I'm often asked why we, as Original Dating, don't court appearances on TV. The greater dating world is, after all, mad for it.
The perception of speed dating has changed significantly in the last 10 years or so. No longer seen as the preserve of the desperate and dateless, it has become a normal – dare I say fashionable – way to meet like minded individuals, even if it is just for fun evening out.
When people find out I do speed dating I’m generally asked two specific questions: What sort of people go? And which events are the best?
I’m going to make a prediction. The weather is going to get much better. Okay this may be as vague as a professional psychics claims and appear overly optimistic but we could all do with a bit more optimism.
We’ve looked at almost every aspect of dating in this blog. How to woo with words; most romantic restaurants; top date locations; worst dating lines… But what we haven’t done is focus on one of the main businesses of the venues we run events in. Drink.
Thousands of single folk take part in speed dating every month. There’s a very good reason of course – It’s a lot of fun and it's a great way of meeting people fast.
Some odd little factoids from around the dating world.
To paraphrase Winston Churchill, "Never, in the field of human dating, has so much dating been done, by some many, in so few venues", in this case one.
Located sufficiently far from the main Islington drag to be classed as a classy local, The Hanbury Arms is a wonderful addition to any North Londoners hideaway pubs list.
2012 was a tough year for most of us. Crazy weather, financial struggles, companies going bust. If you're single it can be even harder. Which is why people seem to be turning to the more important things in life. Other people.
Valentines Night 2013 Double Speed Dating and After Party Thursday February 14, 2013 @ The Exhibit, Balham
There's no doubt that online dating is popular these days, but I think it's fair to say it does have some drawbacks. Let's examine them.
Oh London. London, London, London. Songs have been written about you, poems penned and odes um… oded. Some celebrate your majesty, others your darker side, but whatever is to be said about London it's certainly unique.
Online Dating might seem like the obvious thing to do if you are single and looking to start a relationship. There's 1000's of members near you and they are all single and looking too. Great idea right? Err, no.
As organisers we know all about the practicalities of running great speed dating in London but success at speed dating (as in getting the girl or guy) is really down to those taking part. This video attempts to explain some of the psychology behind why some people succeed during speed dating encounters and others fail. If you're about to take part in one of our speed dating events it certainly makes for interesting viewing!
Successful events, like beauty, are apparently in the eye of the beholder. And yet, like beauty we can all go some way to making that eye spy in a more favourable way. And like beauty there are some base measures by which we can judge the relative success of an event.
With all the different events we run, I'm often asked which is the 'best' one to attend. There really is no straight answer to this but let's focus on our main events: speed dating and lock & key parties.
There's a certain irony to speed dating. Some speed dating companies, particularly those run by large multinational online dating firms, are adamant that they can match you with the love of your life - that this is the primary focus of speed dating. Given their online roots it makes a degree of sense that they should think so. But it's not entirely true.
Sometimes people need a little convincing about the benefits of speed dating over online dating. We asked John Davis, London's most experienced dating events host to reveal his top ten reason why you should be speed dating if you're serious about meeting somebody.
Believe it or not Original Dating started running speed dating events almost 10 years ago in April 2003. We've run literally thousands of events across London since then and some might say we've got really quite good at it over the years.
The beauty of Speed Dating London lies in its no-nonsense approach. You take an equal number of single girls and guys, put them in a room and give them a few minutes to chat with every other member of the opposite sex.
Original speed dating events in London normally begin at 7.30pm. You will need to register with our hosts and to begin with they will issue you with a score sheet. This will help you to keep track of the singles that you would like to meet again and perhaps go on a date with. After a short period of mingling, your host for the evening who will run through detailed instructions and give you your starting position if you are a guy or table for the event if you are a girl.
A London speed dating event is split into two halves, each lasting around an hour, there will be an interval at half time of about 15 minutes for speed dating London. You will have between 4 and 5 minutes with each person, after which you need to tick a box on your score sheet - "yes, I would like to meet this person again" or "no. Thanks but no thanks". Or "friend" if you'd like to get to know them platonically. Make sure that you do this after each date to keep track. Afterwards there is an opportunity for everyone to meet and mingle informally - this is often where the real action begins, so make sure you don't disappear too quickly!
After the event you simply tick who you liked on the Original Dating website and the site works about your matches automatically. If the dates you have ticked as a "yes" have reciprocated you have a match. You will be able to view the first names and message them via our site online without revealing your email address until you are ready to. You'll be having proper first dates in no time.