A.S.K. (Ask Sarah Kathryn)

"Should I give him another chance?"

Q: I went on a date a few nights ago with a family friend and what started out as a fabulous evening quickly turned into a disaster! I met this man at his house for a pre-dinner drink, and then we headed for a meal in Buckhead. We were having a great time, and so we decided stop by another bar because we didn’t want the night to end. To make a long story short, he got a DUI because his B.A.C. was (barely) over the legal limit. I know everyone makes mistakes, but his actions were pretty careless. He has apologized profusely and asked me out again. Should I give him another chance? –Megan, 28

A: I am sure that he is a great guy, but this seems like a rocky way to start a relationship. Besides, he is going to be busy for the next few months dealing with repercussions from that night. Maybe you will see him again in the future, but for now I would give him some space.

We would be happy to set you up with some gentlemen from our Eight at Eight Dinner Club!

A.S.K. (Ask Sarah Kathryn)

"Am I Out of Line?"

Q: I've been on several fantastic dates with this guy, and I really like him.  However, I don't want to get too attached before knowing a few more things. We're both ready to be in relationships, and the timing seems right in terms of where we are in our careers, finances, etc. I'm only several dates deep with this guy, but family preference is an absolute dealbreaker for me. I'm not saying that I want kids right now, but I'd like to know if he's open to the possibility of a family. How do I even break into this topic with him?    - Ava, 30-something

A: Ava, thanks so much for coming to us! You've hit the nail on the head - Family and reproductive decisions are so personal! This may seem like the last thing you want to ask your beau about in the honeymoon stages of your relationship, but it is not impossible! You definitely want to avoid wording like, "Are you going to give me babies one day?" Instead, try asking him a broader question about his vision for the future (with or without you). "Tell me what you are looking for in terms of a relationship?" and "Do you see yourself settling down and maybe having children one day?" are perfectly fair questions for the third date. If you're both invested in a long-term relationship, then these questions should be easy to weave into a conversation. I wish you the best of luck Ava!

Ever googled a first date?

Social Media background checks are becoming more popular in qualifying candidates in the business arena, but we can easily see where this is headed. While Social Intelligence only works with employers (for now), you can just imagine the implications for this sort of "checkboxing" in more social and casual situations. Not only will Cindy Sue or Ricky Bobby Google their first date, but they may also go ahead and run a harmless little background check on them as well. Gizmodo's article explains "how [a social media background check] works, and what you can do if you've got to have one of these reports run" but it may not be exactly what you expect. Read the full article here.

Now, if you're rushing to your inbox to contact Social Intelligence about your date next week, consider this.  A first date may give you concerns ("Stranger Danger"), but who doesn't enjoy the mystery and excitement of getting to know someone new and interesting? A NYT Modern Love article offers a comical perspective on Why You Should Never Google On The First Date.  What would you do?

Single in ATL Blog

Single in ATL talk about the trendiest places for singles to meet in Atlanta, offer news on upcoming events around the city, and sell some cute merchandise as well. We were recently mentioned in their blog, where they gave a quick run down of what we do. Check them out for more resources and Atlanta singles' perspectives!

The Perfect First Online Message

A while back, OkCupid.com, a free online dating site researched exactly what someone should say in their first message to the cute chick/handsome dude in the profile thumbnail. Read the whole article here.

The basics of where we agree with them:
1. Show that you're literate! (Using "u" for "you" = BAD)
2. Avoid commenting on the body - even if it's positive. (You CAN use pretty if it's an adverb: "You're pretty cool" is acceptable)
3. Say hello without saying "hello". Opening with "hi", "hello", and "hey" got the least amount of replies.
4. Be specific. Reference things that let the other person know that you've read their profile.

Missed Connections, anyone?

Improv comedians performing dramatic readings of Craigslist's Missed Connection listings. Do not miss this.

A.S.K. (Ask Sarah Kathryn) - Ill (conversational) Skillz

Q: Sarah Kathryn, I am not a player, and consider myself an overall gentleman. When it comes to dating, however, it's not my strong point in life. I can not seem to hold a conversation with a girl, because my mind just goes blank. Only occasionally do I seem to stumble upon the right words. To give you a little bit of background, I have been in the military for the past 4 years, and this problem is a new one for me. Before, I could engage anyone in a good conversation. Needless to say, I rarely struggled in asking for a girl's number. If you could just help me with an opener to break the ice, I'm sure my success should quickly rise back to social standards - and I won't feel so socially incompetent!

A: First of all Anthony, thank you very much for your service in the military. After 4 years in the military, I can understand why you're programmed to only talk to men! It might take a while, but you should warm up soon with the ladies. Try the following openers to warm up your chops:

- Are you from here or another city?

