2. If you know that you have no interest in someone, you still have to spend the rest of the time talking to him or her. This can be torturous - especially if your partner has no conversational skills. Minutes can seem like hours!
3. You have to subject yourself to rejection. What if you like someone and they don't like you back? Speed dating is not for the thin-skinned person. Your inner critic will have a field day if no one picks you.
4. There may be a cute guy across the room (okay, we can't help being superficial!) and you are never paired up with him because of time constraints. You may never get a chance to meet him. It seems like the stars are conspiring against you and there was a major opportunity lost.
5. No connections were made; you feel like the evening was a waste of time and wish that you stayed home that night watching Gray's Anatomy!
6. You get to meet at least a half dozen people who are inclined to give you their undivided attention for the time allotted.
7. If you sit back and relax, you can get a sense of someone, their demeanor and their essence - whether it's positive or negative. This is when it's helpful to know how to read body language.
8. You know the majority of people are serious about meeting someone to date. Why else would someone subject themselves to this?
9. You can see if you can carry a conversation with someone. You'll find out if there are interests in common. You may not meet the love of your life, but you could find a person who could be a life long friend.
10. You may actually meet someone you like that you would consider dating. Now you're ahead of where you were when you walked in the door!
11. To make the most out of your speed dating experience, arrive armed with a few tricks in your back pocket. As a conversation starter, have some generic questions to ask such as about a person's hobbies, hometown or the type of music they like.
12. Tell a funny story about yourself. Have a glass of water or a soft drink to take a sip from during a pregnant pause. Try to make eye contact and SMILE! When it's time to "rate your date", give a thumbs up to anyone you're on the fence with - speed dating may make a person come across as intimidated or reserved, so consider giving them a second chance if they like you and you think there may be something worth exploring.
13. Go into speed dating with the spirit of adventure, and leave your expectations at the door. You may just be pleasantly surprised! If you don't have a successful experience, you can cross this off your list, go back to online dating or look into the many other ways you can meet people to date. If you want suggestions, just Google singles events in your area.
