Clubhouse Shoot Your Shot: 16 Lessons From Running the Largest Rooms

By Zach Schleien

I built the largest Shoot Your Shot rooms on Clubhouse with 400+ singles nightly. Here are 16 lessons on community, inclusivity, and audio-first dating.

Most people scroll dating apps in silence. On Clubhouse, I watched 400 strangers shoot their shot - out loud, in front of everyone - and it changed how I think about connection.

In November 2020, I discovered a room called Shoot Your Shot on Clubhouse. It was run predominantly by Black singles, starting around 11 PM EST and running into the late hours. It was creative, direct, and fun. A few months later, I started hosting my own rooms - and they quickly became the largest consistent Shoot Your Shot rooms on the platform.

What Is Shoot Your Shot?

Shoot Your Shot is a Clubhouse room format where singles go on stage, introduce themselves, share what they're looking for, and then publicly say who in the room they're interested in romantically. The person can accept or reject the shot. If they're interested, they'll typically say "you can slide in my DMs" - referring to their Instagram direct messages.

Why I Run Shoot Your Shot

I got hooked after my very first room. I love how technology can facilitate real romantic connections, which is one of the reasons I started my video speed dating app, Filteroff. Filteroff is video-first and removes the swipe, giving you a more authentic way to connect before meeting in person.

Even though Clubhouse doesn't use video, it's far more authentic than a traditional swipe app because it's audio-first. These rooms push singles outside their comfort zone - and the results speak for themselves: hundreds of matches every night, and even a few engagements.

16 Lessons From Running the Largest Shoot Your Shot Rooms

1. No One Owns Shoot Your Shot - At any given night, you may see 3-5 rooms running. What sets mine apart is how the room is run. The moderators and I create a safe, inviting space for all people.

2. Structure Is Everything - Our rooms are extremely structured. People aren't goofing off or going out of turn. We keep things in tight PTR order (pull-to-refresh order). If someone steps out of line, we give a warning or send them back to the audience. No-nonsense policy.

3. Set Expectations Early - I always open by explaining the room's intention, the rules, and that we're inclusive of all singles - including non-binary and trans. My goal: create a space that is accepting, compassionate, and open regardless of sexual orientation, race, or religion. I also require at least 3 prospects to keep things moving.

4. Use "Prospects," Not "Backups" - Early on, I used words like "backup" or "alternative" when someone's first pick had left the room. It felt condescending. During a Townhall Q&A with 100+ people, we brainstormed and landed on "prospect." Language matters.

5. Respect Boundaries Above All - We require participants to have an Instagram linked to their profile. Private rooms are only okay if consent is given in the DMs first - never on stage in front of hundreds. No one should feel pressured publicly.

6. Efficiency Drives Scale - No Instagram or real photo? Back to the audience. If someone starts rambling, I respectfully redirect. With 400 singles waiting, every minute counts.

7. LGBTQ+ Friendly Is Non-Negotiable - I never assume orientation. Everyone states whether they're interested in men, women, or both. Rude comments get an automatic removal. Full stop.

8. No Friendship Shots - Only romantic shots allowed. Friendship shots can be a form of manipulation - a safe way to slide into DMs with dishonest motives.

9. Zero Tolerance for Trolls - Speak out of turn, make snarky comments, or try to disrupt? Automatic ban.

10. Have Fun - Structure matters, but so does energy. Our mod Kayla's airhorn. Live match stats from our data analyst Dimple. End-of-night winners. We make it feel like a community.

11. Invite People to the Stage - Going first is intimidating. I actively invite audience members up. That extra nudge makes all the difference.

12. Keep Evolving - I rotate moderators, add new games, and iterate constantly. For International Women's Day, only women shot. It was the smoothest room I've ever run - zero trolls or disruptions.

13. You Must Shoot - If you're on stage, you shoot. Some people say "my DMs are open" and try to skip. That's not how this works. The magic is in the vulnerability. And when you're courageous on stage, you get more DMs, not fewer.

14. Always Ask About DMs - After every shot, we confirm whether the shooter's DMs are open. Consent is non-negotiable.

15. Icebreakers Build Connection - Each round starts with a new icebreaker: "Would you rather fly or breathe underwater?" It helps the audience get to know the shooter before the shot.

16. Mod Personalities Matter - Choosing the wrong moderator can kill a room. I'm intentional about who I choose. If a mod is unfocused, that energy radiates to the entire audience.

The Mod Sauce

I'd be remiss not to mention the mod sauce - an elixir produced when a moderator gets shot at (credit to Lampros for the discovery). The shot must be romantic. Some describe the taste as sweet and sour; others say chocolate. The effects? A euphoric feeling lasting hours. My physician friend Siyab even did an analysis on the side effects.

What People Are Saying

"My daughter and I had fun listening."

"Hey Zach! This room is phenomenal! 10/10"

"The Apple of Shoot Your Shot"

"It's the only thing I've been in that has anything to do with dating - just because it's like a live audio reality show."

Thank You

It has been an honor to run these rooms and help singles connect around the world. People join our rooms because they know what they're getting: a safe, respectful, no-nonsense environment where people can connect romantically.

Special thanks to the incredible mods: Roxanne, Kayla, Jazz, Lampros, Brooke, Alysia, Gabi, Hannah, Ninah, India, Siyab, Soraya, Kylen, Adam - and the many others who have joined.

Building community is one of the most rewarding things I do. If you're a founder looking to build something that drives real engagement and growth, let's talk.