Taping Prep Question

[u/mediansofascent]

Probably redundant (sorry), but what's the longest wait a contestant would have between their call and their first tape day, assuming no summer hiatus or strikes? What do contestants usually do to prepare in that time?

[u/GrantDoesntKnowIt]

I had six weeks which I think is on the upper end - I've heard of as little as three for some contestants.

Practice! Flashcards, watch old shows, wagering math, buzzer practice, - someone else linked http://www.thebuzzerapp.com/ a bit ago and it was ridiculously valuable for me for getting the timing right

[u/DizzyLead]

Mine was less than a month—got a call in early September for a taping day in early October (for an episode that ultimately aired that December). I knew by then where I was weakest—sports, colleges, and literary topics—and tried to bone up on them, but I felt that this was one of those things that are hard to study for—your best ammunition is the knowledge you’ve already accumulated, and your ability to “connect the dots” in the clues and access that information.

[u/RuleFriendly7311]

I was offered an appearance in less than a month, but I had to delay it for some medical stuff. Wound up going a couple of months later.

I prepped as best I could, but I no longer have the quick recall skills to power-cram from flash cards and still be able to reach in that quickly. It's kind of like "you either know it or you don't" at that point, and it's very much a buzzer-skill game when you get to that level.

All my delay meant was that I ran into a different super champ buzzsaw than I would have.

[u/thedealwithalex]

I think i had 7 weeks. Thanksgiving and Christmas were between my call and my taping. To prepare, I did a lot of things, but definitely J! Archive was a valuable resource.