Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyle Gaffney.
Hi Kyle, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Our very first trivia was birthed out of boredom. It was May 2020, and I started hosting free Zoom trivia for my friends and family. I was working for a software company, and doing trivia once a week helped me to flex creatively and keep my sanity. In June 2021, I decided to make the jump to in-person trivia. Big shout out to Rock Bottom Restaurant in Bethesda, MD, who took a chance on me with barely any experience. I loved getting out once a week and McDJing trivia. It wasn’t until the end of 2021 when I started thinking about expanding this pet project I had. We officially became an LLC in February that year, I was serendipitously laid off from my corporate job in April, and then I made trivia my full-time endeavor.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
While I’ve had some bumps in the business process, it’s easy to learn from those mistakes and correct them. When you start, unless you have a huge injection of capital, you’re going to be counting pennies and praying for checks to clear. I really can’t say enough good things about three of my original hosts, who are STILL with me after a year. They grew up with the company, and there’s no way I could’ve gotten where I am without them. People are going to be your most valuable asset, and I take a lot of time to make sure I surround myself with the best people. Period.
Really the most notable moments were during trivia with players. When people get competitive and you throw alcohol into the mix, the result is not always pleasant. I personally had one player follow me to my car and try to fight me after a trivia this last summer. That’s an extreme example of what can happen, but conflict resolution is a skill you pick up quick in my line of work.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I tell every single host, account, player, etc. the same thing: ANYONE can write questions. Information is free and there is definitely overlap among me and the other trivia groups. What sets us apart are our hosts. Before anything else, I am looking for personalities that leave their own fingerprint on every trivia they do. Some hosts are fueled by triple espresso shots, others are “the quiet cool” with their Diet Coke. Regardless, I don’t want carbon copies of myself. Do I think I am a great host? 100%. I’d go toe-to-toe with any other host any night of the week. But having the same trivia vibe and personality at 20+ accounts isn’t going to make us unique. It’s going to make us McDonald’s. I want every location we have to feel like their trivia is THEIR trivia. It’s not “oh, this is Cap City Trivia”. It’s “oh yeah, I love Rock Bottom’s trivia” or some sentiment like that. I have one host that is a music teacher who gives the best musical clues. I have another host with an encyclopedic knowledge of Star Trek trivia AND is a full-time graduate student at Georgetown. Another host moonlights as an amateur professional wrestler. THESE are the kind of people I want. They are the what separates us from the rest.
What makes you happy?
Every Tuesday for the last two and a half years, I get amped up for trivia night. When I get on the mic and host a trivia, I love to see people suspend any facade they put on for their 9 to 5 lives and revert back that childish sense of enjoyment. I can’t speak to other trivia company owners, but at this point, I’ve easily hosted over 150+ trivia. I love being there as much as the players do, and being in the trenches with my hosts. Are there times when I’d rather be at home? Absolutely. But all it takes it was one good or bad trivia, and that could make the difference between someone showing up for one night versus being a regular every single week.
Contact Info:
- Website: capcitytrivia.com
- Instagram: @capcitytrivia
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapCityTrivia/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cap-city-trivia/?viewAsMember=true
