8 at 8

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-17-2002
8 at 8
11
Thu, 01-27-2005 - 9:33pm
I tried a new thing this week called 8 at 8. It is (unfortunately for many of you) offered in only a few large cities, but is a really interesting concept. When you become a member (they have groups by age groups but I think the limit is 40), you can go to dinners where they will seat you at a table with 4 women and 4 men. They have a director that helps facilitate the event, buys everyone a round of drinks and gets things started. Then you continue on your own. I signed up for an event that you did not have to be a member to do (just a happy hour), but there were 8 men and 7 women. It was really fun. There were only a couple of guys I considered attractive, but out of 8, that isn't bad. I don't know whether I would consider it a success because I didn't really meet anyone but I do think it is an interesting concept much better than OLD. I am definitely planning on giving it another chance.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-10-2004
In reply to: vexer_hw
Fri, 01-28-2005 - 3:41am

I've heard of that concept. It's kind of like speed dating, only you can spend more time getting to know someone in particular that interests you.

But the big advantage, of course, is that you gals get to sit there with your girlfriend(s) (because we know perfectly well you're going with one or more of them) while you're talking with the guys.

This helps y'all because not only do you have the support of your pal while you're talking, you also get to have someone else's opinion on the same guy saying the same things. :)

In general I'm a fan of the speeddating and such. I've done it in the past and will probably give it a shot in the future. One nice thing is that it's "live", so those "first meeting jitters" are (hopefully) taken care of right out of the chute.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
In reply to: vexer_hw
Fri, 01-28-2005 - 9:07am

Vex,

I have tried to go to these events in Austin but they keep getting cancelled due to non-interest. I have tried the on-line speed dating thing as well and thats a joke. But this is all a mute point as the rumour mill goes that they are putting up a huge niteclub 2 miles from my home that will be the biggest in the city. Disco, country, rock, rap, etc all under one roof. Looks like that will be my occaisional haunt until I decide to try again at church.

TT

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-19-2004
In reply to: vexer_hw
Fri, 01-28-2005 - 9:11am
Vexer - Your 8 at 8 sounds fun. There was something similar in Boston called Table for 8, but the women I knew who tried it complained that the only thing it was good for was meeting some great women they could be friends with. Oh, and one guy at one of the dinners spilled the beans that guys were charged less than women to join. The women at that dinner were not pleased. In fact, someone reported the organization to the state's attorney general for discrimination.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-17-2002
In reply to: vexer_hw
Fri, 01-28-2005 - 4:11pm
Actually, no. In this service, they will not seat you with anyone you came with. They make you go sit with people that you do not know. And this time, I went on my own anyway because my friends either couldn't go due to scheduling conflicts or lack of money (it isn't cheap). But the point is to force you out of that zone where you talk to your friends only (which I would do).

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-17-2002
In reply to: vexer_hw
Fri, 01-28-2005 - 4:19pm

Well, I am OK with them charging less. Right now, I am on the waitlist to join because they have to keep an equal number of men and women in their ranks. There are no men who are joining right now, so I can't join either. If charging a cheaper price makes it so a guy will join, fine by me! And I think I could find a few women to be friends with there too. Hey, if anything, it gets me out of the house and meeting new people.

talltx, it sounds like there is no problem with attendance in Dallas. The event I went to had 15 people and they apparently don't have any problem filling up the dinners either. I did get the impression that the group was not very large as several people there knew each other already and when I mentioned the person that had "referred" me, the director seemed to know who she was (or acted like it anyway).

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
In reply to: vexer_hw
Fri, 01-28-2005 - 4:27pm

Vex,

The match events are the ones that are having problems finding enough people here in Austin. Not sure whether it's a lack of guys or gals. I don't know of any other programs here in Austin other than match that do the get-togethers.

I can see how these types of events have benefits over traditional OLD methods since you meet in the flesh first rather than do it backwards.

TT

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2003
In reply to: vexer_hw
Fri, 01-28-2005 - 4:28pm

i'd love to do that as well - but it costs like $1200 , i talked the salesperson down to $900 for 6 months?! Ours is table for 6. Just like 8 at 8 though. So I said I'd take the $900 then go buy a male escort ;)

But Im so happy you are trying it, seems like such a cool concept.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-17-2002
In reply to: vexer_hw
Fri, 01-28-2005 - 4:52pm

WOW! This is not $1200 but is like $150 for 3 dinners. Then you still have to pay $15-$50 for the dinner on top of that. Good Lord! I wouldn't do it for $1200 or even $900! Yikes!!

It does seem like a cool concept and actually gets you out there in the scene with men and women. It was a very fun group the other night. A lot of people stayed after I did and I left at 9:30. And TT, I can see that. I have even heard that Match is not doing events anymore (or has cut them back drastically) due to lack of interest.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-19-2004
In reply to: vexer_hw
Fri, 01-28-2005 - 5:13pm

The one in Boston was really expensive. Yours, vexer, sounds much more reasonable.

Now that you mention the match events, I notice I never get the emails about them that I used to. I wonder if they've stopped doing them in my area due to lack of interest. It used to drive me crazy when I'd get all excited seeing I had an email, thinking it was from a guy, and finding out it was from match, advertising one of their events.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-24-2004
In reply to: vexer_hw
Fri, 01-28-2005 - 6:47pm
Only 40 and under?
Linda

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