Inside a dark New Orleans-style bar in Hollywood, dozens of strangers mingle to pop music while sipping complimentary cocktails. Each person wears a name tag along with a personality sticker, or a few, that best captures their vibe. A neat monster. Plant Father. Night owl. Craft beer fan.
The scene reads like a friendly singles get-together, but listen to their conversations and it becomes clear that the chemistry they're hoping for isn't romantic. They are here to find the perfect roommate.
Participants mingle in the bar area during the SpareRoom speed roommate event at the Sassafras Saloon in Hollywood.
(Kendra Frankle / For The Times)
Hosted by rental platform SpareRoom, the monthly “speed roommateing” event connects people renting rooms with those looking for one in a discreet, in-person environment, without endless online profiles to fill out, without awkward interviews. Loosely based on speed dating, without the timed interactions, attendees place name tags stating “I need a room” or “I need a roommate” along with their budget and ideal neighborhoods. Then they roam freely. A woman handed out flyers for a furnished studio in downtown Los Angeles with air conditioning, a Murphy bed, an in-unit washer and dryer, and streaming TV. Another woman showed people her rental on an iPad.
Pris Liora, 40, who was looking for someone to rent an extra room in her Koreatown apartment, didn't prepare any questions for potential housemates, saying she just wanted to check out the vibes. Your only deal breaker? “No pets, no kids, no smoking cigarettes and no secret problems with cocaine,” he says, laughing.
According to Apartments.com, the average rent for a studio starts at $1,688 per month, $2,166 for a one-bedroom apartment, and about $2,983 for a two-bedroom apartment. In Los Angeles, according to Apartments.com, more and more people are adopting shared living arrangements. Rupert Hunt, founder and CEO of SpareRoom, says they do this not only to reduce costs, but also to foster community. He believes the company's mixers can help generate those connections: They've been hosting speed roommate events in Los Angeles since June, following successful events in London, San Francisco and New York.
“There is something very immediate about the event,” says Rupert Hunt, founder and CEO of SpareRoom.
(Kendra Frankle / For The Times)
“There's something very immediate about the event,” Hunt says. “You meet 10 people in the time it would take you to meet one the traditional way.”
Hunt even found a housemate at one of the meetings. “I love sharing,” says Hunt, who rented two rooms in his New York City apartment for just $1. “I think I'm a better version of myself. I think I get a little lazy if I live alone.”
At the event, Aeris DeLeon, who was wearing a “foodie” sticker, says her mother was the person who told her about the speed roommate event. The 25-year-old was temporarily living in Bakersfield, but recently moved to Los Angeles.
“Everything was dead there and I was home sick, and it wasn't really working for me,” she says.
Upon arrival, attendees can choose personality stickers with phrases like coffee addict, plant lover, and early riser. (Kendra Frankle / For The Times)
He decided to attend the event because it's more “enjoyable than just going on Craigslist or Facebook, and it's the best.” [way] “To weed out the scammers,” he says. Their mission was to find an apartment that cost a maximum of $1,300 a month with someone preferably close in age.
James Caton, 68, was just beginning his search for a room. After learning that his apartment building, where he has lived for nearly a decade, could be sold, he sprang into action.
“For me, as soon as you find out, it's better to move on and start looking for something,” says Caton, who attended the meeting with his childhood friend who was looking to rent a room.
SpareRoom speed roommate events are free when you RSVP, and each person receives two complimentary drinks along with a month's trial of premium SpareRoom.
Speed Roommate is free to attend and comes with complimentary drinks.
(Kendra Frankle / For The Times)
Even if attendees didn't find a roommate at the event, several of them continued their conversations well into the night. Some even stayed to listen to karaoke at the bar. It seemed that in a world where talking about finances can be considered taboo, having a space to openly discuss rent prices, how to deal with nightmare landlords and housemates, and other complaints was a win, a time when they could feel a little less alone.
