Hot Takes Debate Night
Settle the dumbest arguments on campus
Structured debates on hilariously unimportant topics: 'Is a hot dog a sandwich?', 'Is water wet?', 'Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or 1 horse-sized duck?' Audience votes on the winner. Intellectual but not serious.
What You Need
Step-by-Step Guide
Prepare 8-10 Debate Topics
The sillier the better: 'Pineapple on pizza: valid or criminal?', 'Is cereal a soup?', 'Would you rather have unlimited money or unlimited time?', 'Best campus dining hall — [Hall A] vs [Hall B]'
Recruit Debaters
Find 6-8 people who are opinionated and funny. They can sign up in advance or volunteer on the spot. Give them 2 minutes to prepare.
Set the Format
Each debate: 2 debaters, 1 topic. Each side gets 2 minutes to argue, 1 minute rebuttal. Audience votes by applause. Host moderates and adds commentary.
Run the Debates
Keep it fast-paced. 5-6 debates per night. Encourage audience heckling (respectfully). The host should be the funniest person in the room.
Crown a Champion
Winner of each debate advances. Final debate for the championship title. Award a ridiculous trophy.
Promotion Tips
- •Post controversial takes on Stories and let people vote
- •Tease specific debate topics to build anticipation
- •This is great for audience engagement before the event even starts
- •Encourage people to come with their own hot takes
Content Capture Tips
Film the most passionate/funny arguments. The reaction shots from the audience are just as important. A well-edited 60-second debate clip is TikTok gold.