Ask lots of "tell me" questions. Any open-ended questions will keep a conversation flowing:

- Tell me about your family.

- Tell me about your work.

- How is your job treating you?

- How was your weekend?

- How do you spend your weekends?

Additionally we've found that as men age, they become more attractive and more confident. The women become aggressors at times! You should check out David Deangelo - he has some great advice! Best Regards.

Enter "8at8" for Cocktails & Comedy!

Carl LaBove, Tom Segura, and Rory Scovel in Full Spectrum Comedy

ComedyEnter "8at8" at checkout for $10 tickets to Thursday night's Full Spectrum Comedy Show at Buckhead Theatre.  Doors open at 7:00pm, and the show begins at 8:00pm.

Eight at Eight Dinner Club is hosting a pre-show happy hour from 6:30pm at our office right next door to the Buckhead Theatre (3102 Roswell Road, Atlanta 30305). See you there!

Top 10 Most Overused Phrases in Dating Profiles

Top Ten Most Overused Phrases In Personal Ads

Chuckle-worthy list Written and Circulated Anonymously in Matchmakers' Circles

Below is my list of the Top Ten Most Overused Phrases In Personal Ads. If YOUR ad does not contain any of the following phrases, please contact me immediately! 

10) "I live life to the fullest!"

(Is this really the most profound philosophical statement you can come up with? Dig a little deeper, Nietzsche.)

9) "Loves to laugh" or "Fun-loving"

(Alright! A person who enjoys laughter and fun. What a rare individual; I must meet her at once. Just once I'd like to see "loves to sob uncontrollably for days on end.")

8) "I'm ____ years old but I look MUCH younger!" 

(Sure you do. And if I just did a couple more sit-ups, I could still make the Giants starting lineup. Is self-delusion great or what?)

7) "I'm a down to earth..." 

(If I see this phrase one more time, I'll... I'll... I don't know WHAT I'll do! I might be forced to actually turn off my computer and go interact with people in the REAL world. Okay, I probably wouldn't do anything THAT drastic. But you get the idea.)

6) "I can go from jeans to a cocktail dress in 10 minutes!" 

(You must be very proud. I can't believe they haven't made this an Olympic event yet.)

5) "I'm a intelegent..." 

(If you can't SPELL intelligent... do you see where I'm going with this? Class? Anyone?)

4) "I'm a typical (insert astrological sign here)." 

(Astrology? Yeah, it's a science. I think they use it at NASA. I don't even know where to begin here. If you're looking for some insight into the nature of my character, don't ask me what my sign is. Talk to the Easter Bunny, he has the real inside track on me.)

3) "I don't have a pic, but trust me, you won't be disappointed!" 

(Trust me, I will.)

2) "Looking for THE ONE" or "Looking for my Soulmate" 

(Really? These are the most fresh and original lines you can come up with? Your mother and I had such high hopes for you. Oh well, there's always trade school.)

And the Number One Most Overused Phrase In A Personal Ad is...

1) "Don't worry, I plan to loose [sic] the weight real soon." 

(Ok, it's probably just me, but why am I still worried?)

Put them all together, and the end result usually looks something like this....

"Fun-loving, down-to-earth woman with 5 kids from 5 different fathers seeks a intelegint guy who loves to laugh. Must be in shape! I'm temporarily 50 pounds overweight, but don't worry, I plan to loose the weight right after I finish these fries! Must look like Brad Pitt and be no older than 35! I'm 49 but I look MUCH younger! I don't have a pic, but trust me, you won't be disappointed! I'm a Libra so I live life to the fullest! I get along best with Geminis who have six-figure incomes! Must have a big heart and a bigger house, cuz the landlord just kicked us out!" 

(Well, as long you have realistic expectations.)

Happy 4th of July!

Wishing everyone a safe and happy 4th!

In her own words: Intern Rachel

During the four days of my internship at the 8at8 Atlanta office, I have learned so much on how to make phone calls, fill out paper work, make an awesome billboard sign for outside, and how to do research to find out needed information on the clients. Not only are the employees here amazingly cool and helpful, but they also are supporting and treat me more like a friend than an intern. If I ever messed up on a phone call or paperwork, they wouldn’t yell, “OMG, you are a horrible person, get out, GET OUT YOU FAILURE!!!” (Okay, maybe that’s a little dramatic…) instead, they would give me advice on what I could do next time. When I went here after camp, I was always happy and ready to work, thanks to the warm greeting Sarah Kathryn Smith gave me. Thanks to this wonderful experience, I have learned so much and have really got an idea of how a business works. This internship ruled!

~Rachel W J

Coolest 8at8 intern EVER