Our Holiday Intern - Emily!

Sarah Kathryn offered me an internship for Eight at Eight while I was home for the holidays, I didn’t have to think twice before accepting her offer. I’d seen her advertisements and read several newspaper and magazine articles about the incredible success of her business.

The bright, modern office that I strolled into Monday morning emulates the new age twist on dating that Eight at Eight promises. SK greeted me with an organized schedule of my week; initially overwhelming, but definitely manageable once I’m acquainted with the phone system and member database. Creating Facebook ads targeting single clients, answering the phone (which rang off the hook all day!), and my favorite, calling all the previous male members to touch base were just a few of the tasks she delegated to me on the first day.

Tuesday brought a whole new level of responsibility: lunch at Bones with a potential client! It didn’t take much to realize that I was not a lowly intern; I had already become an integral member of the Eight at Eight team for this week’s sales. I’d like to think it was me, the cute intern, that turned the potential client into an actual client, but I know I can’t take all the credit for winning him over. One signed contract later, it’s obvious that SK knows what she’s doing!

Once we got back to the office, I was in charge of perusing the Atlanta database for current and previous female members, to try and scout someone out for our newest customer. Taking into account our client’s specific requests (a nice-looking woman aged 30-38, no children, non-smoker, big drinker but politically conservative, preferably from the Midwest), I came up with a handful of women to pass along to SK for further review.

On Wednesday, I reviewed my Facebook ads to see which ones were performing the best. I scrapped the ones that hadn’t been clicked yet and created additional ads with similar text but more alluring images. My last assignment was to help SK sell some old office electronics on Craigslist. I researched the products, typed up informative reviews, and determined a price for each item.

After three short (but sweet!) days, I’m headed back to the University of Michigan to finish up my sophomore year. I can’t wait to try out some of the dating tips I learned over the week! Watch out, bars, here I come!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Spread the Love - Creative Marketing Ideas from Eight at Eight

Running a small company takes chutzpah and creative shoe-string marketing ideas right? We've come up with some strange ones over the years.

The two guaranteed elements of a successful marketing stunt: Alcohol and Beautiful Women.

So on a freezing fall afternoon Sarah Kathryn, Kaitlyn, and Catherine hit the Decatur Beer Festival to mix and mingle. The t-shirts generated a lot of interest and we were able to successfully recruit new members.

Got any creative ideas you want to share? Please send them our way!

Pics from the Christmas Lunch!

Fantastic lunch at Portofino in Buckhead. Lots of time to catch up and gab about the singles we've been helping in 2009. Fantastic group of Matchmakers! xoxo

Flesh and Blood Relationships are Hotter than Internet Personas

I recently read this article in "The New York Times" called The Medium - Love, Virtually by Virginia Heffernan. The author speaks about how internet- initiated romances pale next to flesh-and-blood ones. She says "I am starting to think that Internet romances, including Mark Sanford's are not romances between people at all. They're affairs with the Internet."

With so many communication devices our desires are for connection to technology rather than with people. How many of you have been "dumped" by a text message, and/or e-mail? The digital age has changed dating. Do you remember when there was just the phone? You were so excited if the one you were waiting for was on the line. Heffernan writes "phone romances were defined by ringing and sonorousness and breathing and silences and click, the dread hang-up, whereas e-relationships turn on fonts and typing tics, shots at poetry, visibility and invisibility in various social media".

Now we have relationships with our computers-waiting for the next text, the next e-mail. Do you ever actually talk face to face anymore? I think that is why I don't like internet dating. You are not getting to know the person but their profile. The profile is more like a job application and gives very little insight about the person. Plus how many people really tell the truth? Guys using pictures of what they looked like 10 years, lying about their age and who knows what else! Call me old fashion but I enjoy going to a coffee house and meeting face to face and discussing my dreams and aspirations with a potential mate. I love my IPHONE but when it comes to dating I take a human over a computer any day of the week! Maybe that is why people like Eight at Eight better then the internet dating. You actually get to meet real people!

Matchmaker Michelle Scouts Beautiful Women for a Living!

Many of you know our fantastic, wonderful, brilliant, vivacious, and savvy matchmaker, Michelle. Michelle is a seasoned life and dating coach with more than 15 years experience working in human resources and life coaching industries. Her previous experience includes Beatrice Gruss in Atlanta, 8 at 8 Dinner Clubs, MTV Networks and Making It in the City LIVE! Conferences. She has interviewed thousands of clients for both professional and matchmaking placement and is a skilled professional in the areas of interpersonal relations, networking, career and personal growth.

