I Heard Something Wild This Week.

A founder told me they had 800 people RSVP to their event. But only 75 showed up.

That’s a 9% turnout. What the actual f*ck is happening?!

Just a few months ago, I said events were hitting 300 RSVPs and 80 attendees — about a 27% turnout. Now it’s single digits.

People are blasting invites like they’re firing bazookas, spraying and praying. It’s impersonal, lazy, and it clearly doesn’t work.

And that 9% that does turn up? I HIGHLY doubt is your ICP. Maaaaybe 1% is someone interesting. Maybe.

So that’s 100% effort for 99% waste. Why would anyone in their right mind think that strategy is effective?

This used to work… I come from nightlife, where we’d send promoters to pass out flyers on the streets to everyone that passed by.

But 1:many is over.

In a world of automation and scale, the strategy is: intentionality, super niches, and closing the door to anyone not aligned with your purpose.

Stop chasing volume. Stop using Luma, Partyful, and every mass-invite app that promises reach.

Go back to the lost arts. Emails. Phone calls. Texts. Even snail mail.

In a world of automation, intimacy and exclusivity is your advantage.

I don’t want to be in a room with 100 random people. I want to be in a room with 10 aligned humans who are 10 steps ahead of me. In rooms that are curated, not crowded.

Wouldn’t you?