Speed dating is a formalized process aimed at focusing on first impressions, set up for people to meet each other. Men and women are rotated around the group through a series of short dates, usually running around 5-8 minutes. At the conclusion of each interval, a bell is rung and players and rotated to the next date in line. Contact information is not allowed to be traded between parties during a date, but rather at the conclusion of the event, people may submit to the event organizers the names of people they would like to see again, if there is a mutual match, details are forwarded on.

For those who want to make the most out of speed dating (not necessarily meeting a life partner) but having fun, making some new friends and even the chance of getting a real date out of speed dating, there are a few simple rules to follow.

Keep conversation basic, obey the basics of dating rules in that you should not bring up forbidden dating topics like sex, money, politics and religion. Keep conversation light, ask about what they do for a living, where they are from and what their interests are. If they are even remotely interested in you they will return with similar questions. Smile, be polite and courteous. Speed dating has a great advantage in that if you do not like the person, you only have to wait a matter of minutes to move on to the next, no drawn out dinners or awkward silences.

The main thing to remember is that speed dating revolves around the theory of a lasting first impression, and as such, one should be well groomed, tidily dressed and ready impress. Do not over dress; men don’t wear a suit and women don’t expose too much skin or you men may want to see you again for the wrong reasons. Do not wear items that scream desperation or ‘look at me’, for example you would not want to wear a Rolex to one of these events or you may attract people that only wan to see you again for your money.

Speed dating is all about conversation, is it however not the time to air your personal baggage. Think about how you would act on a regular date. Above all else, do not try and be someone else, don’t act like you are trying too hard or you will look like you are uncomfortable and make your date feel this way too. While you ate trying to impress your date, you must be sincere, polite and above all honest and presentable if you want a chance at another meeting.

Speed dating is like a social event and it uses a round robin technique of letting people get the chance to meet other people one on one for ten minutes. The individuals are all positioned on a circle with an inner circle probably for the females and the outer circle for the males. It is either the men or the women who will be moving around the circle. They are given 10 minutes to interact and talk after which they move on to their next date.

During the speed date, contact information is not allowed to be exchanged. At the end of the speed dating session, each speed dater would submit to the organizers a list of the names of the individuals that they would want to see again. It is the event organizers who try to look for a match and when a match is established this is when contact information is provided to both parties.

Daters would want to make an impact and an impression but when choosing an outfit for a speed dating event do not dress to attract people but instead dress attractively. There is basically a difference between these two. To dress to attract is to just draw attention and you wouldn’t want that especially with the wrong kind of individual. Dressing attractively will let that person focus on you. Avoid distractions like exposing certain body parts. You want to be assured that this person wants to meet you again because of your entire “package” and not because of any of your body parts.

Speed dating is not the appropriate time to be ranting about your exes, bragging about how you are in bed, or venting about bad relationships in the past. This is your chance to get to meet new people but with a limited time frame. While you might be wondering about what to talk about in a span of 10 minutes to somebody you have just met, safe topics would be those appropriate for a first date.

Be yourself. While you may want to make a good and lasting impression, being somebody else will ultimately not be of any help towards the goal of having a relationship. In the end if you do get a match after the end of a speed dating event, at least you know that the person likes you for your personality and for who you are. Speed dating is very exciting and can lead to a life of happiness with the person of your dreams. You must make sure that you present yourself properly, ask the correct questions and be polite.