particularly into those themes. Therefore, he ensures a balance by avoiding too many themed quizzes.
“I think people should come and experience this once because what is holding them back is the apprehension that this is a studious event,” Alroy explains. “But once they join in and have that one experience, I’m 99 percent sure they’ll want to do it again. It’s not just about answering questions; it involves teamwork, talking to people around you, and taking something meaningful from the experience. It’s a platform for people to get to know more people. Who knows, they might even find a quiz buddy for the foreseeable future!”
Sullivan Noronha is a self-proclaimed trivia aficionado with a cheeky nerdy side. He has always been passionate about quizzes, and was even a member of a quiz club during his school days. Sullivan has attended quizzes in vibrant cities like Pune, Mumbai, and in certain places in Goa. However, the thought of hosting one himself never really crossed his mind until now. He recently got the opportunity to host his very first quiz night earlier this year and ever since, the response has been nothing short of phenomenal, with packed venues and eager participants clamouring to be a part of the excitement.
What sets Sullivan’s quizzes apart from the rest is his commitment to making them more verbose, creating a lively and interactive experience. He encourages teams to banter and interact with each other, creating a dynamic and spirited atmosphere. Each week, he introduces new rounds and innovative ideas to keep the quizzes fresh and relevant. The quizzes cover a wide range of topics, from pop culture to subjective questions, ensuring there is something for everyone. The diversity of participants’ demographics wonderfully contributes to the magical atmosphere, creating a vibrant melting pot of individuals from various walks of life.
For Sullivan, the satisfaction of providing people with an entertaining evening is paramount. The effort he puts into preparing each quiz is substantial, but the post-quiz satisfaction makes it all worthwhile. The joy he sees on participants’ faces and the bonds forged during the event are what keep him going.
“I’ve learned so much while making these quizzes. The amount of random knowledge I’ve acquired over the past few months is ridiculous! Suddenly, I find myself knowing all sorts of things that too all of a sudden. Even the people who come for these quizzes learn so much. These quizzes are for everyone!” he enthusiastically exclaims.