When she spots beautiful women, she approaches them to see about becoming a courtesy client for One on One Matchmaking. Here is a cute pic of Michelle out on the town!

Matchmakers Conference 2009 - From New York

Rachel Greenwald author of "Find a Husband after 35 Using what I learned at Harvard Business School" and "Why He Didn't Call You Back"

Michelle Jacoby of DC Matchmaking and Lisa Clampitt of VIP Life in NYC

Susan Katz from Dinner Works in Toronto and Louie Felix from Elite Personal Search

Evan Mark Katz a Dating Coach and Piper from Synergy Matchmaking getting friendly!

Each fall 100 matchmakers from all over the globe meet in New York to discuss best practices and industry trends. I have developed a valuable network of industry professionals I now turn to when I need to brainstorm or listen to a new idea. I always come home energized with a zillion new ideas that I want to implement to improve the business.

It never ceases to amaze me how much things can change in 12 months....and we better adapt or we'll be forgotten! Eight at Eight operates as a small-business and we must stay abreast of the trends to stay relevant. I am a loyal subscriber to Entreprenur Magazine, Fortune Small Business, and have joined local Entrepreneur groups to network.

Frankly - I do give a Damn!

Ok so I've fallen into the trap. I was ambitious about starting this blog and keeping our community in touch with what is going on with Eight at Eight. Each week is different and there are always fun developments and observatons to share.

Like all busy business women.....I've fallen off the wagon. But as God as my witness I vow to never quit blogging again. I'm regrouping at the beach this week. World headquarters for Eight at Eight will be working from 9-6 from the hotel balcony, listening to the ocean and catching some rays. Phones are forwarded and wireless works! Cocktails start promptly at 6:01 so if you're in the area please give us a shout. (St. Simons, GA)

10 Year Anniversary Party Pics are UP!

10 Year Anniversary Milestone

One of our favorite dates on the calendar is 08/08. Eight at Eight has a lot to celebrate so we hosted cocktail parties nationwide where hundreds of singles gathered to toast our success.

TEN unbelievable years in business and still going strong. I have always enjoyed bringing couples together and finding a way to do that for a living has been tremendously rewarding. I want to thank all of you for your enthusiastic participation at our events and your encouragement along the way.

Cheers!
Sarah Kathryn

Loving the Love from DC!

Eight at Eight is almost 10 years old. For many years I often heard, "You're in some great cities but what about DC?" In 2008 I finally decided to conquer the vibrant social scene in the District of Columbia by expanding our services.

The DC Chapter is our youngest, but it is well on its way to being our strongest. Eight at Eight strategically expanded to cities that are the hub of their region. The "best and brightest" are attracted to these hubs and then become our valued clients. Typical singles are working long hours, new to the city, and have trouble meeting like minded friends. voila - Eight at Eight to the rescue!

There are two fabulous blogs in DC that have recently "outed" Eight at Eight. Check out the fantastic coverage and thanks for spreading the word!

DC Concierge

We Love DC

Dear Valued Gentlemen Clients,
I want to send you a personal note to update you on the exciting developments with One on One Matchmaking. The new business that launched last spring has blossomed into a full-blown Matchmaking Enterprise!

I search on behalf of male clients who receive my undivided attention. I use my personal contacts as well as my 8at8 client base to find them the right ONE. Additionally we have monthly Wing-Woman outings where we scout for women together! It is a blast and I'm grateful that these gentlemen trust me to match you with appropriate ladies.

The good news is that they are seeing results! Just last night one of my bachelors went on a second date to a concert and another bachelor got some kissin' as he and his first date waited at the valet.

The excitement continues. If you or someone you know is looking to hire the BEST matchmaker, please contact me. Lets talk - I need to hear what you're looking for!

Sincerely,
Sarah Kathryn Smith

For more information, visit One-on-One Matchmaking

Happy Client Update

"For better or worse, I'm not single. Through 8at8 I've met a woman who has captured my imagination. I'd like to honor her as well as my own feelings by dating her exclusively. Thank you for your invitation and for doing a good job with 8at8."

How to Enjoy the 4th of July

Fireworks? Bah humbug! I love the 4th of July--cookouts, cocktails, patriotism, etc. However, I am convinced that fireworks are overrated! Think back to the last time you went to a fireworks show and be completely honest: was it worth the hassle?

