Speed dating or how to find your match without wasting time

July 8, 2010

Have you ever thought about different ways to find your match but most times you find yourself caught in the « lack of time » issue ? No spare time to go out to parties or clubs, no for dating sites, not even for going to blind dates with wrong folks. You can try a new way to meet new people, which require less time and involvement: speed dating – an American concept that increased in popularity in UK also, mainly in London area.

Speed dating’s origins are associated with the name of Rabbi Yaacov Deyo, who thought at this as a opportunity for young people the meet Hebrew  folks and marry. First speed dating event took place in Beverly Hills in 1998. In UK, the speed dating begin somehow slow, but it started to become a very popular way to meet new people and currently there are quite many speed dating events organised especially in cities like London.

What is, at least in theory, speed dating? It is an « assembly » in which an equal number of men and women meet potential partners to hook-up with, in a location and a date set by the organisers. Each person has between three and eight minutes to have a conversation with a participant of the opposite sex, then move to another, until all combinations have been exhausted. None of the participants in speed dating is allowed to provide information that could identify the conversation partner.

At the end of the meeting, each woman creates a list of preferences: with whom she would have a second date? Men the same, create a list of their preferences. Organisers will be those who provide contact information, but only if the wish to keep in touch is manifested by the author list and by the chosen one. Thus, the pressure of being rejected or to reject someone is removed directly.

The main advantage of speed dating is that in a very short time you get to know many potential partners. If time is what stops you find your loved one, speed dating may be your ideal way of looking.

In addition, unlike going out to a bar or a social event, you skip the part where you must find a reason to get in touch with someone you fancy. The atmosphere will help you by being a great ice-breaker.
Another advantage of speed dating is that everything runs without revealing your contact information, not even your full name, to those you talk with. Thus, if you’re not on the same boat, you wake up with no phone or mail in the night disturbing your sleep.

As for disadvantages, one is the limited time available you have to know how someone is. On the other hand, this limitation is great to get rid of an unwanted conversation…

Another disadvantage is if you like a partner, but do not appear on his list of preferences. In these conditions, you usually cannot contact him after the event is over because of confidentiality clauses.

In the end, it’s only up to you if you would like to attend to a speed dating event or not, you would have a wide choice of speed dating events in London for example.

Posted in London Speed Dating Company