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Become an Event Organiser with Mixing Out – The Easiest Way to Meet New People

With so many new members signing up to Mixing Out, there’s never been a better time to become an event organiser – it’s a great way to meet new people and kickstart your social calendar for the new year.

So what does an event organiser actually do? Well, it’s really quite simple – you get to organise the kinds of events that interest YOU. And you’ll get to meet new and friendly people while you’re at it, it’s the perfect way of making new friends with similar interests, who want to share the same experiences as you do.

Feel like organising a massive night on the town? How about a friendly drink at that new bar you’ve always wanted to go to? Or maybe you’ve got something a little more adventurous in mind… always wanted to go paint balling, or Go Karting? The best part of being an event organiser means you’re able to experience all the things you’ve dreamed, in the company of some really great people. And that’s how we think all things should be enjoyed.

“I love going to the events and organising them. You get to meet so many different people and I’ve made friends with some great people within my first few events.

It is such a relaxed atmosphere, there is no pressure and everyone is in the same shoes.

Once you have been and even organised your first event it’s easy from there, so pluck up the courage and go for it, try it out because it’s really good and you won’t be able to wait for the next event once you’ve experienced your first!”

Francy,

At the moment, we’re putting on events in Leeds, Wakefield, and Derby, so we’d love to invite anybody to come along and see how easy it is to organise your own event. Have a chat with our organisers and regular members, and find out for yourself just how much fun it can be. So long as you’re outgoing, up for a really good time and you know how to enjoy yourself, we think you’d make a perfect event organiser.

To find out more on how to become an organiser and hosting your own social event, click here.

February 18, 2014
Meet People in Derby for The Beer Festival This February

Okay, so it’s not exactly beer garden season just yet, and it’s still far too cold to confidently order a cider without the guy behind the bar giving you a funny look. But this year’s beer festival is going to be the perfect excuse to meet people in Derby and have a great time over a good old pint.

That’s right, the CAMRA National Winter Ales Festival is coming to Derby this February, serving up an offering of the best ales, ciders, continental beers and mead from all around the country. This is all taking place at The Roundhouse, from Wednesday the 19^th to Saturday the 22^nd . So if you fancy it, pick a date that suits and make yourselves heard on our events board. It’s not for another week yet, but the sooner everybody knows about it, the easier it will be to organise a get together.

There’s also going to be a selection of live bands playing, so even if you’re not a big drinker (there’s probably only a couple of you out there), or if you just don’t fancy a mid-week night on the beers, then there’s still lots to enjoy and to keep you entertained.

And for the connoisseurs amongst you, there’s also going to be the Champion Winter Beer of Britain beers to be judged, taking place at the nearby Carriage Shop Theatre. We’ve been told that’s a judging competition to find the best beer in Britain, but until we turn up for ourselves, we’re not entirely sure. Either way, it promises to be a fun night out!

Oh yes, and with all that beer flowing, you might want to check our guide to partying hard without the hangover the next morning. Because if you’re planning to make a night of it, you’re going to need it.

February 12, 2014
Laugh Riot: Busy Making New Friends in Leeds & Derby

Making new friends with MixingOut is always tons of fun, but our most recent get together in Leeds was a real laugh-riot. It was a comedy night at the Verve Bar and a chance to see some proper standup.

Above: Some of the guys at the Verve Bar, Leeds.

After meeting up with organiser Francy, we got our drinks ordered and settled in for a night of fun and frolics. Most of the group had never been to a comedy club before, so there were quite a few worried faces (we’ll be okay, just so long as we don’t sit at the front!). But everybody quickly loosened up once the show got started. It was great, everybody had a really fun time, and the crowd was awesome too; friendly, lively, and totally up for a laugh – which made the whole night even better.

In fact, the night went so well that some of the group decided to make ‘comedy nights’ a weekly occurrence. So if that sounds like something you’ve always wanted to experience, then check our events page and sign yourself up!

Our next event that week was for a night out on the town, and this time we were in Derby. After meeting up with a group of entirely new faces, we made our way to Revolution de Cuba, a really energetic bar situated in one of liveliest parts of the city centre – perfect for a Saturday night. The crowds were in full force; vibrant, sociable, and up for a really good time.

Above: Everybody enjoying themselves at Revolution de Cuba, Derby.

It was MixingOut’s first event in Derby and we’re pleased to say it went down a storm. Everybody who attended had an amazing time; drinks, music, dancing and friendly company – just what everybody needs after a gruelling week at work!

