Speed dating can either be great fun or you could see it as a chore that you dread; but you need to meet the right man or the right woman and you feel that this is the most effective and efficient way for you to go about it. Checking out a potential partner before you commit to a proper date can have its benefits! You can always walk away at the end of the exercise. Whether it’s with or without that special someone depends to some degree on how you performed. Here are some speed dating tips for men and women to help you out:

* Be yourself and use your personality to the full. This simply means that you should be relaxed to the extent that your true personality shines through. This is particularly important if you are looking for a long-term relationship. If you put on an act, it will show sooner or later, and probably end in tears.

* You be self-assured but try not to come over as being arrogant.

* Show interest in your partner by making good eye contact and smile with your eyes. This can make you appear more attractive to the other person because they have 100% of your attention. If you can make them feel that they are the only person in the room, then that is not a bad thing.

* Ask questions that matter to you, depending on your reasons for being on a speed date. Remember that time is limited so it is best to think about the questions that you want to ask beforehand and memorise them. Make sure that the questions are not asked in an intimidating way. Try to make them conversational.

* Always think long term. I was given this advice many years ago “don’t go out with someone you do not want to end up spending the rest of your life with”. It seems pretty sound advice to me, if you are looking for a serious long term relationship.

* Keep maintaining eye contact but at the same time, watch the other’s body language. You will be surprised how much you can learn from another’s body language.

* Go with your intuition; never ignore it because invariably it is right most of the times, if we honestly reflect back. If it doesn’t feel right, then it’s probably not right for you so move on.

* Finally, should it not work out on the night, don’t be dejected. At least you would have gained valuable experience from which to assess other potential partners.

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.