Personality Profile -Reed Landry
** This post went up in the summer of 2006. The Liquid Muse does not endorse the group, or the people involved with it. When I spoke with Reed, LNS had just gotten off the ground and sounded like an interesting social network. Any subsequent reports on what LNS has become in the year since its inception have nothing to do with my interview. I stand behind this report of my pleasant conversation with Reed at the time it happened. If any unsavory people / actions / consequences have since come about with regard to LNS, it is not a reflection of my political or social opinions or The Liquid Muse. ~ Natalie**
I am pleased to highlight yet another young, smart-as-a-whip (and yes, good looking) Washingtonian with a super idea. After graduating from UVA, Reed Landry (a native of McClean, VA) toiled at a government contracting firm. In 2004, this enterprising fellow started his own Internet ad agency, Sugar Media Group, with his sister-in-law.
In February 2006, they launched Late Night Shots, an invitation-only social networking website which has enjoyed fast success. Reed comments, “We had no idea what to expect, and were surprised how quickly it grew.” He explains that social networking is hot on the Internet, and describes LNS as similar to myspace and facebook but fills the gap for a post-college crowd.
Prospective members of LNS have to be 21 to join. Many are in their 30’s, a few in their 40’s. Landry notes, “Sites like facebook and myspace get a bad rap because they have objectionable content. LNS is a closed network so we don’t have a problem with that. There are photos of people at bars but nothing offensive. I think that’s what drives away older people from other networks.”
According to Reed, most sites buy their users so there is no connection between the people visiting them. The invite-only model alleviates that problem. He explains, “The sites I go back to are the ones I know people on. LNS isn’t meant for random people. It’s for meeting with friends at happy hours, bars, etc. Most people on our site have already seen each other out. It’s unique in the social networking field.”
The other key to LNS is that it keeps a local focus. Once someone receives an invitation and joins, the next step is to list his / her regular watering holes, making note of the type of bar and neighborhood they frequent. They can also see which members go to which bars.
Members can also post articles of interest for others to read. And, bar owners can log in and edit the content on their pages, listing happy hours and drink specials. LNS newsletters go out once a week. 83% of those who receive it click on at least one of the articles which Landry says is unheard of for an email newsletter.
What does Reed say to those who criticize his site’s invitation system as exclusionary? “Too bad.” He clarifies, “The invite-only value in this system makes things more connected and spreads it without us doing anything. We’re going for a targeted demographic.”
With plans to expand into NY, LA and Atlanta, this could become the next hot list to be on…
10 comments:
Sorry to hear you feel that way. I did not have that experience. But, hey, there's something for everyone out there. No one is forcing you to go to events you don't enjoy...
Late Night shots is a great resource if you are a priviliged, white, elitist, spend all daddys money, earn nothing on your own douchebag....like Reed.
LNS is a major success in D.C. People who knock it are just those on the outside looking in... He has thousands of dedicated supporters
McClean?
i'm sure the members would be happy to treat you to a drink, ladies.
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/display.php?id=2008
Hi Anonymous...
That article at City Paper is very interesting. I, for one, am not preppy, Republican or a fan of Smith Point... so thought the LNS group may not be the one for me, some people must like it.
It sounds like some very obnoxious people were profiled (alas, when people are young and spoiled, they usually are) and I certainly don't endorse small minded-ness, spoiled rich kids or George Bush fans on The Liquid Muse.
However, this piece I wrote about Reed, last year, represents my impressions of him when we met for a quick interview. He was very polite and seems quite clever. His idea, at the conception, appeared to be a good one. And, it is a good idea. It is too bad if the people who attend his events turn it into something unsavory.
I don't know Reed so I wouldn't slam him personally, but I do think that the site he has created is contradictory to the function of an internet social networking site - the internet is supposed to expand networking and open communication. At the same time, I'm somewhat glad that these spoiled young elitists do nothing but associate with one another, it means that normal people like myself who have worked hard to achieve relative success from paying my own school tuitions to excelling in the professional sphere will be able to spot the swarm of a-holes from a mile away, rather than run the risk of having to actually get introduced to one. The more isolationist they are, the better off the remainder of our society is.
Frankly, I thought the only person who came off well in that article was Reed. And it wasn't for lack of trying on the author's part - she asked practically every person I know in DC asking for dirt on him.
This dude is just another George W. Bush, Jr. He and his group of rich, white, over-privileged WASPs(see link) live on daddy's money and connections, cavort with drunken bottle-blonde sorority girls, and work to keep the power and the money all in their hands.
See http://washingtoncitypaper.com/display.php?id=2008
another site from dc that is blowing up is DMV hustlers or dmvhustlers.com
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