January 31, 2014
Beer & Ping Pong: Best new Bars in Leeds for Meeting People

We thought we’d kick start the new year with a showcase of some of the best new bars in Leeds, all perfect venues for meeting people before that big night out… or perhaps a cheeky game of ping pong.

Belgrave Music Hall

Where: 1-1A Cross Bellgrave Street, Leeds, LS2 8JP

Despite only opening its doors to the public just before Christmas last year, the Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen has already proved extremely popular and has drawn a lively crowd almost every night.

The Belgrave has gained a reputation for offering up some of the best craft beers and real ales in Leeds, and some of the tastiest grub to go alongside with it. Which means you can pop in to catch the latest live act – as the name of the place suggests – but its also a great place to just hang out and enjoy good company as well.

The Atlas Pub

Where: Atlas House, Leeds, LS1 2HL

A mix of good old traditional English pubs and trendy new bars is a major focus for The Atlas Pub, which is full of atmosphere and boasts a spacious seating area for groups of friends, as well as dark little nooks for more intimate get togethers.

If you like your traditional pub snacks, they offer a delicious range of modern alternatives, including crispy pigs ears, crackling & apple sauce, pork pies and even a pint of prawns with poppy seed mayo – gastro-grub of the highest calibre.

Aside from the wide range of ales and beers, The Atlas also have an extensive selection of whiskeys – which all leads us to consider this place a suitable haunt for you and your friends on a blustery Sunday afternoon.

The Roxy Ball Room

Where: Boar Lane, Leeds, LS1 6HW

Another welcome addition to the city’s vibrant hub of bars and restaurants, The Roxy Ball Room is a laid back, relaxed venue that offers up a new dimension to a night on the town – drinking and ping pong. But if your paddle skills are rather poor, there’s still the staple favourite pool room also included. What more fun could you possible want!

January 20, 2014
New Year, New Friends: 6 Resolutions to Keep Things Social

It’s that time of year when we all vow to shed those pounds, meet new friends, get more out of life and generally swear to be an overall better person. That’s right, New Year signifies New Beginnings. We all come up with the regular resolutions for the upcoming year, no matter how unlikely we are to actually follow through. So what if you’ve promised yourself to visit a primitive island, help the locals build a Starbucks and rediscover yourself in the process? You’ll probably never do it.

The key is to keep things simple. You can make some very easy changes that seem small, but add up to a great deal in the long run, especially when it comes to your social life. So with that being said, here’s a quick list of New Year’s resolutions that every person should consider:

1. Put the smart phone away, especially in the company of others. It seems as though we’ve become so dependant on our second screens that we’ve forgotten the fundamentals of social etiquette. Would you start casually flipping through a magazine whilst somebody was trying to hold a conversation with you? No? Then leave the smart phone in your pocket.

2. Plan something interesting with friends six months in advance. That way, if the next six months don’t pan out exactly as you’d hoped, you’ll still have something to look forward to.

3. Make more of an effort to stay in touch with friends, other than texting and Facebook. Even if it’s just a short phone call once a week, or a catch up over a drink and a quick bite to eat, regular contact with your mates is so important – no matter how busy things get!

4. If there’s nothing on television, get yourself up off the sofa and meet up with friends instead. All too often we end up staying in and ogling the telly, even when we know there’s nothing worth watching. It’s a bad habit and it’s got to stop now!

5. Find something you’ve always wanted to do and get a friend to do it with you. Whether you’ve always wanted to jump out of a plane, go paint balling, or join the gym, getting a friend to do the same will alleviate the anxiety of trying something new all by yourself. This way, you are far more likely to actually do it.

6. Next time you’d rather stay at home when somebody asks to meet up, go against your instinct and meet up anyway. The best nights out are always unplanned and spontaneous. Trust us.

January 14, 2014
Meet Friends for a Good Movie, What’s in Store for 2014

Everybody loves going to see a good movie now and then, it’s a brilliant excuse to get out and meet friends, whatever time of the day. Whether you’re filling a few spare hours in the middle of a quiet afternoon, or setting yourselves up for a fun night out, going to watch a movie gives you plenty to enjoy and talk about later over a few drinks or a quick bite to eat.

Luckily, 2014 is chocked full of some spectacular-looking movies to go and see together. It doesn’t matter if you and your friends are film buffs, or just looking for some last minute entertainment, here’s just a few of our favourites we think you’ll enjoy.

Godzilla

Forget everything you knew about the 1998 abomination, because this time around they got Legendary Pictures to oversee proceedings, the same company that raised the bar in franchise reboots with the latest Superman and Batman movies.

