As most of you know, my Trivia journey has been a lifelong pursuit, but in 2014 Trivia definitely experienced a big uptick in importance for me during my 40th year. From attempting to take on a larger role with my big Trivia team, Dad's Computers, to hosting more than 100 live pub trivia contests at bars all over Portland; it definitely has been a long, strange, and thoroughly enjoyable trip. Here's some highlights, a few lowlights, and everything in between from 2014. Happy New Year Trivia fans.
JANUARY 2014: Dice's Trivia year started with a phone call. Last Call Portland needed a trivia emcee and I needed a "lucrative" part-time job while I was providing care for my cancer-stricken father. I had tried several non-traditional attempts at breaking into the Trivia Jockey world, but finally slapped a truly TJ-worthy resume together and fired it off to Carey at Last Call Portland. The rest is HISTORY as they say, which as a whole, is a category you nerds prefer a lot more than SPORTS.
January lowlights...starting my Trivia "homework." Taking notes on every episode of the 60's TV show "F Troop." Key word..."starting." I still have a couple "F Troop" episodes to finish. Kinda like my college degree...
FEBRUARY 2014: I hosted my first show, Last Call's awesome QUIZ game, on a Sunday in February at the KINGSTON BAR & GRILL in Downtown Portland. Turnout was small, but a fun crowd, including a team of drunks. At this point, I was pretty sure I needed to keep looking for work. Other February highlights...KVSC's exceptional Trivia contest and giving a little remote help to eventual champion STEFANS DREAM.
MARCH 2014: The evolution of my TJ personality "Dice" began in earnest when I took over an existing show Tuesday nights at THE PRESS CLUB in SE Portland. Talk about a venue that completely understood what a Trivia night is supposed to be about. Sadly, The Press Club closed in mid-July ending what was arguably the best Trivia night in PDX. I will always hold a special place in my heart for the TEAMS and the STAFF at The Press Club...
APRIL 2014: My "real" trivia team, DAD'S COMPUTERS, captured our second consecutive championship at the "World's Largest Trivia Contest" held annually in Stevens Point, Wisconsin! Our quest for a three-peat is a year-round proposition of note-taking and collecting, but truly begins when we compete in WWSP's Trivia 46: Guardians of the Contest which starts April 17-19, 2015. Dice envisions using his tip money to travel to this years contest, so give generously!
MAY 2014: Working harder, not smarter was probably Dice's motto for this month. I was spinning my wheels trying to get several of our non-Trivia products started at several non-traditional venues. It certainly was frustrating putting the same energy into planning and playlist preparation for shows that never started or eventually cancelled due to poor numbers, but I also learned the valuable skill of how to entertain to smaller crowds while still getting to put my personal stamp on each and every show.
JUNE 2014: The highlight has to be celebrating my 40th birthday Trivia-style at The Press Club at the end of June. Cake, gifts, and love were in abundance (as was the alcohol...) as I attempt to embrace being one of Baz Luhrmann's "most interesting 40-year-olds" that have no clue what they want to do with their life!
JULY 2014: My mid-life crisis wasted no time starting. In July, my father's cancer treatment options had expired, so we started transitioning to comfort and care treatment for him. We were also informed that my family would need to find a new place to live as our rental was being sold, so we were busy looking for a house again. In addition, I had recently had to permanently cancel several of my shows due to low turnout leaving me with just one weekly show. And, just to add some frosting to the crapcake that was July...THE PRESS CLUB CLOSED suddenly. Needless to say, depression was looming until...
The Trivia Gods intervened, and I was presented the opportunity to take over a show on Wednesday nights at the ON DECK SPORTS BAR & GRILL in the Pearl District. What started out as a temporary gig, has turned into a great Trivia night that I look forward to each week. The STAFF and OWNERS have truly embraced what I do, and the TEAMS that play are an absolute joy to host for. Dice says, "The Pearl District has never seen Trivia like this! The action starts at 7:30pm every Wednesday at ON DECK!"
Dice quietly celebrated his 50th show at the end of July. By "quietly" I mean he forgot to tell people it was his 50th show. Funny, he forgets to tell people about this blog too.
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2014: Dice may not have enjoyed 9 consecutive weeks of having only one weekly Trivia show, but it couldn't have come at a better time for me personally. We finally found the perfect house way out in Scappoose, so the Rockwood version of Deiss Haus packed up and moved to the new Deiss Haus. The new digs offer amazing outdoor space, clean air, peace and quiet, and daily interactions with nature that have had curative powers. During this time, I was also able to provide much of my father's care for his final months, which was probably the best gift each of us could have given each other through what has generally been an often misunderstood and difficult relationship.
At the end of September, THE CIDER MILL called needing a TJ and Dice was ready to answer. This show has been amazing since the beginning! A few of Portland's top teams enjoy the Cider Mill's FRYER TUCK fried chicken and their weekly dose of Dice's Last Call. Dice says, "Get to the CIDER MILL early, parking and tables are at a premium for this Tuesday 7:30pm show!"
OCTOBER 2014: My first Trivia show at THE TILLICUM was also the last time my dad got to tell me he was "right." I tried explaining to him how new shows frequently take some time to get started and that I would "most likely" not have a show that night, so I would be back soon. Dad said the show "must go on." Of course, it did. He passed away that night being right one final time, no doubt finally at peace (and blissfully pain free). Through the end, Dad enjoyed listening while I created my Trivia playlists and I can say that our mutual appreciation for music (even if he stopped listening to new music in 1969) was one of few things that he and I had in common. Dice says, "The Trivia at THE TILLICUM is always remarkable with several of Portland's best teams gathering every Thursday at 7:30pm!"
Dice hosted 14 Trivia shows in October, jumpstarting his personal goal to host 100 Trivia shows before the end of 2014. Hosting three dynamic shows each week definitely boosted my spirits through all of those difficult times. Having an outlet to play loud music, sample a few beers with new Trivia friends, and all the joy that is being your TJ was an amazing gift that each of you helped give me. Thanks!
NOVEMBER 2014: Dice's thirst for more Trivia saw us take on a fourth show every week, this time Monday's at MALONE'S CAFE in Beaverton. In March, I substitute TJ'd at Malone's and, to put it mildly, the whole show seemed to bomb, so I was understandably nervous as Dice took over for Jeremiah, one of PDX's best TJs. The transistion has been seamless and every week Dice gets to dig deeper into his playlist than ever before, mining musical gems that would go unnoticed at other venues, but are inspiration to the teams at Malone's. Dice says, "Mondays at MALONE'S at 7:30pm, Trivia's dirty little secret."
DECEMBER 2014: 100 SHOWS!!! Phew! That was close! The final tally...102 TOTAL SHOWS HOSTED! I couldn't have done it without you all! December also marked the beginning of Dice's Trivia blog and Facebook page that keeps Trivia fans updated on all of Dice's shenanigans. 2014 was also the first DICE'S TRIVIA-MAS CELEBRATION, his annual holiday music spectacular which really isn't. I'm pretty sure Dice just uses it as an excuse to have a couple extra drinks.
Here's a look back at Dice's first 100 Trivia Shows...
1st Show - February 23rd at Kingston Sports Bar & Grill
25th Show - May 14th Subbing at Buster's Texas Style Barbecue
50th Show - July 30th at On Deck Sports Bar and Grill
75th Show - October 30th at The Tillicum
100th Show - December 18th at The Tillicum
Music Stats:
1808 different songs minimum
1004 different artists played minimum
4.6 consecutive days of music played
???? Hours spent creating Trivia playlists
Have a safe and joyous New Years! Until 2015...Good Luck Trivia Teams!
-Dice
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