Solo doesn't mean lonely. Here's how to own it.
There's a version of going out solo that's genuinely great. No waiting for people to commit, no compromising on what you want to do, no managing other people's energy. The challenge is that most social venues aren't designed with solo attendees in mind, so you need to know where to go.
When you go out with a group, you largely talk to your group. When you go out alone, you're available. People can approach you, you can approach people, and the conversations that happen tend to be more genuine because there's no social performance happening for an existing audience.
The awkwardness of going out alone is almost entirely in your head during the first ten minutes. After that, if you've chosen the right kind of event, you'll be too busy doing the thing to feel self-conscious. The key is choosing events with enough structure that you're not just standing around.
You're not alone, you're available. That's a position of social strength, not weakness.
Structured social events are the gold standard for solo outings. Mixler events are built for this. When the event has an activity, a game, or a shared goal, you're immediately oriented toward the people around you. A pottery class, a trivia night, or a cocktail-making session gives you an instant in with whoever's sitting next to you.
Beyond Mixler, solo-friendly options include bar trivia nights (most welcome solo players who get folded into a team), improv classes (structured, physically active, inherently social), rock climbing gyms (the culture is very inclusive), and photography walks. Avoid passive activities like movies or concerts for a first solo outing. You want interaction, not just presence.
Mixler events are designed so solo attendees feel at home from minute one.
Arrive slightly early. This sounds counterintuitive if you're nervous, but arriving before the main crowd means you're one of the first people there and the venue isn't full yet. It's much easier to start a conversation with someone when the room is half-empty than when everyone's already settled into groups.
Have a one-sentence answer ready for 'what brings you here.' Something honest and simple. 'I wanted to try pottery and didn't want to wait until I had someone to come with' is a perfect answer. It's relatable, slightly self-aware, and it opens a natural follow-up conversation. You don't need a script beyond that.
Arriving 5-10 minutes before an event officially starts is the sweet spot. Not awkwardly early, but before the room fills up.
We built Mixler knowing that a lot of our attendees would come alone. About half of every event is people showing up solo. The format is designed around that. Nobody's going to stare at you for arriving without a group, because there are a dozen other people in the same situation.
We also keep our events small enough that you're not invisible. In a group of 25-35 people doing the same activity, everyone ends up talking to everyone by the end of the night. You'll leave knowing more names than you expected.