The film retells the origin of Godzilla in contemporary times as a “terrifying force of nature” and promises to be one the year’s most spectacular big-budget blockbusters; the perfect mix of compelling storytelling, impressive special effects, and thrilling set pieces. Check out the exciting new trailer here.

22 Jump Street

The sequel to the hilarious 21 Jump Street sees Channing Tatum and Jonah hill reprise their roles as a couple of underachieving cops, this time going back to college to crack a crime ring within a fraternity.

The plot might sound a little thin on the ground, but the first movie was filled with plenty of laugh out load moments, with some great scenes and very funny performances throughout – so hopefully we can expect more of the same second time around. The guys even took the time during production to film this hilarious parody of That famous Jean Claude Van Damn commercial.

Interstellar

Christopher Nolan’s first release since his successful The Dark Knight Trilogy, Interstellar is a standalone science fiction film in a similar vein to the much applauded Inception.

Details surrounding the main plot are rather hush hush. All that’s been confirmed is that it’s about the discovery of a wormhole, and a team of scientists’ voyage through it, based upon the work of theoretical physicist Kip Thorne and rewritten by Christopher and longterm collaborator Jonathan Nolan.

So why are we so excited, even when we know very little about the whole thing? Well, Christopher Nolan has got to be one of the most innovative filmmakers working today, every one of of his films is so much more than a modern classic, they’re an event. And a new Christopher Nolan movie coming out in 2014 is surely an event worth going to.

RoboCop

Another well beloved franchise gets a brand new makeover for 2014, RoboCop is a more than just of remake of the 1987 original, it’s going to be a whole new vision that already looks to be one of the year’s most exciting blockbusters – especially if you’re a fan of good of old fashioned 80’s action movies. Be sure to catch the latest trailer here.

Also keep an eye out for…

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For

The long-awaited sequel to 2005’s Sin City finally gets a release date (fingers crossed for August 22^nd) after countless delays and set backs. It’s based on the second graphic novel in Frank Miller’s Sin City series and sees director Robert Rodriguez return alongside old characters, and some new ones too. Expect action, stylised violence, and a story darker than the tones of black on the screen.

A Million Ways to Die in the West

Seth McFarlane follows up the hilarious Ted with this Western-inspired comedy about a cowardly farmer who seeks the help of a gunslinger’s wife to win back his love. Like Ted and Family Guy before it, expect controversial gags, quotable dialogue and outrageous humour.

The Monuments Men

George Clooney leads an unlikely group of Second World War soldiers to steal back a collection of art masterpieces from enemy thieves and return them to their owners, in this mash-up of Saving Private Ryan and Ocean’s 11.

Dumb and Dumber 2

If only to see Jim Carey and Jeff Daniels reprise their roles from the original classic, this film has surely got to be worth checking out with friends for a good laugh.

January 8, 2014
A Merry Way of Meeting New Friends: What We Got Up To Last Week

It was another merry MixingOut get together last week and a great opportunity for meeting new friends. This time at the Christmas market on Millennium Square in the centre of Leeds. So you can imagine just how merry it was; music, cheer, and plenty of Cherry Honey Mead (more about that later).

December is usually a quiet time for MixingOut, what with all the work parties, last minute shopping, and typical family commitments, but the strength of our success over the past few months proved all too much for people to resist and folk just couldn’t wait to get together for a good old Christmas knees up. Yup, it may have been a little quieter (and a helluva lot colder) but we still had a great time!

With its traditional wooden stalls, carousels, and festive greenery festooned in twinkling colourful lights, the Christmas market in the middle of Leeds’ bustling Millennium Square provided the perfect backdrop for our merry meet up. And what better time than Christmas for meeting new friends?

Along with a lively bunch of regulars, we also had a new member come along, who joined MixingOut only hours before, all of whom were greeted by organiser Francy when they arrived. Actually, Francy was a little late because her train was delayed, but everybody found each other just fine and kept themselves entertained until she arrived.

In between browsing the market stalls and music tents, not to mention sampling copious amounts of what basically tasted like whiskey, cherry and honey, everybody got a quick bite to eat and then carried on the festivities in central Leeds.

Hopped up on mead, we decided to stop at a lively pub called ‘Around the World in 80 Beers’, where we could all have a bit of chat, catch up, get to know the new guy, and listen to some live bands. It was brilliant, and everybody had a great time. After about an hour or so, we made our way to a great little bar called ‘The Living Room’ and stayed there until about two in the morning… with the newcomer wobbling slightly with a 6am start!

December 23, 2013
MixingOut Update: Meet New Friends in Derby

Okay, we realise that Christmas isn’t quite here yet and that the new year still seems like a long way away, but it really isn’t – trust us, we should know more than anyone!

