thePULSETaboo No More, Events and Groups for The Unattached Are Flourishing
By Linnea Sheldon
For years, there has been a stigma attached to singles events and organizations. But in recent years, thanks in large part to the revolution in internet dating, these events are becoming more mainstream and it isn’t quite as embarrassing to admit that you’re looking for love through these previously “unorthodox” means.
The options are almost unending and there’s something out there for every type of personality. People attending these groups come in with a vast array of expectations, from simply meeting other like-minded singles to finding long-term love and settling down.
One business that has grown significantly over the past several years is 8 Minute Dating. CEO and Founder Tom Jaffee, a Worcester native, founded the group in 2001. During its first couple years, 8 Minute Dating grew into the most popular speed dating service in the world. The premise behind the service is simple: Get a bunch of singles together (there are generally anywhere between 20 and 100 attendees at each event) and have them spend 8 minutes getting to know one person before moving to the next, then the next, and so on. At the end of the night, after your eight mini eight-minute dates, each person passes in a card with the names of the people he or she would like to meet again. If both people want to meet again, 8 Minute Dating provides the contact information so they can arrange a second date on their own. There are also Mix and Mingle periods where the singles can get to know any of the other participants. According to the website, www.8minutedating.com, over 90% of the participants meet somebody they want to see again. The company has had over 60,000 participants and currently runs events in 55 cities in the U.S. and Canada. Even Katie Couric gave 8 Minute Dating a try when it was featured on NBC’s The Today Show!
Another singles dating approach that allows singles to meet and greet in a comfortable, low pressure, fun atmosphere is 52 Card Pick Up. These events have everyone getting a deck of 52 cards, each with various pick-up lines and “conversation starters,” which they then hand out to whomever strikes their fancy. These kinds of events are perfect for the person who just doesn’t know what to say. The two founders, Christa Sorauf and Lesley Johnson, said they think that “…instant messaging is much more fun in person.” Singles can chose which card they want to send to which person to break the ice, get a laugh, or even make a connection. You can give one of the events a try on August 17 at SPQR an Italian caffe on Winter Street in Worcester. For more info, visit www.52cardpickup.com.
The Date Race is another dating event option that consists of five minute “speed dates” as well as two mingling periods, one during intermission and one at the end of the event. No contact information is exchanged during the event, but if two people indicate that they would like to see each other again on their cards, The Date Race will send them the contact information so they can set up a meeting themselves. These events have been held at bars, restaurants, even yachts. They usually last about three hours but can last much longer if you happen to meet someone special!
Another website, www.moxieinthecity.com, offers many different kinds of dating events from which interested singles can choose. From Lock and Key parties ~ where you spend your evening meeting members of the opposite sex and trying to see whose key fits your lock, so to speak, to champagne socials, margarita speed dating, even sushi and sake get togethers, you’re sure to find something ~ and maybe even someone ~ that interests you.
Meetup.com also hosts a variety of singles events in the area. Designed as a way for people with similar interests to get together and “meet up,” these singles groups have become one of the mainstays of the site. The Metrowest Newly Single Meetup Group meets several times per month and has blossomed into an organized group of singles who are looking to meet other singles for friendship, conversation, and possibly more. Another great thing about the Newly Single Meetup Groups is the on-line forums that are available to the members of the group. They allow the members to communicate with each other about event locations and times and to ask questions, tell stories, and generally get to know each other.
Many local organizations are also starting to make it easier for singles with similar interests to get together and enjoy their favorite activities. One such group is the Young Friends of the Worcester Art Museum, which regularly holds events for its single members. The group is specifically for people in their 20s and 30s and offers many different get togethers ranging from private tours of the museum to wine and beer tastings ~ and even hosts a Luau party blowout that involves other local organizations.
One of the major advantages of all these dating events is that participants can see instantaneously if there is a connection and attraction rather than having to suffer the disappointment of meeting someone from an internet dating site and realizing that the spark just isn’t there after spending countless hours emailing back and fourth. And it’s always nice to be reminded that you are not in this singles thing alone, there are lots of other people out there who are in the same boat that you are!
