10 Dates in One Night?

How could someone have 10 dates in one night? Well, they are short dates, sometimes 8-minutes, or so, and it's called speed dating. It's not unlike how it's portrayed in movies (like Hitch). I've done it once and this is what my experience was like...

There is a cost and it commonly covers some light food and maybe even your first drink. The event I attended was broken down into different age categories. I signed up with a friend to be more comfortable. The event was hosted at a bar, which was still open for business to other customers (that will be relevant a little later in the story). After a little mingling with the crowd who was signed up for the event, instructions were given by the coordinator. Each female was assigned a table. Everyone was given a score card of sorts so that you could keep track of who you met, in what order, and if you were interested in exchanging contact information in the future. You were not allowed to share contact information directly. Once the women were seated, the men randomly selected their first table (and first date). Each couple spent a very meaningful 8-minutes getting to know each other before the men rotated to the next table.

There was one male no-show, so during each round, a female had to sit out. During my turn to sit out, I ended up talking to another guy who just happened to be at the bar that night. He ended up being the only guy I was interested in and we exchanged numbers.

All in all, did I like it? Well, I liked that you could initially get a sense of whether or not you have chemistry with someone (which is not the case with online dating). Plus, you were guaranteed to meet and talk to people, which isn't always the case when you go out for a night on the town. However, on the flip side, you can easily scan the room before the event begins and determine if you find anyone attractive. As in my case, the answer was no and I was stuck there for the rest of the night. If you really have trouble making small talk and hate those initial few minutes of a first date (since basically speed dating IS the first few minutes of a date), then speed dating may not be ideal for you.

After the event, everyone is instructed to log into a website to report back on which individuals you would want to pursue. The coordinating company then facilitates the exchange of information.

So, while the event itself didn't produce true love for me, I got to spend a night out with a friend and ended up meeting someone else in the process!

Take away lesson: Take a shot. You never know what may happen!