Do the lists of who is attending on ad sites hurt club attendance.

[good times]

Mrs. Gt and I were checking out the list of who was going to the local clubs on Swing Lifestyle the other day, and we noticed something about ourselves that got us wondering if others were doing the same thing.

Basically we would look at the list of people signed up to attend and decide whether we had any interest in that crowd or not. More often than not, one of us would say something like, "doesn't look like our kind of crowd" or, "looks like the same old crowd". Ultimately, we decided not to go out that night based on the fact that we didn't see anyone on the "who is attending" lists that excited us.

Later, while discussing the fact that the clubs just weren't as fun as they used to be, and more importantly, don't seem to have the variety of people attending as they used to. We arrived at the idea that maybe one of the reasons for this is that people go to the ad sites, look at the list of who is attending, and do the same thing we did. When we look at the time line, we noticed that the club attendance started going down hill about the same time as these online lists of who is attending the party came into being.

So I thought I would post the question here.

Do you look at the list of who is attending before going to a club or party?

If you do, have you ever decided to pass on going because you weren't impressed with the list?

Finally, do you think that these lists might actually be hurting club attendance?

[knb2004]

We will take a look, but rarely (in fact, now that I actually think about it, have never) decided to go or not go based on those lists. They're largely self selected, which means anyone can add themselves regardless of if they've passed muster or paid to attend, and have seemed many times in hindsight to be not very accurate.

[Dave_kat]

Dave does the webpage for one of the local clubs here in town, and has noticed a couple of things about those lists.

1. People post that they are going to an event that actually have no intention of going - send them an email with directions or to confirm their reservation, and their name suddenly drops off the list.

2. A lot of couples really have no clue that they just hit the wrong button - we've gotten quite a few emails to that fact. It might be related to #1 there, but who knows.

3. At several parties, you get very few that signed up to begin with - prolly about 50% of those that signed up actually show, and another 25% of the crowd usually never signs up at all, they just show up.

4. The group he works for has a "members only" area on another website, and you will have couples who select "not attending" there, but are shown as attending on sites like Swing Lifestyle or others.

Overall, our opinion is that those sign-up pages cause people to decide not to go to a party because of the crowd, and actually harms the club attendance.

The club has somewhat earned a reputation as one that caters to ladies who don't take care of themselves when nothing can be further from the truth. We started offering Dave's services as a photographer to the group - even setting up a photo area for members to get cheap party pictures which actually have turned out quite popular. You never know how many people self-do pictures that look like crap when they really look better than they do on their photos. When the better pictures started showing up, the attendance jumped at the events.

[sweet_tna]

We look at the attendance lists for events we plan to attend, but have yet to decide not to go because of who is or isn't on it. Even when the sign up list doesn't look so good to us, we know that there are just as many who will show up last minute as those who will sign up and not show.

So far, only once or twice have we ended up disappointed with the actual turnout.

=)

[SW_PA_Couple]

We look at lists like this but it does not put us off from going to the club on a particular evening. There are always more people than the ones who put their names on the list. The owners of one particular club thought that the S L S sign-up list was hurting business so they stopped displaying a list. The howls of protest from the members were so loud they could be heard in three different states. So they started the list up again. Ya' can't live with 'em and you can't live without.

~M

[The Fuse]

Yeah, I have mixed feelings about the lists. I like having an idea of who is going. And yes, if I see only couples we know and have no interest in, we could decide not to go. On the other hand, if we see even one or two couples who look interesting, that is incentive to go.

We are aware that the signup list is kind of squishy, that is, some people who are signed up don't show up, and some people decide to come who haven't signed up. If we want to go out and have nothing else to do, a less than interesting list won't keep us away if we feel like socializing. But if we're on the fence, we might just stay in and watch a movie instead.

[fun4Ds]

Originally Posted by good times

Do you look at the list of who is attending before going to a club or party?

Yes, always if its available.

If you do, have you ever decided to pass on going because you weren't impressed with the list?

There was a time, but not now. There are those we hate to love, and a few we love to hate.

Finally, do you think that these lists might actually be hurting club attendance?

No, we will bum out if they quit doing it now. This is on a local level though. If we go to a new club outside our hundred mile range chances are we wont know anyone anyhow. We just want a peak at the menu.

[LOL_OMG]

For clubs no, from our experience it never gives you the true picture. You did not mention house parties, but, for those we have found that the sign up lists are fairly accurate and yes, we have decided to go or not because of said lists.

