Speed Dating: What To Know Before You Go
If you’re short on time and lacking in the love department, you might want to try speed dating. Speed Dating is a social mixer where you meet many potential dates at once.
You have a limited amount of time to get to know each other, which can certainly be a good thing if you aren’t compatible with the person. There are a lot of advantages to speed dating, especially if you’re tired of going on first dates that lead nowhere.
How Speed Dating Works
Speed dating events normally include meeting 15 to 20 potential daters. The people at the event are usually serious about having a relationship and not looking for a casual fling. You’ll have fifteen to twenty “mini-dates” that last a few minutes each. You’ll normally be assigned a number that you’ll wear on your name tag. At the end of your dates, you’ll write down the names or numbers of the people you were interested in. The organizers will compare everyone’s results and then will give the contact information out to anyone who has a match. You won’t be able to receive information on anyone who did not write down that they were interested in you.
Speed dating eliminates the awkward long first dates that everyone has from time to time. In the span of five to eight minutes you can get to know someone well enough to figure out whether you’ll want to go out on a real first date or not. You can also avoid the face to face rejection that comes with regular dating.
Tips for Successful Speed Dating
Even though speed dates are relatively short, you still need to plan to make a good impression. You have a limited amount of time to show off your sparkling personality and your charming wit. Remember to smile on your mini-dates. You don’t have to plaster on a big cheesy grin the entire time, but it’s important to show that you’re happy to be there and to be talking to the dater in front of you.
Keep your attention focused on the current dater. Even if you’ve just met the best person in the world before, each period of time belongs to the person in front of you. Make eye contact with the dater in front of you and try to make them feel special. Don’t let the activity at all of the other tables distract you from who you are talking with at the time.
Ask some casual questions that will allow you to get to know the dater better. Questions like “What do you like to do for fun?” and “What is your favorite movie?” will give you a peek into the person’s personality and interests. Stay away from heavy topics like politics, religion and sexual history. These questions are considered too personal for the short amount of time you’ve got during a speed dating event. Try to strike a balance between asking questions that are too general and too personal. You want to be able to evaluate whether or not you’ll like the person with being too nosy.
After the event, you’ll receive contact information for the people you were interested in who want to get to know you. Set a coffee date so you can have more time to get to know each other in a casual environment. With practice, speed dating can be a fun way to find a girlfriend.
