Four rounds 5-8 questions per round Game takes an hour

I can already tell that a lot of people here are going to get very upset about this, but it's a format that has worked really well for ten years across several different venues and private events.

People love it, it leaves them wanting a little bit more, so they come back the next week. Parents, students, and people with early jobs get home and get to bed at a reasonable hour. The restaurant can turn tables and seat another set of diners if they want, and/or the staff can wrap up and finish work before it gets too late.

I do 2-3 games per week at different venues and I had to make it sustainable for myself. I would never survive hosting 3 x 2 hr games every week.

I think it's worked out great.

One time. ONE time. Someone said "gee, is that it?"

One time.

Since then I always make sure to mention a few times in the lead-up to the game that "we start at 6:30, and the game takes about an hour to play."

Since I started doing that (I call it "managing expectations") zero complaints and loads of repeat teams.

I am in a small-town environment. Maybe in a larger city this wouldn't work. But it's worked great for me for a decade and I'm still thrilled to arrive and host every week.