Mr Omg

[JustAskJulie]

We use the lists a lot. For clubs/socials that we reguarly go to, the list doesn't matter. For a club that is new to us, we do use those lists to get an idea of what type of people attend and if they would be a crowd we'd click with. We also look at how many people are signed up and determine from that whether or not it would be worth going to. Many times we've found that the % of those that actually show up in comparison to those who are signed up is quite low.

Like others mentioned we've seen a high proportion of people who sign up to attend events and don't go. In our area there are number of couples who will sign up for every party going and attend none of them. Or sign up for several and wait to see which one their friends are going to to decide which one to attend.

I have wondered the same thing about people looking at the lists and deciding not to go based on the list and how that affects the overall turnout. In some ways I do think it would be better if we didn't know ahead of time as it can work in both directions. We've seen lists that look good and then show up at the party to find that only 10 couples showed up and none of them were on the list (or they were the ones without pictures), or where there are 100 couples signed up and they all show up and the place is so packed that you couldn't find someone you were looking for.

We do like the lists in some cases, mostly at the clubs that don't usually use them. Our favorite on-premise has monthly Swing Lifestyle m&g nights. That is the only time that they do a signup list on Swing Lifestyle (and you have to be on that list to get in an hour early and get the discount), but most of those who sign up on the list through Swing Lifestyle are not the regulars, it's mostly new people or people who don't go often. So there are always many more than what show up on the list. We do use that list and sometimes contact people on there that we think we might be interested in.

The best use of the list we had was when we attended an out of state 3 day hotel take-over. A large portion of those who were attending were signed up on Swing Lifestyle, and it gave us a chance to touch base with a few before we went, ask questions of those who had been before and just initiate some contact.

[Ed & Bunny]

I decided to bring this topic back up, because it really applies to us right now.

I was recently looking over the party list on Swing Lifestyle, frustrated as usual. The problem is that Bunny is not comfortable with her weight and appearance. She was much thinner in her younger years but old injuries and other health issues have put on a few pounds. She sometimes has a hard time feeling attractive. ( this from a woman who has two different men try to pick up on her while she was waiting at the baggage claim for my flight to get in) ( yes I asked why she didnt try to set up a MFM ) The biggest problem is when we have gone to clubs or parties where most of the other women are much thinner than she is. She gets very self conscious and is unable to get in a party spirit. You can imagine what that does or our chances to be approached by others or get to play. So when I am looking at the parties the type of crowd does affect me even suggesting to Bunny that we might attend. Then that one time I am checking out who is attending some of the local parties I hit a jackpot. A good percentage of those couples saying they were attending had women who were a similar size to Bunny. WooHoo Double good, not only was it a party Bunny might attend and be comfortable at, I was in heaven as I tend to prefer curvier women.

So those list can be a very good thing. As for the parties we dont attend due to the lists,it may not be all that bad a thing. Do they really want people who are likely to not fit in show up then leave unhappy?

[DigginIt]

Originally Posted by JustAskJulie

We also look at how many people are signed up and determine from that whether or not it would be worth going to.

This is us (Socials Only). If it looks like the event is going to be dead then we prefer to go out to a regular night club.

sssssh! - It's because I would rather spend the $20 bucks on alcohol

[PB&J]

We decided not to attend one event based on the list. This wasn't on Swing Lifestyle but on a Toronto-based site where I have come to not dislike most of the participants in the forums, but at least realize that we don't have a lot in common with them. I looked at the list, checked ages, and realized that we would have been the oldest people in attendance. Okay, let me rephrase that... we would have been the people with the oldest listed ages at the event. I gently suggested to PB that even if admittance was free, which it was, it would be a waste of gas for us to go all that way. So we stayed home and had a good time together instead.

On the other hand, I've seen the guest list for the house party we are attending this weekend, and am thrilled! Some of my most favourite people are going to be there, and I am looking forward to it more than ever.

[PTTimeDC]

We DO look at who is attending before deciding and it DOES influence our decision to go or not...........of course, we're in Alabama so the pickings are slim to begin with......so it's really an exercise in survival of the sexiest....

[N8ture Girl]

We also use the list to determine if we go or not. With the exception of our own events we host, we have to travel at least an hour and a half to three hours to go to an event. So If there isnt anyone on the list that looks apealing then we stay home. However, there are many who dont sign up, I guess there is a good chance of missing that "great" couple....

To spin off of Ed & Bunny's post, for us its the opposite. More times than not I am the smallest (thinnest) one at events... Sometimes I feel awkward when all the ladies are much bigger than I am. Yeah I know its silly, but it can be a little uncomfortable at times, but then I let it go and go enjoy myself!

[bi4me2]

We definitely use the lists to determine if we are going to attend. Kind of gives you a heads up of what to expect.