You're sitting by the pool or lounging on the patio, having a great time. Then you prematurely end your fun in order to "get a good spot" for the fireworks. Get a good spot?!? You can see fireworks from MILES away! Yet, almost without fail, we cue up like kids in the soup line in a Dickens novel. And then we wait. Crying kids. Port-o-potties. Hairy men in tank tops. Old men with the socks pulled up to their knees. Horrid shirts with eagles and American flag prints. Drunk frat guys. Homeless people who, inexplicably, have sparklers. Nowhere to park. Your flip-flopped feet have been stepped on six times.

All of that annoyance, and then here comes the show! You've got to admit that 85% of a fireworks display is lackluster. We wait and wait to waste 20 minutes watching the puny munitions before the smashing finale. I want 20 minutes of finale. I want a finale the length of Grateful Dead song. I want the equivalent of War & Peace in screaming rockets.

The fireworks aftermath is the worst part! The heat and the stickiness of sweaty bodies is amplified by the sulfery smell of gun powder and the haze of gray smoke. (It does, however, mask the smell of that bum with the sparkler.) All of those people who trickled in to get that phantom spot that is somehow better than the others all depart at exactly the same moment, as no one wishes to linger in the fumes. Gridlock traffic, sardine-like conditions on the trains. Drunk frat boy just vomitted. Kids, now hungry and ears-a-ringing from the spectacle, ratchet up their screams. Nightmare.

And have you ever noticed how everyone claims to have the "largest" fireworks display? Could we get the Pew Center to quantify this and put these falsities to rest? Here in Atlanta, the Lenox Mall show calls itself the "largest in the Southeast." Meanwhile, downtown, Centinniel Park dubs its diplay "Atlanta's biggest." How in the Hell is that possible?

Despite my cynicism, I've found the solution. The best, most enjoyable fireworks session I've ever experienced was on the roof on an apartment building. Me, a plastic beach chair, and a cold beer. No crowds, no port-o-lets, no stench, no parking. The point is, you don't have to go to the heart of the maelstrom; again, fireworks can be seen from miles away! Plus, from your high perch on a clear night, you can watch multiple shows simultaneosly. Maybe then we finally figure out which show is the biggest. Happy 4th, everyone!

Dating Don't #137: Craig's List

If we've said it once, we've said it a hundred times: when it comes to dating services, there is no such thing as a free lunch. You can brave the bar scene and be set up with friends of friends for free, but membership fees are, believe it or not, a good thing. Need proof? Browse through the personals on Craig's List.

You might think: "Hmm, it's free. There are tons of nice people out there. What's the harm in looking?" Let's dispel this myth in short order, shall we? He are some of the highlight's from today's Atlanta listings:

• "I've always entertained this fantasy of meeting a stranger and making love all day [...] Please be sane, attractive, D&D free, with a good imagination, and you should like cheap Chinese food and red wine :)"


• "Are you the kind of lady that has the personality needed to enjoy earning $150.00 and up giving a middle aged man a spanking?"


• "In town for a few days would like to meet a girl lactating thats interested in letting me breastfeed from her. We can talk about compensating you for your time."

Okay, so men have cornered the market on creepy, right? The oddball women are all over CL, too.

• "Can you be my Daddy?"
  
• "I do have a lazy eye if you have a problem with that then move on."


• "I have a special fascination with religious play and ageplay.

The old saying holds true--different strokes for different folks. That being said, you have to wade through hundreds of these to find the legitimate people on Craig's List. Then, when you've found someone promising, you're likely to be directed to a porn site or some scam. This is why Eight at Eight has been in business for ten years. You deal with real, carbon-based, oxygen-breathing people. You can sense the sparks if there are any. You can't hide behind photoshopped pictures and you can't spout your fantasies out as if you were writing out your grocery list. Eight at Eight is for smart, successful people who can afford the option to allow someone to weed out the, er, more unusual singles out there. Perhaps, though, there is a market out there for a B&D/S&M dating service? Dominate at Eight, anyone?

Inside the Odd Minds of Men

While flipping channels the other night, I came across a movie that I've seen a couple of times and found it to be farily amusing. The movie is High Fidelity, the John Cusack comedy from 2000 about an unlucky-in-love pushing-40 record store clerk in Chicago. I gave it a longer look this time because Justin, our communications guy, assures me it is one of the more accurate depictions of the male psyche ever captured on film (at least as it pertains to dating and relationships).

I must say, I think he's on to something. (For those of you who haven't seen it, stop reading now). Here are some of the nuggets of reality that one can find in the movie.

