Speed dating Oakville

Post date: 2007-10-02
Speed dating, a modern alternative to dating in Oakville.
Source - Oakville Beaver

Dating 25 women in one night – most men would call it a dream come true.
The owners of a new speed dating service call it a modern alternative to dating.
Laura Bilotta and Melissa Seifert, owners of Single in the City, have taken the concept of speed dating and taken it up a notch, four minutes to be exact.
Fifty single men and women assembled at Kokopelli’s in downtown Oakville Tuesday night and were divvied up – women on one side of the tables, men across from them. Couples then “date” for four-minutes until a whistle is blown and the men move to the next lady-in-waiting (a lot easier for men get up and move - no stilettos and no purse).
Each participant carries a supplied card and marks whether they’d like to see that person again. Once they marking is complete, a new date continues.
At the end of the evening the cards are collected and matches are determined. A match is when both parties circle yes on their card. An e-mail is then sent to the participants within 48 hours notifying them of any matches. It is up to the individuals to initiate future dates.
“It’s a social, sophisticated night out. It’s for business professionals who are sick of the bar scene, who don’t want the online dating services, or general dating services. It’s an evening to network, make friends, or find your future soul-mate,” said Bilotta.
She said Single in the City, although a dating service, is a class higher.
“We’ve added that personal touch. We’ve provided live music, free food, the atmosphere. We’ve made it a night out.”
“People are tired of playing games,” said Seifert. “Speed dating is less intimidating. You are all here for the same thing. Your picks are kept private, so there’s no offending anybody, no rejections.”
They said the speed-dating concept was first introduced by the Jewish community in New York. It eventually trickled into Canada, primarily Toronto, and Bilotta and Seifert, were the first to branch it outside of Toronto.
Since its launch in May 2002, Single in the City boasts an 80 per cent match success rate and has brought together more than 55 couples, as well as continually sold out events.
They said the time limit was kept at four minutes to not only increase the odds of “finding someone” but also to keep the evening on a schedule.
“We found that if we don’t move them, then they take their time talking and the evening last hours,” said Bilotta.
“And you know within minutes whether you are attracted to this person or not. It’s better than getting home form a club or bar and smelling like smoke and having nothing accomplished.”
Peter, one of the participants, said Single in the City is a great way to meet people.
Having “dated” 12 women already that evening he said he’s circled a few “yes’.”
“Four-minutes is enough time to make a first impression or certainly seeing whether I want to know this person better, “ he said adding that this was his second Single in the City event.
Carey, another participant, said she’s too shy to approach men, so when her friends urged her to try speed dating, she thought she would. “This is better than a dating service and less expensive. You can dip your feet without putting a lot of investment into it,” said the 31-year-old.
A single mother of two, she said when she meets men they usually think she’s looking for someone to pay her bills.
“I’m looking for someone who’s confident in themselves,” she said, adding that with only four-minutes to talk to someone, she tries to find out the person’s interests and ambitions.
“Surprising, but you can tell as soon as they open their mouths what kind of personality they have,” she said.
Another woman, Sabine, though not a participant at Tuesday’s event, attended to give two of her friends support during the evening. She said she already participated at an earlier Single in the City event and is still dating one of her matches.
“I know how it felt, going outside of your comfort zone, but it ended up being a really enjoyable time,” she said.
“With a dating service, you have to spend four hours or however long the date is and ‘make nice.’ I think this is great. You don’t have to spend as much money or time.
“At a bar, you’ll be lucky if you meet one guy, then you wonder how much of the truth they actually tell you. Everyone here is here for the same reasons. It takes the pressure off.”
Single in the City will be hosting their next Oakville event on Mar. 4 for the 25 – 35 age group. The evening costs $55 and will take place at Kokopelli’s.

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