Despite trapping patrons with no rentry, the folks at Webster Hall have turned to online social networking to get clubgoers to interact with each other.
The new "Webster Hall powered by match2blue" is $1.99 at the App Store and acts as a sort of Grindr for straight people (although gays can use it too) who are in or near Webster Hall. After filling out a brief profile of interests (mostly tastes in alcohols and DJs), users will be able to search for the like-minded and find them if they are in the music venue. They can then send public text messages that appear on the big screen in front of the stage in the music venue, offering their chosen target a drink.
So, doesn't "Hey green skirt and glasses, want a gin rickey and some cyber love?" sound charming? The catch is that those who respond can deny the invitation publicly, so the entire room sees it and laughs at you. Ha-ha!
Clearly a welcome change from looking around the room for attractive people and talking to them, Webster Hall and match2blue have found a way to keep people glued to their iPhones (and who doesn't seem to be at shows these days).
As an added bonus, the app will also allow promoters to send out drink discounts or comped entries to nearby patrons who aren't yet caught in the web of this East Village venue. But at very least, "anyone who downloads the application will get free admission on club nights from Aug. 15th through Aug. 31st."
$1.99 for free entry to Webster Hall for two weeks? Awesome. That doesn't guarantee that you won't be kissing frogs, however.
