How to Turn Circumstances in Your Favor: Tips for Entrepreneurs from the Creator of Quizolyatsiya

Mikhail Belyanin

Host of events, creator of the online quiz "Quizolation".

Look for ideas close to you

I got into the entertainment industry while still a student: I played in the KVN team "Usual People", we even won the Major League in 2007. Then for a long time I hosted the morning broadcast on Comedy Radio, worked and continue to work as a host of corporate private events. My professional path also predetermined my studies during the pandemic.

Somewhere at the end of March, when the self-isolation regime was introduced, it became clear that there were no offline events in there is no need to wait for the near future: people will reschedule and cancel events, refund prepayment and so on Further. The situation was extraordinary, but I didn't want to sit around. Plus, the concept that is promoted at the Burning man festival is close to me: all people can help each other, doing what can be useful to society.

I thought it would be cool to create a quiz for my friends and somehow amuse them from home. Moreover, there was an opportunity to meet online. Thanks Zoom.

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In just a couple of days I put together a presentation and told my friends: "Let's play." Then the quiz didn't even have a name. It turned out cool, and I realized that you can turn it into a commercial story. Googled the name "Quizolation": the phrase was free, and I took it for my game.

I tried the first game of Quizolation on guys I know who work in the wedding industry. They went on a strange vacation with a large cast: weddings, unlike the rest of the event, such as birthdays and corporate events, were unrealistic to celebrate online, and they were postponed and canceled. The guys liked the game.

Then he repeated the quiz for several professional communities, and then it somehow went by itself. People who have been involved in events and have already played "Quizolation", recommended to friends, advised. "Sundress" worked.

For the project, I created an Instagram account, posted there simple videos explaining the essence of what was happening. Over time, there were a lot of people who wanted to play quiz: every day I played one or two games, and during the burst of Zoom parties, there were even three.

Be different

Quizolation was not at all like a standard quiz: it was not about knowledge, but about mood. There were no serious questions, people gathered to just spend time together, and the game was just an excuse.

Quizolation is a small quiz for a small group in which everyone played for himself. It could be a group of friends, a work collective, a department of some firm.

The result was a game for people who used to see each other often, but during the pandemic they stopped meeting at all, and they had to create new intersection points.

In "Quizolation" not teams fought with each other, but friends, buddies, colleagues gathered in Zoom to have fun, laugh, joke. Games were played with a small number of players: on average 10-15 people, maximum 20 - if more, then Zoom turns out to be porridge. Each game lasted about an hour.

Winning Quizolation is not the main thing. I always asked at the beginning: are there people among the participants who think they have an IQ above average. Many said the opposite was true. Then I replied that they have a lot of chances to win.

All content of "Quizolation" was based on entertainment: there were rounds dedicated to Indian cinema, strange Russian folk festivals, the Let's Get Married program. The questions themselves amused the participants.

Work as a team

At first, I was completely engaged in content myself. But after one and a half or two weeks it became clear that I was not able to withdraw. It took a whole day to create a presentation for one quiz, even with ready-made questions. As a result, I assembled a team of three people: they helped me both in the technical part and in creativity. I connected a DJ for some games: he played in an additional window in Zoom.

It took about three or four days to create one set of questions. During this time, we have chosen cool, catchy topics, prepared questions and graphics. The "Quizolation" format allowed playing the same package several times, just with different teams.

The creation of each game was not cheap, I won't say how much exactly. But the quiz paid off at the expense of the players' contributions: at first the game cost 500 rubles for connection, then 900 rubles for connection. When I raised the price, I deliberately aimed at the corporate sector.

Don't be afraid to make it easier

Games were played at Zoom. On the one hand, this is a convenient platform, on the other, it has several nuances that everyone who has tried and is trying to do interactive content broadcasting is faced with. For example, "Quizolation" had difficulty receiving answers. Text chat in Zoom is not very convenient, even not all players could find it.

The way out was found. We acted according to the scheme: the presenter and broadcast in Zoom, and the collection of responses in WhatsApp. It was possible to get confused with Google forms, but in my case it would only complicate the game for people, and I saw it as important to keep the convenience so that the players could have fun.

Have an idea - implement

I immediately conceived "Quizolation" not as a long-term business, but as a pleasant way to occupy myself, meet people and earn some money. I did not even think about its continuation, because the name itself contains the word "isolation" and its concept in making up for the lack of communication due to limitations.

Therefore, as soon as the situation became such that it became easier for people to meet live, for example to go to barbecue, than to gather in Zoom, games gradually faded away. Although in June, some teams played "Quizolation": those who were scattered in different cities.

The pandemic was a great time for ideas to come true. We were in a situation where it was impossible to correct the circumstances. And this state gave an incentive to start a new one.

I tried to remember this mood inside myself, so that later there would be no fears like: how they will look at you, what they will say about you. There is an idea - embody it. In the end, you either get it done or you refuse. But if you still decide, you will be satisfied, happy and learn something new. I will definitely take some of the ideas from Quizolation with me offline to entertain people at events.