How to meet an event buddy safely
Simple safety tips for meeting someone new at an event, from chatting first to getting home.
Meeting someone who wants to go to the same event can make taking that first step feel easier. You can be open to company and still keep sensible boundaries. The aim isn't to remove every uncertainty before you leave home: it's to make a simple plan you can change comfortably.
1. Chat about the event before agreeing to meet
Use Socroo's Event Buddy feature to find company, then take time to discuss the actual plan. Ask what they're looking forward to, when they expect to arrive and whether they want to spend the whole event together or just say hello. You don't need to share your address, workplace, financial details or daily routine to arrange a night out. A friendly conversation is a starting point, not a guarantee of trust.
Good to know
- Keep early arrangements in the app rather than feeling obliged to share your phone number.
- If someone pushes for personal details, money or a plan you don't want, you can decline without debating it.
2. Make the meeting point specific and public
Choose a visible place with other people and staff nearby, such as the venue's staffed entrance or a busy café. Agree on the time, which side of ticket checks you'll meet on, and how you'll recognise each other. For a first meeting, make your own way there rather than accepting a pickup from home.
Good to know
- Avoid vague plans such as 'outside': name the entrance or another recognisable landmark.
- If the proposed spot is unexpectedly quiet or closed, suggest a staffed alternative rather than following someone elsewhere.
3. Keep the practical essentials independent
Have your own ticket, a charged phone and a way to pay for your journey home. Tell someone you trust where you're going and who you're meeting, and agree on a check-in if you'd find that reassuring. Decide on a backup journey before you leave, so your transport doesn't depend on how well you get on with someone new.
4. Treat boundaries as an ordinary part of the plan
You can decline a drink, choose a different place to stand or decide not to continue to another venue. Ask before taking or sharing photos, and give your buddy the same freedom to change their mind. Keep control of your own drinks and belongings, and don't feel obliged to drink alcohol to make conversation easier. A short 'I'm heading off now; enjoy the rest' is enough when you want to leave.
5. Know what to do if the meeting doesn't feel right
You can cancel before meeting, leave after a few minutes or stop replying afterwards. If you're uncomfortable at the event, move to a staffed area and ask venue staff for help rather than confronting someone alone. Use the app's reporting or blocking options if needed; if there's an immediate threat, seek urgent help from staff or local emergency services. You don't have to continue contact just because the person knows you attended the same event.
Quick tips
- Agree on a public meeting point, a time and a simple fallback if one of you is late.
- Keep your ticket, money and transport independent; meeting up doesn't create an obligation to stay together.
- Respect a no without asking for an explanation, and expect the same courtesy in return.
- Fancy making a plan? Check upcoming events in your city on Socroo below and find someone to go with.