History of Speed Dating

With people being too busy to go around the social scenes and meet new folks, increasingly more new dating ideas are being thought up. One of the more recent ways of meeting new people, and possibly finding a new love, is through speed dating. Even though the concept is actually not so new in western countries, having been around for a few years, it is enjoying a rise in popularity just recently. Perhaps, this is because the idea of speed dating is more viable and much more needed now than before.

Speed dating, to those who are still clueless about the system, is a matchmaking process in which folks will meet and have a chance to talk for a short period. Often, people who join speed-dating events are those who are also on the lookout for potential partners and relationships. This way, all people in the event know that everybody is serious about the dating process.

Rabbi Yaacov Deyo of Aish HaTorah originally established speed dating. He devised this way of dating for Jewish singles to meet each other and bond when in large cities such as New York where non-Jews outnumber them. In fact, speeddating as a single word is a trademark that Aish has been using for his projects. The two-word speed-dating phrase is a term used for other events with a similar angle.

The first ever speed dating event happened in Beverly Hills in 1998. Because of good reviews, it became a commercial success and rapidly spread all throughout America. By the turn of he millennium, speed dating had become a by word in social circles especially after being portrayed in glamour shows such as Sex and the City.  

How Speed Dating Works

Speed dating starts with men and women on each side of the room. Each of these people are given the chance to talk to the every member of the opposite sex in a series of short minute dates where they can talk about anything they want.

Often, the short dates will last between three and eight minutes depending on the organizer of the speed-dating event. That may not sound very long but remember that you have to also take into consideration the discomfort that people who barely know each other will feel when forced to talk to each other.

During the small talk, no one is permitted to give any phone numbers or other personal information apart from their names and other things that are not so private.

After everyone has talked to everybody else, the organizers will then ask the participants to submit a list of people that they really like and would like to get to know a little better. These people are the ones they consent to giving their number to.

If the both parties agree that they would like to get to know each other, a match is made. Numbers will then be given to each person and it is up to them to set up their own dates.

Speed dating, however is not a free service and to ensure that everybody in the event is legitimate, pre registration is encouraged. However, some event organizers will allow walk-ins to join the party. When you go to these events, make sure that the organizers are already established.