Adventures In Speed Dating

Upon arrival we each received a sticker with a pre-assigned number, then sent in to booze it up via Flirtini’s courtesy of X-Rated Fusion Liquor. While sipping the pink concoctions we were also privy to a bevy of sponsor booths including Michael Todd Cosmetics, Blume personalized lingerie, Skinny Water , got2b haircare, Schick Intuition, Dentyne, and more – thanks guys for the swag bags! (ed note: I'm exhausted from all of these links.)

Oh yeah, and Steve Ward was doing a book signing – and might I add, he’s a lot taller in person than he looks on the tube. K is pretty obsessed (ok, very obsessed) with him and boosted his ego with a book purchase and photo op.

So down to the crowd:

I guess overall decent looking, even though I pretty much towered over everyone – both men and women. (Although that’s what I get for being 5’11” already and choosing to wear 3” heels, and yes, I am totally one of those girls who is an unabashed height snob). The only man I found attractive was the event’s photographer, who turned out to be gay.

Go figure.

K spotted a few men she found attractive, but overall it seemed the men in our posse had better luck. I would say the ladies at the event erred on the cuter side than the men (male company excluded, of course). About an hour (and a half?) and probably one too many Flirtini’s later, we were ushered into a giant room filled with lines of tables and numbered chairs – speed daters, take your mark.

Now I will give props when they are due, and while I thought the cocktail hour was very well put together, I wasn’t so impressed with the actual speed dating.

The gist of the numbering system is that you find your number on a chair and sit down – girls on one side, boys on the other. If your assigned number doesn’t appear on a chair, just pick a spot and sit down.

Well, this created a bit of chaos with around 300 people scrambling for seats.

Also, since not everyone who pre-registered showed up, there were quite a few empty spots. I think this might have gone smoother had numbers been given out as people checked in (in numeric order), so no empty spots were left.

Anyways, when everyone finally got settled, Steve Ward took the stage to give a (motivational?) speech. Then we (the ladies) were instructed to stay stationary, while men would move to the right every three minutes when a horn blew.

Cattle call, anyone?

Armed with a pen and pad of paper to take notes and jot down numbers (the assigned numbers, not phone numbers) of people we liked, the “dating” began.

Well, I didn’t have a whole lot of luck.

I “dated” a little over ten men, none of which I really connected with. I also had a couple empties and one guy who wouldn’t get up after the horn blew. When I realized he had no intention of moving over I cast a pleading glance at the man who was supposed to take his spot, hoping he would ask him to move. Instead he went around him and took the seat in front of the girl next to me.

Gee, thanks.

Luckily Mr. Greedy got the hint after the next 3 minutes went by and finally got up (may have had something to do with the evil glare I was casting his way).

The “dates” all kind of went by in a blur (may have had something to do with all those Flirtini’s….) and before I knew it, it was over.

Now I realize that sitting there and speed dating the entire room would have taken hours and I wouldn’t expect (or want) to sit through all that, but I did feel the time allotted for the actual “dating” portion was a bit insufficient given the amount of people attending. For an event going for the Guinness World Record in speed dating, I (and everyone else) really only met a fraction of attendees.

Basically, here’s what I took away from speed dating:

It certainly is effective in forcing you to interact. There’s no casting glances across the bar and awkwardly waiting for someone to make a move. Speed dating ensures everyone gets a fair chance and pairs people together who otherwise may never have approached one other.

That said – not gonna lie. It really is mostly about physical attraction. I mean, you’ve only got three minutes to “date”. That’s just enough time to swap names, ask “where do you live,” “what do you do,” and maybe have one more minute to shoot the shit. Enough said.

While I didn’t find my “Luvah” last weekend, I did have a good time overall and can now officially say I’ve tried speed dating. Now if only I could find a speed dating event limited to men over six feet tall….

Hey, a girl can dream.

Until next time,

xoxo

L