FAQ and tips
The questions we get asked most, plus everything you need to host a great quick fire night.
How easy is this to run?
Too easy! Just print the scorecards, hand them out with a marker and press play on your laptop or Orange Door system. Everything else is built into the game.
Do I need to know a lot about music to host a show?
Not at all. It's just like bingo but with great tunes instead of numbers. Your call list tells you which songs are playing and when.
How many games do I get?
Four quick fire games in every game pack. Run one, or run all four in a night.
How long does a quick fire game run?
Between 7 and 27 minutes, depending on the pattern and how many cards are in play. Each song clip is 25 seconds long, so games move fast. See the typical time for each pattern.
How does a game get won?
Each game has one fast way of winning, such as 1 line, 2 lines, 3 lines or the X. Tell the room before you press play. The first to get it wins that game's prize, then you can end the game there or play on to Blackout for a second prize. Other patterns, like four corners, work too, with a manual check. See the winning patterns.
How do I check a winner?
Pause, note the number of the song that just played, then find the player's card number on the answer key. If the number in the column for your pattern is the same as or lower than the song you're up to, it's a winner. Here's a worked example.
How long should the breaks be?
Long enough for people to order food and drinks and play a crowd game.
What setup is required to run the event?
Very little. You need a laptop or Orange Door system connected to speakers (and TVs if you're running the video version), printed scorecards, the call list and answer key, some pens or markers, prizes for your winners, a microphone and a big smile.
How is my game pack delivered?
Each game pack has four quick fire games as video or audio files, plus the scorecards, the call list and the answer key. Log in to your customer portal to download them, along with the full host guide.
Orange Door customers can also load games straight onto their system with the game downloader.
Can I control the game from my phone?
Yes, if you have an Orange Door system. Pause, check the card and resume from the Remote app or a web browser. Without one, run the game from your own laptop.
Can players use Shazam?
The host decides. Say your rule in the welcome so everyone knows.
Can I give out prizes for winning?
Definitely, prizes are part of the fun. Keep it simple with lollies, vouchers or bar tabs, or go big with something like a lawnmower. See our prize ideas.
Can we charge customers to play?
Yes, that's up to you. If you plan to charge for cards, check the gambling laws in your area first.
Can I run it as a fundraiser?
Absolutely. It's easy to run, fun for guests and great for getting people involved. Ask us about fundraiser offers and one-off game packs for events. More on our fundraising page.
How should we advertise our event?
Start promoting at least four weeks out. We have high resolution images ready for your social media pages: just ask us. Posting a photo of the winners after each game night is a nice touch, but completely optional.
Tips for a great night
The game runs itself. Your job is the atmosphere. Relaxed, friendly and a bit cheeky beats polished every time.
Before the doors open
- Test the sound and the TVs with the real game files.
- Put the prizes where everyone can see them.
- Print spare scorecards for latecomers.
- Have the call list and answer key on a clipboard, not loose on the bar.
- Pick tonight's crowd game prompts.
While you play
- Offer a clue if the room is stuck. It's about fun, not difficulty.
- Walk around, chat to tables and get everyone involved.
- Lead the singalongs. You sing, they sing.
- Call out near misses. “Table four needs one more song” builds tension.
- Remind people the bar and kitchen are open at every break.
“Welcome to Bar Beats Bingo. No balls, just beats. You'll hear a song, and if it's on your card, cross it off. This game we're playing for one line. First to get it yells BINGO as loud as you can. Singing is encouraged, dancing is optional and the prizes are right here. Pens ready? Here we go.”
When things get interesting
- A false Bingo
- Have a laugh with them, not at them, then resume. The answer key is always the final word.
- Phones and song apps (Shazam)
- The host decides. Say your rule in the welcome so everyone knows.
- Latecomers
- Hand them a card and get them playing from the next game.
- A flat room
- Turn the music up a touch, run a crowd game and get on the microphone more often.
- Two Bingos at once
- Check both cards. If both are right, split the prize or run a tiebreak: the first of the two to name the next song wins.
- A missed song
- Don't replay it. Read the title from the call list and move on.
Keep the music going. Before the first game, between games and after the show, keep music playing. A silent room loses its energy fast, and the night should feel like a party from the moment people walk in.
Prizes that get a reaction
Quick fire prizes are given out per game. Keep it simple or go big. The reveal matters more than the value.
| Prize | When | Ideas |
|---|---|---|
| First winner | First to the pattern | A drink voucher, a bar tab, lollies, venue merchandise |
| Blackout | Optional, if you play on | A bigger bar tab, a meal for two, even a lawnmower |
| Crowd game | Between games | A small bonus, or a pick from the mystery prize board |
How many prizes for a four game night?
At least four, one per game. Add one more for every game you play on to Blackout, and a bonus prize for each crowd game you run.
The mystery prize board
Put removable cards on a board, showing celebrity faces, bands, musical notes or another theme your venue likes, with a prize written on the back of each. The winner picks a card and you reveal the prize. Mix a few small, funny prizes in with the bigger ones so every reveal gets a reaction.
Power prizes
Prizes that cost nothing: pick the next break song, get a free extra card next game or have the best table reserved next week.
The crown
A trophy or silly hat the winner wears until the next Bingo.
The unlucky prize
A joke prize for the player who was one song away. A single teabag does the job.
Come-back voucher
Only valid at your next game night.
The crowd game
One simple crowd game fills the break between quick fire games, keeps people in their seats and gives you a bonus winner.
Step 1: Read the prompt
In the break after a game, read out one prompt and its examples.
Step 2: Give them time to write
About 2 to 5 minutes. Players write their answer and their name on the back of their scorecard.
Step 3: Read out the answers
Collect the cards and read out your three to five favourites, or everyone's. Don't say who wrote them yet.
Step 4: The cheer decides
The biggest cheer wins. If it's close, read the top few again and listen for the loudest.
Step 5: Bonus prize
Reveal the winner's name and hand over a bonus prize.
A few prompts to try
Read the prompt, then the examples. The examples are what make the answers funny.
Turn a song title into something on the pub menu
“Bohemian Schnitzel”, “Sweet Chilli O' Mine”
Rename a song to make it about getting older
“Girls Just Want to Have Naps”, “I Want to Hold Your Handrail”
Name a tribute band that isn't quite good enough
“Oasish”, “Nearvana”, “AB/CD”
Give an artist a day job and a matching name
“Floss Springsteen, dentist”, “Tax Sheeran, accountant”
What song would you hate to hear your surgeon humming?
“The First Cut Is the Deepest”, “Oops!... I Did It Again”
What's the worst possible lullaby?
“Enter Sandman”, “Welcome to the Jungle”
Customers get the full set of 35 prompts in the host guide in the customer portal: a family-friendly set for any crowd, and an after-dark set for adults-only nights.
Ready to bring the beats?
Get in touch to organise a trial with one of our team, or log in to download this week's games.