1) When Cusack's girlfriend leaves him to move in with another man, one of his first questions is if the sex is better with the new guy or him. Cusack's heart is broken, but his ego may have suffered the most damage.

2) When his lovelorn angst begins to overwhelm him, our hero seeks out a new conquest, a hipster bar singer (Lisa Bonet, as in Cosby Show Lisa Bonet!). Cusack has a great time with her, even spends the night, but the moment he bolts for the door, he immediately turns his attention back to the girlfriend who burned him. Guys, it seems, aren't always thinking about sex. Sex is a distraction!

3) Cusack is lying in bed, having sweat-filled nightmares about his ex and her new lover. In his brain, she is like a porn star with an insatiable sexual appetite. She was driven into the arms of another man because he couldn't meet her requirements as a partner. Now, it is pretty clear throughout the rest of the movie that his ex is a pretty normal woman who, up until the start of the film, had accepted Cusack for who he was. It seems unlikely that after years together she would cut and leave on sex alone. But, in the male mind, its perfectly reasonable!

So High Fidelity is a pretty accurate summation of that part of the male internal monologue we so rarely get to hear. It is a funny film, even touching in some instances, but what really stands out in my mind is how the male protagonist is a wounded, scared little boy when it comes to love. He's frightened and unsure of himself and absolutely dependent on his girlfriend for reassurance and comfort. Maybe some of us ladies should take a few notes and realize the male psyche is more fragile than we might think.

Fly on the wall for a Blind Date

Blind dates are awkward enough, but can you imagine having a photographer follow you and your running commentary printed for thousands to see? The Washington Post publishes their always funny Date Lab, where they set up singles for dates and then allow them to come clean about their evening out to the reading public. Think: the Blind Date tv show without the fake breasts and hot tubs).

The results, in this case, were not so great. Sample quote: "you guys sucks at matchmaking." Guess the Post should just leave it to the pros, huh?

Where are all of the single people?

We get this question a lot. "Where are all of the attractive single men?" or "Why can't I find any good singles in [insert city here]?" We frequently see studies (such as this on from Forbes) that tell you which cities are the best to be single that are based on a multitude of factors ranging from median income, education level, health statistics, etc.

But where can one find the greatest concentration of singles, regardless of the criteria. I'm talking that mainstay of Male Dating Logic: the RATIO! The Interactive Singles Map provides us with some answers. At the top of the map is a sliding scale that you can manipulate to determine which cities have the most favorible guy:girl ratio. As you will soon see, the numbers are astonishing.

For instance, the #1 city to be single in America, according to Forbes, is Atlanta. I ran the numbers for ages 25-44 for this city and found that there are, on average, 7 more single men per 1000 people than women. That's not statistically significant. However, the numbers begin to skew more as move through the Forbes' Top 10. Here are some surprising ones:

Dallas: 34 more men than women per 1000 people.

Los Angeles: 41 more men

Seattle: 41 more men

Orlando: 38 more men

Madison, Wisconsin: 51 more men!

So, the numbers show that the ladies have, by and large, better odds than men. Which cities form the flipside of the coin, displaying a significantly higher female:male ratio? Only a few: Fayeteville, NC; Kileen, TX; and Brownsville, TX.

The news, clearly, is not good for men. It gets worse, though. Take the right side of the slider at the top of the map and push it to the right. Note how all of the those blue bubbles begin to shrink and then large portions of the country show pink bubbles in places that once had none. It's like time-lapse photography of a plant budding! This map, then, is a double-whammy for men. Not only are you odds worse than your female counterparts, but you are also reminded of you eminent mortality. Hey, guys: you're not just single, you're close to death!

Can a recession actuall improve the quality of our lives?

A couple of months ago, Time ran a lenthy article entitled "The End of Excess," which suggests that the recession isn't such a bad thing after all. It serves to check the greed and materialism of our society and bring our conception of wealth and happiness into the more moderate portion of the spectrum. Could this be true?

I don't mean to say that we should whistle in the unemployment line and toss away our tanking 401k statements without a care. As a business owner and friend to many who have been affected, I am well aware of the negative impact of the the sliding economy of our homes, our relationships, our wealth. However, the Time piece spurred a line of thought that might be worth pursuing.

