Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register at livelyfish?

Just fill in the form headed Email Updates at the top of every page and we’ll send you regular email updates. There is no membership form or any fees applicable for livelyfish – no anything – it’s all really, really simple.

By the way we respect your privacy. Your details will not be shared with others for any reason.

What does livelyfish cost to join?

Nothing – livelyfish is entirely 100% Free, No charge, Gratis – plus it’s open to anyone who wants to use it and supported almost entirely by volunteers.

There is no official membership or anything like that – livelyfish was built “bachelor style” right from the beginning (i.e. keep it really simple for maximum results with minimum effort).

Are these events just for singles or for anyone?

livelyfish is not only for singles (though they have shown most interest so far) – couples and families are also welcome to use livelyfish to meet others with similar interests at events in their local area. Many of the events are a mixture of single people and couples.

It’s just a great way to get out and about doing the things you like to do with other people. For people who are new to the area it’s also a brilliant way to meet people.

I haven’t been before – tell me what happens when I get to an event?

We try to make sure there is a host at each event and list their first name & number along with the event. These wonderful people volunteer to help make it as easy as possible for others, especially newcomers, at events. If you are coming for the first time or have any special needs, give them a call before the event to let them know you are coming and they can give you all the details for that particular event.

How do I know who/where the livelyfish crowd are at an event?

The best way is to contact the host (preferably prior to the event) so that they can advise you where to meet and how to recognise them. We leave it up to the host to decide how to do it as different approaches are necessary at different types of events. You’ll find that once you’ve come once or twice it’s usually pretty easy to find a familiar livelyfish face who will know where everyone is.

I’m hosting an event. How can I let new people know where I am at an event?

We leave it up to the host to decide how to do it, but here’s some ideas to help spark your imagination:

1. wear an item of clothing people can easily identify
2. tie coloured balloons to a chair
3. wear coloured ribbons pinned or tied to your clothing
4. put a figurine of a fish on the table

It’s generally a good idea to make it a little discreet as some people are reluctant to be identified publically as part of a group. It’s also helpful to identify yourself to the people running the venue if this is practical.

How do I let everyone know if I am attending an event?

If you are planning to go to an event, you should use the Who’s Going form at the bottom of each current event. We will than add you to the Who’s Going list for the event.

People using livelyfish often look at Who’s Going to see who and how many are going when deciding to go to an event – so it’s greatly appreciated if everyone can let us know when they are going.

Hosts can send us a list of people who are attending either via email or the Who’s Going form.

How do I find who is going to an event?

We attempt to maintain a Who’s Going list for every event. We’ve noticed if people see a few others going they are more likely to give it a go – so we encourage everyone to let us know if they are planning to go to an event.

By the way we only use first names or first name and initial.

I met someone really nice at any event the other night – how do I get their phone number?

You go to another event where you hopefully meet them again & ask for their number. We respect people’s privacy & phone numbers and email addresses are not be shared with others for any reason.

What happens if it rains at weather dependent events?

The only way to find out is to contact the host for the particular event on the day. We try to make sure there is a contact (or preferably a host) at each event and list their first name & number along with the event.

How do you guys handle shared bills at Restaurants?

We only go to Restaurants where we can pay individually – if the Restaurant doesn’t offer that service, we just pick somewhere else that does.

Does livelyfish do group bookings at Theatres etc?

No we don’t – we avoid it – it’s just too hard on most occasions. We would welcome venues upgrading their booking systems to handle groups like livelyfish but we aren’t holding our breath waiting. In the mean time we note that this is a difficulty for some events.

Does livelyfish organise group allocated seating or tables?

Some venues do cater for group allocated seating or tables but not all. The host will try to arrange with the venue for the livelyfish crowd to be able to sit/stand together but this is not always possible, particularly at popular venues and events.

Who organises livelyfish events in my area?

With livelyfish there is no one person who organises events in a particular area or anywhere for that matter. livelyfish operates mostly by people telling us about events they are going to or would like to go to.

If it looks like the event is likely to be interesting to people using livelyfish, we put the event up on the website and look for someone to act as a Host for the event. If people are interested in going they let us know.

Can I suggest an event?

Absolutely – that’s how we get most of the events listed. It’s very simple – just send us an email at thefish@livelyfish.com with the basic info for the event and we’ll have a look at adding your event to the website.

If you are definitely going it really helps if we can also list your name and number as the host for the event. You don’t have to do much – just talk to people if they call – it’s usually pretty basic stuff and mostly they just need reassurance from a friendly voice.

What info do we need to list an event?

