Trivia host embraces the performance 


Each week, Lotti writes up the shows’ questions, designs a presentation, handles all of the technological additions, and adds in his wacky flair to the tone of the shows. In the beginning of 2024, Lotti began dipping his toe into a single show. In just two weeks, he turned it up a notch and has only grown since in his confidence and fans. 

“I think being my goofy, funny self while putting on really fun questions and doing really fun rounds, things that challenge folks in a way that they like to be challenged, it reels them back into the same place each week,” Lotti said. 

In his performances, Lotti enjoys leaning into the intellectual side of things, knowing attendees are often interested in more than just a social gab. 

“We can’t all just sit and kill our brain cells with reality TV,” Lotti said. “Sometimes it’s nice to go out and show your friends what you know and what you don’t know.” 

Regardless of how competitive participants are, though, Lotti said he can see the significant role he plays in community building. 

“I’m realizing how important what I do is,” Lotti said. “It’s just trivia, but communities need their friend groups and connections, they need human interactions. They need third spaces.” 

Although Lotti now officially introduces himself as a trivia host — “I tested it out at a birthday party and it worked really well,” he joked — this job was not necessarily the plan. In fact, Lotti had never been to a trivia night until a week before he hosted his own. 

When Lotti and his wife found out they were pregnant, he was fired from his previous job in sales, which he didn’t particularly enjoy. A friend who owns Drake’s in San Carlos offered up the idea for Lotti to host a trivia night, knowing he wanted to tap into his creative side again. 

“I couldn’t predict that I was going to start a trivia hosting night career at all,” Lotti said. 

Quickly Lotti realized how much he enjoyed getting people together and making them laugh. Now, at 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday each week, Lotti is grateful to put on a show. 

“It’s supporting local businesses and local businesses get to support me,” Lotti said. “It’s a really awesome relationship.” 

Although becoming a trivia host was born out of necessity and lucky happenstance, Lotti is fully prepared to keep it going as long as possible, while savoring it along the way. 

“I’ve been in weird situations so I know nothing’s permanent ever, there’s going to be a looming cloud somewhat hovering near my shoulders gently reminding me it can all go away, but I don’t care if it does,” Lotti said. 

“I want it to continue to grow, I have the time and capacity to make it bigger than I thought possible at the beginning,” Lotti said. “Sky’s the limit.” 

Each of the four locations Lotti performs at “has its own thing” he said, and while he does have a favorite, he’ll never make it known. Each location has its regulars, whom Lotti has come to love and appreciate. 

“I love people, I’ve learned that what I’m doing is a lot of community building,” Lotti said. "Whether that’s me checking on people, asking how’s your mom, I know these people. People who come weekly, who come early, some have held my baby.” 

Whether it’s at Alpha Acid in Belmont or Drake’s, Blue Oak Brewing, or Highlands in San Carlos, Lotti’s fan base is growing as is his desire to keep it going. Ultimately, it’s a love for entertaining others that keeps Lotti excited to make it work. 

“I’ve always been a guy from the Peninsula who really likes to entertain people,” Lotti said. “I get to do that regularly now and it’s fun. I’m building a fan base and I’m doing it my way.”