One of the alternatives to travel that has emerged in the wake of the economy is the notion of the "staycation," or, put another way, staying close to home for leisure trips. Aside from the savings, there is an added benefit to that. I would wager a guess that few of us out there have thoroughly explored our cities--their museums, their parks, the hole-in-the-wall eateries, the numerous oddball things to do that most of us never try. It has been said that people who take these "staycations" leave with a greater appreciation for the local and near-by. We, as a culture, are addicted to the glitzy and new. Maybe its time we have some new experiences by peeking around a corner we've never bothered exploring.

Similarly, I've attended a lot more small gatherings and dinners with friends lately. Instead of a concert or a movie, we're preparing meals together and dusting off the Monopoly board. These activities don't seem like much, but, in a very real way, they bring our friends closer together. Often, we get stuck in the rut of routine and passivity. The recession has helped me interact with those closest to me more than in the past.

As the owner of a dating service, I'm not suggesting you all cancel your memberships and make s'mores over fire buckets in alleyways. In fact, I think the recession may prove the benefit of our service in that it brings people together. When the chips are down, we need one another in a very real way. We are, at last, social creatures. Perhaps the slide in the market serves to reiterate what is really important. Perhaps, in the oddest of ways, there is an upside to a downturn.

Memorial Day Plans?

Here we sit, one week away from Memorial Day. If you haven't made travel plans, you are likely facing that conundrum of what to do for the holiday. Do you party it up on Saturday night and relax away the remaining long weekend? Or, do you host a pool party on Sunday afternoon? Brunch on Monday? Take your dog for a run and then play it by ear?

We're here to provide some alternate suggestions--a few traditional, a few oddballs.

1) Drive-in Movie:

The drive-in movie theatre is a dying breed; however, quite a few remain around the country. If you've never been, you should check one out! Most allow you to bring in your own food, so grab a few friends, a bottle of wine, and catch a double-feature.

2) Adult Pic-nic

It troubles me when people go to a fast food joint, grab a burger, and then sit down in a park and call it a pic-nic. A pic-nic requires a little more thought than that. We fully endorse amping it up a notch or two beyond bologna and PB&J's. For instance, go by your local market or deli and get a 1/4 lb. of prosciutto, a few slices of outstanding salami, and a honeydew melon. Other winning bets include cucumber slices, hummus, and crusty bread. Ice down your favorite warm weather beverage (iced tea, beer, soda, whatever) and have one of those lazy, low-key holidays.

3) Volunteer

Find your local homeless shelter, join a 5-K charity run, or offer to help clean up a nearby park. We often say that we wish we had more time for volunteer work. Well, a day-off qualifies!

4) Pub Crawl (for the wild ones out there)
Pick a neighborhood with lots of bars and clubs. Next, select a rendez-vous for your friends and have a drink there. When that drink is done, move on to the next closest place. This is particularly fun when you try out new neighborhoods and bars you might not typically visit. Plus, its a great way to break out of that rut you've been stuck in where you frequent the same three places repeatedly.

5) Adventure tour

Almost all major cities have companies that plan excursions. Go for a hike, a bike ride, kayaking, or base jumping... whatever floats your boat. Other options: skydiving, frisbee golf, walking tour of the city.

6) Block/Building Party

Talk to your neighbors and see which of them are sticking around for the holiday weekend. Plan a potluck dinner and tell everyone to bring some folding chairs and candles and mingle with your neighbors. Its a great way to socialize with the people in your building or your neighbors down the street.

Think outside the box, try something new, experiment, spread your wings... Whatever you end up doing, be sure to enjoy yourself, be safe, leave it better than you found it, and, most importantly, be thankful for your friends, family, and those who've lost their lives protecting and defending.

Best wishes for a fun and fabulous Memorial Day,

Eight at Eight Dinner Club

What IS the past tense of Tweet?

I'm not (yet) on board with Twitter. I'll plainly admit it: I'm a Facebook junkie, but I just don't quite "get" twitter. It seems to do the exact same thing as my status update on Facebook, but with none of the cool pictures, videos, etc. Plus, it seems to be increasingly a form of mini-celebrity stalking. And when people like Glenn Beck are on board with Twitter, how "cool" can it really be?

The very funny girls at 2 Birds, 1 Blog have chimed in on Twitter, spelling out our fascination with both famous people and minutae, before ultimately deciding that Twitter is good thing, because it can aid in getting people some loving.

Compelling argument, ladies. However, for the moment I'm going to abstain (pun!) and remain the last guy on my block NOT on Twitter. That's not to say that I won't venture over to the dark side sometime very soon, but, for now, I'm steadfastly in (semi-)opposition. I leave you with a counter example that pretty sums up my feelings on tweeting...

Because its Monday...