For each event we need:

What – simple description of what the event is about
Why – tell people why it’s worthwhile going (sell the event)
When – date and time
Where – detailed address plus any helpful additional instructions
Cost – how much if anything
Host – name and contact number

Also include a link to a website if you have one and if at all possible a link to where we can get a suitable photo or two (remember the old saying “a picture is worth a thousand words.”) The numerous events listed on the site each week should give you plenty of examples of what is required.

Can I host an event?

Definitely – people are very welcome to use this website to host any events that interest them – in fact others are already doing just that. The range of events is only limited by people’s imagination and their willingness to act as a host for the event.

Our intention is for livelyfish to be freely available for anyone and everyone to add events to the site (provided the events are primarily about people enjoying themselves with others, likely to be interesting to people using livelyfish & meet a MA+15 classification).

How do I host an event?

It’s very simple – just send us an email at thefish@livelyfish.com with the basic info for the event and we’ll add your event to the website. Then if people are interested in going they let us know.

If you have a few people going it’s always good to put a few names in a Who’s Going list. We’ve noticed if people see a few others going they are more likely to give it a go. By the way we only use first names or first name and initial in the list. Just send us an email with a list of Who’s Going whenever you like and we can add it to the event.

If you want you can also keep others up to date about the event by posting Comments.

How do I post a Comment on an event

Just click says Comments and fill in the form. You do need to give us your name and email address so we can check this is not spam, but we only list first name and initial and your email address does not appear on the website. Note that all comments have to be approved by us so there will be some delay before it appears on the site.

What’s the difference between Suggesting an event and Hosting an event?

Not much – that’s because we keep everything so simple at livelyfish that hosting an event is a breeze.

Basically you can suggest any event but it’s then up to us to decide if it is worthwhile posting. We will then look for someone else to act as the Host for the event.

However if you are prepared to do the little bit extra required to host an event we will always list the event (provided the event is primarily about people enjoying themselves with others, likely to be interesting to people using livelyfish & meets a MA+15 classification).

That’s because hosted events typically get much stronger interest from people using livelyfish.

So what’s required to host an event?

Basics

1. you are definitely going to the event (baring illness etc.)
2. willing to list your first name and number as contact for the event
3. available to talk to people if they call and offer help & encouragement
4. introduce people to others at the event particularly newcomers

Optional Extras – the above list plus:

1. help keep the Who’s Going List up to date
2. answer comments on the event & keep others up to date via suitable comments
3. take photos and send them to us to load up on the website

I am a business/musician/member of a club/organisation. Can I list our events on livelyfish?

Our aim is to simply to allow people to meet others at events in their local area. As such we see other organisations using the website for their purposes as a plus. We’ve had good support from musicians, businesses and other groups that are involved in people going out and enjoying themselves with others.

We know from experience that creating and maintaining a website is a major undertaking for many groups, clubs etc. With livelyfish we’ve made it pretty easy for other groups to add their events. Several organisations are now using livelyfish to list all their events for both their members and others.

Even if groups have their own website, they can also put the events on livelyfish and link back to their website. Because livelyfish covers a wide range of events in a broad area these groups can tell a lot more people about their events.

In particular by listing their events on livelyfish they get people who wouldn’t otherwise go – because with livelyfish people don’t have to go out alone.

Are there some events you don’t list on livelyfish?

Yes – our credibility is important to us. We only list events which are primarily about people enjoying themselves with others. We don’t list events which are primarily about people selling you anything or you learning something.

There are some grey areas including in particular Dance Events/classes. This can be difficult to determine so we rely on the opinions of people attending particular Dance Events/classes. If the general opinion is that the event is primarily about people enjoying themselves with others we will generally list the event. If the general opinion is that the event is primarily about learning to dance we typically don’t.

We also focus on events where it is easy to meet with other people. There are some events and venues where meeting with others is very difficult and we typically won’t list these.

I hold a charity event each year and wondered if it cost anything to have it on your website?

livelyfish is entirely Free, No charge, Gratis – only criteria is that it needs be primarily about people enjoying themselves with others, likely to be of interest to people who use livelyfish & meet a MA+15 classification.

Do you plan to extend livelyfish to my local area?

Yes certainly – but we need help from you or someone else in your area to do it.

Initially I started much of livelyfish with events that my friends and I were already going to. It’s just grown for there with the vast majority of events now suggested and hosted by other people.

So the best way to get some livelyfish events happening in your local area is to think about what things you and your friends go out to in your area. Then send us an email suggesting an event or better still offering to host an event. Like all things these events tend to grow with time as more people tell their friends.

How often do you send out Email Updates?

We limit the number of emails we send from livelyfish to the following:

• livelyfish – What’s on this week – every Monday 9.00 am
• livelyfish – What’s on this weekend – every Friday 9.00 am
• extra emails which cover a single major event – 1 to 3 each week max.

We do this to avoid people getting annoyed with too many emails from livelyfish. This is a real issue with some people.