Leaving a good first impression is difficult, but it is crucial for a speed date. There are a number of things you can pay attention to and other things you should avoid, such as stealing standard questions. It is especially important that you are spontaneous and do not want to prepare too much in advance. Speed dating is just a quick first introduction. It’s impossible to paint a big picture of yourself or solve all the world’s problems in just a few minutes, so don’t try. The first speed dating event took place in Pete’s cafe in Beverly Hills in 1998. The first meetings were a success and the model was quickly hijacked or taken over by various commercial agencies that saw value in the idea. Speed dating indeed caught on and quickly gained popularity. This may be partly explained by the fact that speed dating was frequently featured in the Sex in the City series. Speed dating got the image of being something hip. In addition, it would be nice and fast and you would no longer have to spend evenings sitting around the table with one person to find out whether you would be a good fit for each other.
Dating
The concept itself is easy. Men and women sit opposite each other and have a short time to talk to each other. They get to know each other superficially and can get a good first impression of each other. The conversations are generally still superficial. After a few minutes a bell rings and one of the people moves on to the next post. This goes on several times and at the end of the speed dating, the participants can indicate with which other dater they felt a connection and would like to have further contact. If the other person also fills this, the organization will put the two people in touch with each other.
Be enthusiastic
In the short time you have during a speed date you don’t have to leave an indelible impression, but you do have to make the other person curious enough to get to know you better, so that they will put a cross next to your name afterwards. You can do a number of things to help with this. A right approach or tactic helps. For example, women usually don’t care so much about what exactly you do, but how you talk about it. If you can talk enthusiastically about your work or hobby, the chance that the other person will like you increases.
Forget the standard questions
The standard questions are asked by the neighbor. Standard questions include questions such as where someone comes from, where his or her work is and their age. You can come up with original and spontaneous questions. Don’t try to prepare it in advance, otherwise it will look too complicated. If this does help, it is advisable to have a few different opening questions ready, but try to vary them.
Don’t go into depth
Above all, keep it light. You only have a few minutes. You don’t have to know exactly how the other person sees his life or discuss what the meaning of life is. If there is a follow-up date, there is still plenty of room to discuss those questions. Above all, keep it light, be yourself and give the other person a chance to get a good first impression
Self-confidence is good, arrogance is not
Self-confidence is good and one of the most important qualities that most people want to see in their future partner. Especially for men, self-confidence can quickly turn into arrogance. It’s a thin line between the two. You may have the tendency to have to prove yourself to the other person during a speed date, for example by mentioning what you have achieved and in which you have been successful. This may seem arrogant. In a conversation of a few minutes there is no time to nuance that image and the other person will be turned off by this.
Persevere
Not everyone always has the same success with speed dating. However, you can learn it by doing it more often. A second or third time will be easier for someone than the first time. It might be an idea to practice a speed date with a good friend and receive feedback that way. And if after a while you still don’t feel comfortable with it, remember that there are more forms of dating, for example a dating website or something like Tinder.