Yeah, its Monday. Mondays, by rule, almost always suck. They're slow, they're monotonous, they're filled with tedious tasks like returning all the emails you missed when you dipped out of work two hours early the previous Friday. In essence, nobody likes Mondays, and if you do, please pass the Kool-Aid this way.

Now, in order to combat this "case of the Mondays" of which I am currently suffering, I have decided to pass along a short video clip to brighten your otherwise dreary day. This is a short clip from the 1960s game show "The Newlywed Game." (If any of you ever saw the George Clooney film Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, you've seen this little gem before). It is semi-safe-for-work, as an expletive has been bleeped out, but, depending on the vibe of your workplace, you might want to listen with headphones on.

So, without further ado, the best game show response of all time.

Relationship E-cards

If you haven't yet had the pleasure of spending some time at Some E-cards, you are sorely missing out. It is, perhaps, one of the internet's great time wasters. E-cards are free to send to friends, and all feature odd graphics and remarkably dry humor. I've taken the liberty of selecting a few cards that "fit" in with this blog's focus of dating and relationship. Enjoy!

We're Recovering Nicely

So our office renovation (forced by an act of nature) is under way and we are currently in a temporary office space. Most people would view this as an annoyance, but this place is not your typical cubicle nightmare. This new office space has its own fully functioning espresso machine, a soda gun, and a very fun, funky decor. So, despite all the trauma and headaches, we're growing quite fond of our new digs!

We also wanted to say "thanks" to all of our friends, vendors, and clients who have taken the time to extend their support as we atempted to get our feet back underneath us. We even had numerous offers from people to help move furniture and office supplies. It just goes to show the outstanding caliber of people we've got in our Eight at Eight database. We appreciate all the kind words and help. You guys rock!

Ladies: see how the other half lives...

It came as a surprise to many of us in the office when we purused a few copies of Men's Health magazine. Expecting wall-to-wall workout posters and ads for protein powder (which were indeed there), we found a remakable amount of Cosmo-like content. For instance, there was no shortage of articles about meeting/seeking/dating/bedding members of the opposite sex. How to rev her engine, how to date a co-worker, how to dress for a first-date: they were all there. What's really interesting is just how eerily reversible these male/female roles are.

Both sexes, it would seem, are concerned with their bedroom performance, making the right impression, or what the proper etiquette is when a few dates reveal no real chemistry. Despite all the outward differences, men and women are really all fighting the same battle of juggling family, friends, careers, and love lives. Sure, the dress code and the perception might be a bit different, but, deep down, everyone is looking for the same thing. Companionship, feeling comfortable with someone, avoiding awkwardness--these all seem to be universals in the dating world.

So, for your amusement, we've included a twelve-question quiz from the Men's Health website to demonstrate just how much in common their bathroom reading has with that of women. Guys: take the quiz and see how you do. Women readers should give it a shot as well, just to see what the other side of the dating game looks and feels like. Go ahead, waste a little company time!

The Men's Health "Master the First Date" Quiz

The Virtual Bar

The Wall Street Journal recently published a fascinating online article the succinctly details all of the pitfalls of online dating the we at Eight at Eight have been harping on for years. We've been contending since the word "go" that online dating sounds better than it truly is. Jason Kephart, the article's author, gives us a laundry list of online dating realities that demonstrate the shell game, bait-and-switch of internet matchmaking. One telling quote from one of Kephart's sources: "Online dating sites’ biggest flaw is they don’t offer service of any kind. Rather, most of them function more like a giant virtual bar or nightclub."

Here's a taste of some of the other conclusions from Kephart's research:

• Everyone is lying about something.
• The total number of members on any given online dating site is grossly inflated, as many people, worn out from poor results, are "active" members of the community despite never actually logging on.
• "Getting to know someone" online makes fertile ground for predators. Caveat emptor...
• 10% of community members receive 90% of the correspondence, meaning the vast majority of people are pumping money into a no-service, no-results situation.

Put simply, the best way to meet people is to meet people, test the sparks, and see what happens. Eight at Eight has been doing it this way for over 10 years. Our motto says it all: a better way to meet people. Happy dating!

Can You Make it to Dinner Tonight?

The office spends lots of time making sure that 4 men and 4 women are scheduled to attend each event. That means the 72 hours before events, we reach out to specific members based on their profile if there is an available seat. Check out the good news below.....


Good Morning Elizabeth,

Thank you for thinking of me, but I am going to turn down the offer. I am happily in love with the man I met at my first dinner three months ago! Tell all your clients the good things happen at Zocalo!

