Bingo Hideout

In my previous article I spoke about how I had never been a chat host prior to helping a friend out when her site launched. Well now I'm about to tell you a few things that you may not know about what is involved in being a chat host.

Chat Games

Every time you play a chat game at an online bingo site do you ever think about what is involved for the chat host? A pen and paper is the most invaluable tool of the trade for all chat hosts. You, as bingo players, know how many people are in the room so let's use a well known chat game and go through what is required from a chat hosts perspective.

Lucky Numbers

Lucky Numbers - one of the most popular chat games for its simplicity. All players choose one number either between 1-75 or 1-90. First player to type "LUCKY NUMBER" in chat wins the chat game bonus. First thing, we need to make players aware of the rules of the game; this is usually done by what is called a MACRO (look out for an article on this in the future).

So we have 40 players in a chat room, 80% of those will want to play so as a chat host we have to note the players name and their number in order to validate any claims. That's 32 players’ names and numbers to manually write down. Chat doesn't stop moving because a chat host is writing down numbers, the Good Luck, Way to Go's and general chat continues and the host has to be quick and ensure he/she doesn’t miss any numbers. They also still have to welcome new members and keep on top of any queries.

After all numbers have been taken the chat game then starts to play, but wait, another 5 players have come into the room wanting to know what chat game is being played and then give their numbers.

Quick write those down, oh look someone has called Lucky Number in chat, check the player name, their number and that the number has actually been called, oh no, one of the new players has the same number as one of the players already in the chat game..."Player X - that lucky number has gone, please pick again"

And so it continues throughout a shift. This is only an example of what is considered, from a chat hosts perspective, and easy chat game. Imagine the same scenario but with a chat game that requires all players to pick 2 or more numbers?

So when you are sitting in chat, and maybe your CM is getting a little flustered in a busy room, remember they are only human and there is a lot more to being a chat host than just chat!

Nickie Shute is a former bingo chat host, online bingo enthusiast and the webmaster at  www.ballsupbingo.co.uk

Comments (4)

Becoming a CM
written by sadiebabe, April 25, 2008

Invaluble information, would love to know more

hey
written by dominicana, May 28, 2008

hello wanna be my friend

How
written by Honey123456789, June 02, 2008

Hey who ever this is how do u make your profile look nice you know like add pic and stuff i'm know so i dont know could you tell me

...
written by bingoadmin, June 02, 2008

Hi honey! to update your profile you can visit the "Edit Profile" link in the top menu, under the "My Profile" link. You can also add your own image using the "Update Image" link on the same menu!

Visit my profile (click my image on the right) and add me as a friend too!

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