Speed Dating

Dating practices have greatly evolved because of technology and sometimes experimentations of different generations. Decades ago, it’s almost impossible to get someone on a date if the parents are not informed. Before anything else happens, parents will be in control of everything. Dating is usually associated with courting, which could end up with marriage.

Today, dating someone doesn’t necessarily mean you are looking for someone you would like to be married with…at least for now. More than ever, people are going out on a date so that they will know more about the person. Marriage is still out of the question and they will only be thought of if they are romantically linked to each other.

Taking a cue from the fact that dating is actually a practice of knowing a person more; the idea of speed dating is created. This activity is often organized by dating service companies or companies who just would like to introduce different persons to as many individuals as possible. It’s a practice often hated by some while practiced by others. But whatever your belief on speed dating is, you’ll most likely to get hooked to this activity if you’re looking for someone or would like to meet a lot of people fast.

Speed Dating Defined

The name says it all…you’ll be on a date on a very fast pace that you won’t even have time to get more information from your date. That is why you really have to be prepared with what you have to say or ask in a speed dating session.

Speed dating takes place in any area appointed by the organizers. The event will require an equal number of male and female so that everyone will have someone to talk to during the session. But professional speed dating sessions usually require 12 men and women.

Everything depends on the clock in speed dating. Each girl will be seated in a table usually arranged in a circle. When the bell rings, men will sit in one of the chairs. They will be given exactly eight minutes to talk to the girl. If they like each other, they could exchange contact information later. When the bell rings, they transfer to another table and speak with another girl.

In this setting, the man will be talking to 12 women in less than two hours. Every time the bell rings, they will have to transfer to another table no matter how they are interested to the girl they are talking to.

Techniques for Success in Speed Dating

Technically, speed dating is not really a “date” but a venue where you will be given a chance to introduce yourself to someone and hopefully properly go out with. That is why your goal is not really to overwhelm them on who you are (which is really impossible) but to gain interest – good enough so that you can go out even though there is no proper date and time yet.

First thing you should do to ensure success in speed dating is to smile and really mean it. You are facing someone who doesn’t know you yet and you don’t want your initial impression would be that you’re a grumpy person.

When you’re talking look at your speed dating partner in the eye and eyes only. This is especially true for men. If the girl is well endowed in the bosom area, your eyes should never wander there. It’s insulting and you’ll never have the chance to talk to her anymore. No matter how interested you are with the person on the other table, it’s also common courtesy to concentrate first in the person in front of you. Don’t worry; your time will come later.

The Don’ts in Speed Dating

Too much cologne will kill you (your chances anyway) – no one in the room will like your cologne of choice and enhancing the smell will only irritate more people.

Don’t be stereotypical – just because you are dating someone with an Indian heritage doesn’t mean they know how to fix a computer. You might see this as a joke but it’s a very offending joke.
Don’t be too wordy – you are only given eight (or even less) minutes to talk to a person so you have to provide as many information as possible. When asked what your job is, give it to her straight. Don’t describe it to her that you’re someone like a hero in romance novel.
Don’t dwell on politics, religion or any controversial topics – stick to the basics. You don’t even have time to talk about the basics and you don’t even talk about that in your first dates.
Don’t (or never) give out personal details on a first date – talk about the things you are interested in and hope that he or she will find it fascinating. A sob story about your childhood will never get any empathy.

Closing Your Speed Date

When you find someone interesting who also shares the same feeling, don’t rush. Exchange contact information or better yet give him or her your email with your nickname only. When you have the time, send an email with a few details of your conversation. To ensure that you’ll be remembered, describe yourself a little bit in your email. If the person who exchanged contact with your is really interested, he or she will answer back.

From there you can ask her out for a simple lunch out or just for coffee. Eventually, you get to know your date more as you continue to meet each other for a date once in a while. It’s a slow process but rushing these things will just break your chances of getting a real date.

Speed dating is an interesting and fun activity. You will not find a life partner right then and there but you will find someone interesting enough to continue talking to. Take it from there and maybe someday you’ll end up being intimate with that someone. For now, just have fun and gain more friends through speed dating.