-Jenny

Smart People Can't Find Love?

Do intelligent people have a harder time dating than those whose bulbs are a few watts dimmer? Alex Benzer thinks so, citing youthful ambition as one of the early stumbling blocks for the exceptionally bright.

We tend to agree with Benzer, as Eight at Eight sees our fair share of the high-level executives and entrepreneurs who never have time to date. However, we never considered it to be a pattern that extends backward to, well, elementary school. What do you think? Is being smart a detriment to your dating life?

Eight at Eight ups the ante with its newest venture, One-on-One Matchmaking

Eight at Eight Dinner Club has been a remarkable success over the past 10 years, beginning in Atlanta and now having expanded to six cities nationwide. Now the matchmakers from Eight at Eight are launching their newest venture, One-on-One Matchmaking!

One-on-One departs from our group dating concept to provide an unprecedented level of individualized attention. You tell us the type of person you're looking for and we track he or she down and set you up. Looking for an outdoors-y movie buff who has an advanced degree and enjoys travel? No problem. Seeking a tall tennis fanatic who is anything but an attorney? We can handle it.

One-on-One provides the type of face-time that other dating services cannot match. Anybody can set you up, but One-on-One coaches you up. We can coordinate wardrobe overhauls and personal style consultations. We can even provide you with a personal trainer to help you carry out those New Year's Resolutions. We do more than just help find your ideal partner, we help you find the ideal You!

We announced ourselves with an ultra-exclusive singles-only party. Check out our Flckr album for the photos from the kickoff of One-on-One Matchmaking.

There is no such thing as a free lunch

We're a dating service, so we're up-to-speed on the various ways singles meet other singles. We know about blind dates, online matchmakers, speed dating, the bar scene, the singles cruises, etc. We are also aware of the dating wasteland known as Craig's List.

We at Eight at Eight are supicious of online dating in general. It is far too easy to manipulate profiles and pictures to make one appear something other than s/he is. It's the classic bait-and-switch. Craig's List compounds this inherent weakness by being available for free. I know, it sounds harsh, but hear me out on this one. Hold the thought on Craig's List and allow me to illustrate my point.

I recently went to Washington, D.C. for an Eight at Eight event. While there, I decided to do a little sight-seeing. I visited the Holocaust museum (free of charge) and was overwhelmed by the swarm of mostly apathetic pre-teens milling about. They're idly texting, sitting on the floor, doing that odd adolescent mating ritual where they tap one another and giggle. But, overwhelmingly, what they are doing is getting in my way.

After about 45 minutes of mind-numbing annoyance, I left the Holocaust museum without having seen even a modest portion of the exhibits. I walked over to the NEWSeum, the recently-opened museum of American journalism. NEWSeum charges a $20 fee for entry. The result: the place is practically kid-free. No throngs of disinterested juveniles, no busloads of hormonal timebombs. No zit creme, no bubble gum, no teenage games of grab-ass. What I got was a more enjoyable experience. The $20, which at first glance seems a rip-off when so many other museums offer free entry, was a blessing in disguise.

The point I'm getting at is that a sufficient fee keeps the riff-raff out. Sounds painfully elitist, I know. Yet, at the end of the day, you get what you pay for. Let's return to Craig's List, that egalitarian no-frills bulletin board. Who seeks love here? Oh, charming men seeking anonymous lunch hour sex, gold-digging pariahs, World of Warcraft fetishists, and guys like this. I think its safe to say that if CL charged a minuscule fee of, say, $5 a month, the number of posts would drop by half. That's because people aren't there for love, they are there to play. With no barrier of entry into the sandbox, everyone enters at once. The result is an impossible-to-navigate, cliche-filled wasteland of indecipherable abbreviations (DD-Free, NSA, HWP??) and artificiality. Your time and effort to sort through this monotony is worth more than your saving by going the free route.

Eight at Eight costs money. We've been in busy for ten years and we have expanded into 6 markets over that time. We've managed to do so because our service offers value. Your grandfather likely told you "there's no such thing as a free lunch," but he was wrong. There are free lunches, but who would want to eat it?

Texting takes all the fun out of dating

A recent blog post by Niki Payne of the LA Examiner poses a fascinating question: what place (if any) does the text message have in the early phases of getting to know someone? Payne suggests that the when a woman gives a man her phone number, she expects a call and not a text. She further claims that the text indicates a desire for a "casual encounter" more than an actual relationship.

