How to Get the Most Out of Speed Dating
Unique & Effective Tips to Use Before, During & After the Big Event
Going on a date with a new potential “someone special” for part of an evening can be challenging and exhausting. What will you talk about? Will you both be uncomfortable? Will there be lapses in conversation? Will they be boring? Will you have anything in common? Will they be what you’re looking for? Will you be what they’re looking for?
One date can be stressful enough, imagine fifteen. When you sign up for speed dating it’s like going on fifteen dates at once. So needless to say, it can be an emotional roller coaster.
How do you limit the small talk, and make your time together productive? How do you get to know the person in front of you? How do you make a memorable and positive first impression?
The bottom line: Have a notion of what you’re looking for and trust your instincts.
Below are guidelines to making your speed dating event as successful as possible. Going beyond “conversation starters”, the following tools will prepare you for your event; help you through it (while helping you make the most of it); and then assist you in decompressing afterward. Being prepared and relaxed will allow you to be confidently yourself, and attract people’s interest…leaving them desiring more.
Before the Event:
1. In all dating – online, offline and speed dating – you must first decide what it is you are looking for. Let’s not make this a complicated laundry list of desired qualities…simply; do you want a short term relationship, a long term relationship, or a soul mate (a person that you intend on spending the rest of your life with)? There is no right or wrong answer – it just depends upon what phase of your life you’re in. Spend 5 minutes now to determine what you want…
2. Have you decided? Now you have some concrete expectations. You’re now freed up to explore your options and allow the rest to fall into place. When you know what you want for yourself, you can’t blame anyone but yourself for your results. Regardless of what you chose, bear this in mind: According to the US Bureau of Statistics, 85% of all Americans will be married at least once in their lifetime. So know that many of the people at the event may be (even unconsciously) looking for marriage…it’s only natural and human.
3. Define what you would call a successful event, so you know what your goal is. What is the intended result? To have a good time? To meet new people? To score a date or two, or even three? What else? (You may not want to shoot as high as saying that you’re going to find your soul mate since it could set you up for disappointment, but if your date ends up being your soul mate then that’s a bonus!
4. Schedule your next speed dating event beforehand. By going in with an “abundance” mindset, you’ll have more fun and be less attached to the outcome. You can always cancel the next event if you’re lucky enough to find a good prospect the first time around. Otherwise, keep going and meeting new people.
5. Block out an evening once a week for the next 4 weeks, for a date night – whether you know who the date is or not. This will keep it on top of your mind and create space for you to schedule it in…so you’ll be ready and aware when the opportunity arises.
During the Event:
Besides the obvious dating tips such as dress well, be confident, make eye contact, and smile…the most important part of speed dating is the conversation. Here are some conversation starters (or perhaps enders) that are sure to make an impact.
1. Guys – Start off with a compliment. Tell her you like her hair or she looks pretty tonight. Ask her about her shoes! A compliment shows that you pay attention to detail.
2. Ladies – Ask where he shops. You can tell a lot about a person based on how they dress and where they shop.
3. “Do you still have a lot of objects lingering around from your past relationships? Like what?” This can be introspective, and often hilarious. People always have stuff lingering from past relationships…it may elicit them to go home afterward and clean out their closet. You may too.
4. “Tell me what you don’t want in a relationship.” Everyone tends to say what they want, rather than what they don’t want…but by asking what they don’t want, you can often instantly tell you if you are right for one another. It’s counterintuitive but it works – if you’re a smoker, and they don’t want a smoker, then you’ve saved yourself a lot of time. (And if you think they’re worth it, maybe you’ll make some changes and stop smoking.)
In addition, here a few quirky, unusual questions to ease tension make you stand out among the competition, and make the event more fun.
1. “What does your closet or bedroom say about you?” In my book “Why Wait? Create Your Soul Mate Now!” I demonstrate how one’s closet/bedroom/home is a direct reflection of not only their romantic life, but their lifestyle in general.
2. “Where would you go on a Honeymoon?” This will get the creative juices flowing, wake people up and cause them to be inspired. It can also give you insight on whether they are interested in marriage.
3. “How many nightstands do you have next to your bed?” This is a good way to tell if they are committed to being in long term relationship that leads to marriage – one nightstand means they are unconsciously still single, while two nightstands means partnership, and that they are most likely interested in a committed, long term relationship.
Other tips for the event:
1. Don’t discuss sex.
2. Get comfortable so you can get results quickly…because you only have 3-8 minutes
3. Listen! Don’t act like you’re listening…actually listen. People can tell if you’re pretending.
4. Even if you’re not interested in them…be interested in them. Why? You are all partners in the event, you are all committed to meeting people, and it was nice that they showed up for you.
After The Event:
1. Leave the event on a positive note, like you’ve made new friends and intend on seeing everyone again.
2. Keep an even keel, and just be glad to have met new people. Don’t set yourself up for a letdown by obsessing over people calling you.
3. Trust your instincts. Only you know if it felt right. If you believe that it did, follow up.
Above all else…make it a game, have fun, and get out there and do it again!
About the author
www.createyoursoulmatenow.com
Frank Polancic is a dating coach, noted speaker and author of “Why Wait? Create Your Soul Mate Now!” a book that helps singles identify and attra
Filed Under: Frank's Blog
March 20th, 2009