BALTIMORE - Entertainment venues, restaurants and event planners who may find themselves scrambling to fill seats can reach out to an untapped audience of enthusiastic customers ? directly on their mobile devices.
Mixolo, the “Going Out app,” has added a free portal for hosts to post solo-friendly events and experiences for unaccompanied adults – no plus-one required!
The app was initially released in 2018 –for free download on Google Play and Apple iTunes–so members of Mixolo, “the IRL (in real life) social network for solo adults,”could sign up for events and activities welcoming to those stepping out on their own.
Now hosts can directly connect with Mixolo members – a vast base of potential customers who otherwise might skip their establishment or event because they feel they need to bring a plus-one.
Currently, close to one-third of American households are occupied by one person–up from just 5 percent a century ago? and more than 110 million American adults currently identify as single. In other words, solo adults account for a large and growing sector of the population.
"Restaurants, theaters and concert halls should pay attention to their solo customers,” said Martha Thomas, editor of Maryland Sip and Savor magazine, who also covers food, arts and entertainment in and around the Mid-Atlantic region as a freelance journalist.
“More and more people are choosing to live alone these days, and even those with partners may want to do things their significant other might not be keen to do,” Thomas added. “Why not make it comfortable and welcoming for everyone, whether or not they have a plus-one? Creating a welcoming space for those on their own seems to be a no brainer."
Carolyn Walton Lynch founded Mixolo in 2017 “to disrupt the stigma of going out solo–and the notion that relationship status should limit your personal interests or pursuits.”
“There’s no need to opt out of the things we love to do and the places we want to go because we happen to be unaccompanied for whatever reason,” Lynch said. “We can proudly choose to attend events as ‘solos’ in the company of others who share our interests.”
“Instead of expecting a plus-one, Mixolo is introducing our members to their plus-some,” she added.
The new host portal ensures that event organizers and venues can reach members, including their own patrons, with both Mixolo-exclusive offerings and Mixolo partner events, in which “seats” may be set aside for solo guests who register through Mixolo’s web or app listings.
With its “Go solo.” slogan, Mixolo was designed to offer a wide range of events such as:behind-the scenes theater and museum excursions, wine dinners, after-hours cooking classes at local restaurants, biking and walking tours, sporting and entertainment options, boot camps and immersive skills workshops, cultural events, and coming soon, travel experiences.
Recently, the Michael Bruley Studio hosted aSip'N' Paint event at the Spirits of Mount Vernon. Mixolo guests were seated together for the evening of painting and wine. “They found itso easy to engage since they knew that they were all there for the same reason – to enjoy art and connect,” said studio owner, Michael Bruley.
“Using the Mixolo host portal is terrific,”he added. “Extending a welcome to guests who might otherwise opt out because they can't convince a plus-one is good business, too."
When hosts make Mixolo groups feel welcome, those guests feel connected and come back.
Such is the case with Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, which reported seeing guests return after their initial introductions through Mixolo events.
Similarly, Mixolo’s Create Your Own Crepe evenings at Sofi’s Crepes brought new customers to the Belvedere Square franchise. “Many of the guests didn’t even know we existed before they got here,” said owner Linda Conrad. ”Following the after-hours parties, we received many ‘likes’ on Facebook and saw guests return with friends and family.”
For more information about becoming a Mixolo host, visit www.mixolo.io, download the Mixolo app from Google Play and Apple iTunes or call 301-938-6324.
About MixoloMixolo, the in-real-life social network, is building an IRL social community of solo adults, regardless of relationship status, who want to connect with interesting and like-minded people at specially designed events and experiences. Activities are designed for platonic and organic engagement. Mixolois based in Baltimore with plans to expand to additional cities. The host portal is open to established event coordinators and hospitality and entertainment coordinators in the continental United States. For more information, visit www.mixolo.io or follow @mixolo_gosolo on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