To be honest, I'd never thought about this one. In my personal life, I use the text message as a quick way to not interrupt someone else's life. If I call you, you may have to stop what you're doing to answer. The text allows you to get back to me when its convenient. However, I'm begining to see where Ms. Payne is coming from. I've railed about the alienation that technology has created in our lives before, so perhaps this is another example of the de-humanizing effects of our Crackberries and email accounts.

Moral of the story: take the time for a phone call. Moreover, take the time for a hand-written note instead of an email. Drop by to see someone and bypass the phone call. Heck, volunteer for a charity one afternoon instead of just writing a check. I'd suggest we might benefit from a bit more human interaction and a little less ones and zeros.

Valentine's Day HAS to be in February...

Here at Eight at Eight, we deal with single men and women. In so doing, we've developed a pretty solid understanding of where stereotypes about men come from. Its been said that stereotypes begin for a kernel of truth and snowball into hyperbole. Such is the case with men and sports.

We've found that the notion of guys watching no other channel than ESPN to be a grotesque characterization. Don't get me wrong: gentlemen, by and large, love their sports. However, the image of them being glued to the television watching the popular sports (basketball, football, etc.) and the peculiar ones (golf, bowling, poker, etc.) is kind of misleading. Our experience has indicated that this short-changes men, as they typically have greater, more variagated interests than sweat spectacles.

That being said, there is a reason why Valentine's Day falls in February. Its after the madness of the end-of-year holiday season and post-New Year's Eve. Every four years, we have the presidential elections, which, as I'm sure we all recall, commands a great deal of our collective energy, and rightly so. Moreover, the Super Bowl officially signals the end of the Fall sports calendar and brings us into the short-lived dead zone of sports: February.

Think about it: no football, no baseball, no meaningful basketball, no major golf tournaments. February is a natural repreive from all things sport. However, its only a brief hiatus, for the greatest confluence of sports begins in March. First, the beginning of the college basketball tournament, with all its bracket-busting glory. This gem of a sport (when even the most casual fan spends hours glued to the screen) concludes just in time for the beginning of the Masters golf tournament. The Masters begets the start of baseball season, that most glorious Spring-to-Summer American mainstay. Thus, March to April is booked solid of meaningful, major sporting events that catapult us out of the winter doldrums and into Spring Fever. Which, of course, means that vacations can't be far off...

So, there is no more appropriate time Valentine's Day (a Hallmark-derived, marketing bonanza). Ladies deserve a little loving and reassurance during this time. Likewise, guys need to concentrate on their love lives a bit in February, as their free time is about to become somehwat limited from March to May. So, as much as we hate the commercialization of Valentine's Day, let's raise a toast to February, the month of connections and love renewed, for those Springtime distractions are just around the corner. And remember, a #12 always defeats at least one #5 seed...

We Hate Valentine's Day

I know: it sounds weird coming from someone in the matchmaking business to hate Valentine's Day. Feb. 14 is one of those days to celebrate love and renew commitments and flowers, cupids, chocolate, blah blah blah.

Its artificial. The greeting card industry pumps the importance of V-Day into our heads in order to sell a lot of sentimental junk. As a consequence, it makes those of us who aren't in a relationship feel AWFUL. How many people have gone on terrible dates just so they wouldn't have to stay alone on Valentine's Day? How much cash has been wasted buying a 4-ft.-tall stuffed bear for someone you started dating 3 weeks prior who you really aren't crazy about but who you don't have the heart to dump right before Valentine's?

Here's what we suggest: get together with you single friends and have a night out on the town. Better yet, throw a party and invite all your friends (single or otherwise). Feb. 14 is always one of the busiest restaurant nights of the year. Save the cash, buy some terrific appetizers, and donate the money you would have spent to something more beneficial to the world than, say, Hallmark.

Or, gather all of your single co-workers for a game of "Obnoxiousness Bingo." Make a form on Excel and fill in the cells with some of the following:

• kissy noises into the phone


• singing telegrams


• neckties with hearts on them


• over-the-top flower arrangements


• crying person in bathroom stall, upset over no special deliveries.

I hope you're beginning to see where we are coming from. Valentine's Day is just ridiculous. Why not make every day an opportunity to share your affection for someone. Surprise that somebody special with flowers for no reason. Treat yourselves to a great dinner out on a random Tuesday when you'd normally be eating Hamburger Helper while wathcing "American Idol." And for our singles, forget the pressure of V-day. Its an arbitrary date on the calendar, no more, no less.