Why? Well, seeing as though you asked, while most of you have been getting together for drinks, exchanging presents and generally having a merry old time of it this festive season, we’ve been busy hard at work preparing some really exciting things for 2014.

MixingOut is taking the party to Derby

As of January, MixingOut is pleased to announce that we’ll be expanding to Derby. That’s right, we’ve already taken a good look around the city and visited some of the friendliest bars, clubs and venues we think would make excellent places for groups to meet up and hang out – so be sure to check out some of our favourites here.

We’re ecstatic to be taking the party to new locations across the country, along with hundreds more outgoing people looking to enjoy themselves. Our community is constantly on the up and up, with more and more members joining everyday and Derby is where the party’s heading to next. We’ve already lined up a team of very friendly girls and guys to organise some of our Derby events, and they can’t wait to meet all of you and start the fun!

So if you’re new to Derby and looking to meet new friends, or if you already live in the city and feel like trying something different, meeting up with lots of new people who just want to have a good time, then sign up to MixingOut to get a heads up on the latest goings on.

In meantime, be sure to keep an eye on our Facebook and Twitter for further developments and MixingOut news.

December 12, 2013
MixingOut’s Guide to Last Minute Christmas Gifts for Your New Friends

If you’re on ‘advent calendar’ time then you’ve probably worked out by now that there isn’t many chocolates (erm, we mean days) left until Christmas. Hopefully you’ve got something exciting lined up for the festive season, someplace fun to go and lots of new friends to meet up with. But have you sorted out your Christmas prezzies?

Seeing as though it’s the time for gift giving and exchanging presents, we thought it might be a good idea to go through a few really cool, really fun gift ideas for everyone. After all, what better way to celebrate friendship and fun times than arranging a secret santa for the big Christmas meet up!

Tabasco Spicy Chocolate: For the guy who’s crazy enough to eat anything

You know which guy we’re on about. Every time you go for something to eat, he’ll order the hottest thing on the menu, or order the craziest round of shots at bar. Well these Tabasco Spicy Chocolates will put the heat into his Christmas treat!

Mojito Lip Balm: For the party girl who likes to look her best

If you’re heading out on the town this Christmas, then she’ll want to look hot (as always) so why not give her this deliciously soothing lip balm with a fresh and nourishing mojito aroma.

Grow Me Beer Monster Kit: For the guy who loves a pint

Packed with everything needed to grow your own beer hops, this will be the most memorable drink anybody buys him this Christmas!

Best Hot Chocolate Kit Ever: For the girly girl who loves chocolate

Bag up a personalised batch of hot chocolate powder and mini chocolate chips for the richest, creamiest mug of hot chocolate, alongside a bundle of mini marshmallows to pop on top. Yummy!

Super Nintendo Cartridge Soap: For the gamer with dirty hands

Because gamers need to keep their hands clean and soft (and preferably scented) why not take soap to the next level with these really cool Game Soaps designed to look like iconic game cartridges. Groovy!

December 3, 2013
Existential Dilemmas & Making New Friends Over 30

So we were trawling through the internet, like most of us do on a daily basis (checking what our friends have been up to, catching up on the hottest trends, searching for funny videos of cats etc.) when we stumbled upon this rather interesting article asking Why Is It Hard to Make Friends Over 30? and it really got us thinking…

Yeah, yeah – we know – maybe we should leave the thinking to the experts (it only ever gets us into trouble) but we couldn’t help but feel a little intrigued. Is it really that difficult making new friends over 30?

Well, now that I’m asking myself that very same question, I’ve come to realise it’s one of those hazy yes-and-no sort of things: it all depends on how you look at it.

Of course, the friends you make in your early days are perhaps the ones that resonate the most when you think about genuine friendship. They’re the ones with whom we shared our first experiences; skinned our knees with, fought, cried, and shared meaningful/meaningless conversations about the opposite sex with. In short, those are the kinds of friends we’ve come to compare every other friend against since – and they always seem to come up short.

On the other hand, it’s important to acknowledge that we were very different people back then. Our expectations of friendships were maybe romanticised, or a little bit naïve to say the least. So it’s very useful to manage our expectations of potential friendships now we’ve grown a little bit older, gotten more socially experienced and, hopefully, a little bit wiser.

Or maybe the idea of finding it difficult to make new friends as you get older is an existential dilemma (we told you it got us thinking). And if that’s the case, then there are plenty of real-world tools at our disposal to use against it, like Mixing Out!

November 20, 2013