subject: The Basics Of Speed Dating [print this page] If you're tired of the same old in the regular dating world, you should give speed dating a try. This type of dating gathers quite a few people together and sends you through rapid introductions with each other. You have a specified amount of time to talk to a participant before you move on to the next person. Not only do you get to meet far more people than you would through dating, you also keep the small talk to a minimum as you learn about the most important topics to your partner.
The standard amount of time you'll spend talking to another person is eight minutes. Some dating systems use shorter or longer time periods, but the eight minutes provides you with enough time to get to know a little bit about your partner without running into awkward silences or other problems. If you click with a particular person, you can ask for his or her contact information or set up a more traditional date on the spot.
You should approach this introductory meeting with a game plan in mind. You might want to get flustered with the time limitation. The best way to avoid this feeling is to go in to the dating session with a script or topic list written beforehand. You won't want to have it out in front of you during the introduction round. Go over the topics in your car before you head in so everything is fresh on your mind. Some example topics you can use include movies, activities, education, career, games, pets, hobbies and work around the community.
You should not be nervous during the speed dating session. If something goes wrong with the first person you talk to, you only have to get through eight minutes before moving on to the next. You have plenty of opportunities to hit it big with someone so that takes the pressure off of each individual meeting. You don't want to dominate the conversation talking about yourself. It's not attractive in regular dating. In a time limited dating format, it's even more disastrous. Find out about your potential partner so you'll know where your common ground is if you end up dating.
You can find speed dating services in many different cities and even online. The structure and turnout varies based on your location and the service you're using. Ask your single friends and family for their personal experiences using a service like this. You might be pleasantly surprised to find out who ends up using this type of dating.
