The Kevin Bacon Party

For a long time now my city has been renowned for its lack of available men seeking a long-term relationship with 30 something women. It seems most hetro guys have partnered up before they hit 35 and it's slim pickings for us girls left on the shelf.

Whatever the reason, there are a truckload of single Generation X women in this city and not enough guys for us to go around.

Enter...The Kevin Bacon Party!

I plan to host a targeted, singles evening for Generation X professionals with a penchant and means for the good life. To grab my single contenders' attention (and more importantly cajole them into attending), we will avoid the innuendo that people who go to such functions are 'desperate and dateless' (...there goes the working title "What Melbourne Man Drought? It's Raining Men!").

I have called my endeavour The Kevin Bacon Party where people will meet their match six degrees from Kevin Bacon and from eachother.

Most Generation Xers will remember the Kevin Bacon six degrees of separation game? Heck, the namesake created a charity (sixdegrees.org) based on this notoriety. I've workshopped the connections and here is one scenario:

We start with Kevin Bacon (1 degree), who has acted in A Few Good Men with Tom Cruise (2 degrees) who is married to Katie Holmes (3 degrees), who stars in Don't be Afraid of the Dark. I've shared a bottle of wine with the publicist for this movie (4degrees) who met Katie Holmes and I'm the party organiser (5 degrees) which brings its attendees six degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon.

I know singles' parties are a dime a dozen. I've seen them regularly advertised by the dating site, RSVP, as well as the speed daters and even commercial radio stations (especially around Valentine's Day).

The difference I hope can be achieved with The Kevin Bacon Party is attendees a) will be quality and b) will be connected at least six degrees from someone else in the room. So it will be a party among friends of friends. Everyone likes to meet their new mate through a friend - it's a good, solid reference point.

My experience as a 35 year old woman is I've generally run out of puff to trawl the city bars on a Friday and Saturday night looking for new talent. I remember it working well in my 20s but that's also the catch - there's the age varient. I've moved on 10 years (cougar I'm not...yet).

Essentially, I'm not alone in my vintage for giving up the gas or being disillusioned that most guys who hang at these places are in their 20s. That doesn't mean us old farts are ready to turn from love. Oh, no. We're ripe for it. We just need the right place, people and connections to get us over the line.

If I start the ball rolling to lead the troops down the aisle - here's the current plan:

We go high-end, $150 per head. It's cocktail themed. Dress up; but guys won't have to worry about wearing a tux and girls can hold off on the gown (save this for your wedding day).

The venue is Comme, our champas is Moet. We engage local companies to donate products for door prizes. The event extends to men in Sydney, Canberra and Adelaide (it is a Melbourne man drought afterall) and any interstaters wishing to swoon our Melbourne girls are welcome.

Tickets are limited.

Sat 28 August 2010 from 8pm (block out the date!)

And last but not least - the event's success will be dependent on all of us. Please put your thinking caps on and nominate all single people you know who fit the bill. Help me spread the word about The Kevin Bacon Party and encourage single Generation X professionals to get in touch with me (carolinejamespublicrelations@gmail.com)

We particularly need men - so think hard who you know, work with, live next door to, do yoga class, say hi to at the footy or meet at the gastro pub. Think of it as helping our fellow mankind.

It is my mission to find the Generation X man or woman of your dreams!