How to Succeed at Speed Dating

Preparation is the key to success in speed dating. From my experience of attending several speed dating events, I had to do some homework before I attended the events.

The first thing to do is to find out where exactly the event is being held. Most events are held in swanky pubs that you probably have never even heard of or don’t know the area. Find out exactly where it is on the map and the surrounding area. It is better to familiarise yourself with the area so you can arrive at least half an hour before the event and then go for a coffee or a drink to gather your thoughts.

You need to think about transport and what the traffic will be like at that time. If I don’t know the area or if it is hard to get to by bus, I get a taxi to make certain of arriving on time. You have to factor in the time for travel and if it is thirty minutes then I give myself an hour just in case there is a hold up. The worse thing is rushing to an event all hot and sweaty and your mind all over the place.

I am usually there at the event before anybody else; this gives me a chance to talk to the organiser who will give me tips and I can survey the scene. You watch the women as they arrive, sometimes I bring a paper just to keep my mind off the millions of things going on in my head and it is also great for topic pieces, those little funny stories that appear everyday are great for little conversation pieces. It also makes you look cool and shows no sign of nerves when the women survey the bar before an event.

I usually do my homework a few days before an event. I pick out what I am going to wear, making sure I have everything clean. There is nothing worse than discovering on the day that you need to wash something and waste time on that. I make sure my shoes, clothes, hair and nails are clean and I have showered and I also wear a nice after shave. I dress casual, a nice shirt and jeans or slacks and shoes are polished.

Remember a woman will spent half a day getting ready. She will probably get her hair done for the occasion, a new dress, new shoes, had her nails done, asked her friend’s opinion on how she looks so she will be discerning when she surveys the room. I usually find it a great conversation opener, I pick out some accessory she is wearing like a necklace or watch and ask about it or where she got her hair done or brands she is wearing. It opens her up and she will gladly talk about it. I tease her about how much she is spending and that ’she will need to get another job, I hear pole dancing pays well. In times of recession and all that’. You have to be careful that you say this to the younger women that have a sense of humour, you have to gauge what type of person she is but it works well. It gets the ‘I can’t believe you said that’ look and a playful hit on the arm.