Rock Out with Eight Guys Out

Hey gays. Where exactly can you go in this town to make new friends? The Castro's like a stripmall of knick-knack stores and cookie-cutter bars; the gay center's a bit after-school-special; and gay.com is so impersonal and bot-heavy it's like a fey Turing test. Strangely, SF doesn't offer too many interesting social opportunities for meeting new butt pirates. However! For those of you willing to shell out $99 to $495, a company called 8 Guys Out engineers casual dining groups, employing social science to introduce classy, upscale gay men who've been determined to be friendship compatible. Sounds like a good idea, right? Well, not according to a local radio station that decided the whole thing was just, you know, kind of faggy.

When 8 Guys Out tried to advertise on our local classical radio station, they got broken up with via email. KDFC would only accept advertising for straight people. Whatever. That was last January, and undaunted, 8 Guys Out has throwing two to three highly successful dinners a month since then. Who'd have guessed: gay men are apparently eager for chances to meet and greet new friends, and are seldom dull -- "their interests overwhelm me," Managing Partner Robin Koocher told us. Her advice to new-friend-seekers at social events: introduce yourself repeatedly; avoid discussing politics or old relationships, change seats mid-meal, bring business cards, and involve your old friends with your new friends.

In the two years that the company's existed, feedback has been positive (such as two guys who met through 8 Guys Out, then paused their membership to focus on pursuing each other), and they've received thanks from psychologists for creating a social venue that's safe, open, and casual -- a rarity for homogays. Now Robin's exploring licensing options: "I want 8 Guys Out to exist in every city in the country, and Canada," she says, and if customer demand grows, they may do some one-on-one matchmaking. Boys in this town can sometimes be a little catty and cold to new faces, especially when those new faces aren't tedious Badlands-clones; but breaking into SF's notoriously insular gay circles just got a little easier, thanks to the guys who want to break out.

Apply to 8 Guys Out on their website; intro membership starts at $99, and dinners are currently being planned for September and October.