It was a simple stage with a comedian holding a microphone. This crowd is used to cover charges, and free programs are perceived as not valuable. Eating gives people something to do in what otherwise might be an awkward social setting. The admission price at Beyond Buckhead included a buffet. Draw a crowd.
Single adults find safety in numbers.
They're much more likely to walk into a room with 200 people than 20 people. Don't meet at a church. Find a place where single professionals would go for other activities. Don't expect unchurched people to know the music you sing on Sundays. Lynn Stevens is a writer living in Atlanta.