Successful speed dating

by Alexis Thompson
Girl Friday
Thursday, 29th September 2011

Let’s face it, not everybody wants to spend their evening making small talk with a stranger for four minutes, before moving on and starting the whole process again with someone new. However, speed dating could be the perfect opportunity to meet a new love interest, if you play the game correctly, plus it can be a fun night out.

Here are some tips on how to make the most of an evening of speed dating.

Take along some friends

It will make the whole experience more enjoyable and fun, and having friends to chat to will also help ease any pre-date nerves. You can share feedback and swap notes on your dates, and if you like someone your friends can advise on whether or not they are the right person for you.

Don’t interview people

You're speed dating not sitting on an interview panel looking to hire someone for a new job. Of course you can ask your date questions but don’t bombard them. Make sure the conversation flows naturally and that you try to build up a good rapport with your date, otherwise it will feel laboured and your date won’t feel relaxed.

Don’t get too drunk

Not being able to remember who you’ve met during speed dating could pose a problem, especially if you did go there looking for a love interest. Getting drunk could lead to a wasted opportunity to meet the guy/girl of your dreams. You won’t make a good impression and you’ll be too drunk to remember the name of the person who you actually liked, which means you won’t be able to make contact with them the next day.

Keep smiling

Even if you’ve just lost your job, your pet goldfish has died, or you have taken an instant dislike to one of your dates; keep happy and positive all the way through the event. That way you’ll be more attractive to the people you are interested in, and you’ll have a more enjoyable experience all round.

Don’t feel nervous

Just keep it in perspective, speed dating should be far less nerve racking then going on a proper date. Whist you might feel a little nervious at the beginning of the night your'll find you quickly relax and start enjoying the experience.

It’s a fun night out where you get to meet lots of different people and have a laugh with your friends.

Dating has a pile of speed dating listings! Right here »

topic tags: attraction, chat up, conversation, first date, flirting, speed dating

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about the author

Alexis is a 27-year-old and very often, cash-strapped journo, searching for her ideal man in London. After being single for almost a year, since splitting with her first long term love, she's decided to ditch the night clubs and bars, and start finding more mature and sophisticated ways of meeting her Mr Right. Join her every Friday as she describes the trials and tribulations of discovering love in a city that has little time for romance, as well as offering advice to those in search of the same thing or who may not have realised they've already found it.

Alexis writes a weekly blog for Dating Trail. If you'd like to be be first to find out about her next installment then please follow us on Twitter or 'Like' our Facebook page for updates.

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