New York City is a vibrant and exciting city with plenty of activities and singles to meet! But how do you go about finding them? Swiping online creates impersonal connections that just can’t live up to meeting people in person.
Luckily there are ways to make new, more meaningful connections at speed dating events in NYC. You can meet new people and get matched without having to second guess someone’s interest in you. So, whether you’re new to NYC or want to venture outside your established social circle, here’s some info on how to do speed dating in NYC the right way.
Getting Started with Speed Dating in NYC
If you’re new to the speed dating world, you’ll first want to find an event near you that caters to the crowd you want to socialize with. Whether that’s people of the same age or with similar interests. For example, Amiccio speed dating events are held weekly at The Malt House in Greenwich Village. It’s a great location that’s upscale but still chill, and the events are geared towards attendees in their 20s and 30s.
Most speed dating events allow you to meet many people within a few hours. The events usually start off with a rotational format where you have around 5 minutes to talk to someone. Once your time limit is up, the rotation begins, so you meet a new single. Some events will then have time for mingling and meeting people freely. You’ll usually fill out a matchmaking card you hand to the host, who will identify matches based on mutual interest among attendees. It can help take the guesswork out of the dating process!
7 Speed Dating Tips
To make sure you have the best experience with speed dating in NYC, here are 7 tips to keep in mind. So relax and find an event that will help you meet your match.
1. Be Yourself
This is the number one tip because it can’t be emphasized enough how important it is just to be yourself! At the end of the day, you want to match with someone who likes you for who you are. So be honest when sharing about yourself and your interests. If you don’t have anything in common, that’s okay. You’ll be rotating to someone who matches up with you better.
2. Avoid Certain Topics
Yes, you want to be yourself and be honest. But there are some topics it’s best to avoid bringing up, especially when you first meet someone. For example, avoid talking about your ex unless there’s some natural segway to the topic. Talking extensively about your ex too soon can show you’re not over them yet and can be a turn-off. It’s also probably best not to brag. Remember, there’s is a line between confidently sharing something honestly and bragging.
3. Mix Up Your Questions
Don’t stick to questions like where do you work and how many siblings do you have. Remember, you only have a few minutes, and there are various questions that can help you get to know someone. Think about what is important to you. For example, are you a big movie enthusiast? Then ask them if they have a favorite movie.
It’s also good to mix in some fun questions with serious ones. So make a mental list of what you want to ask and maybe try some of these:
- What is your biggest passion in life?
- What’s your favorite joke?
- What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done in your life so far?
- What do you want your life to look like in 5 years?
4. Dress for Success
First impressions do count, so make sure you’re wearing clean clothes that make you feel attractive and comfortable. You don’t have to go buy a new wardrobe (remember, be yourself!), but you do want to look like you put some effort for the occasion. You might also want to consider the venue’s vibe when choosing what to wear.
5. Be Open-Minded
Speed dating events let you meet people outside your social circle, so you can’t be 100% sure who you’ll come across. It’s best to leave your idea of what your “type” is at the door and enter the event with an open mind. Don’t count someone out because of their hair color, body type, or job. The beautiful thing about these events is you can unexpectedly (and wonderfully!) find someone you like that you never would have if you didn’t venture out of your normal social scene.
6. Don’t Lose Hope
If you don’t find a match at the first speed dating event you attend, don’t stress! As mentioned before, the goal is to find someone who matches up well with you. Someone who likes you just for who you are. So if there’s no match, it probably means it wouldn’t work out in the long run anyway. Time saved!
It’s well worth the wait once you do meet this person, so don’t lose hope. Have the courage to attend more than one event.
7. Start When You Are Ready
There’s no need to rush into finding your perfect love match. If you feel you’re still not quite ready to jump into speed dating right away, you can get into the hang of meeting other people again by attending different social gatherings. For instance, Amiccio hosts various other events, including socials, parties, networking events, and dancing classes. It’ll get you offline and outside to meet new people in real life. The idea is to start socializing outside your existing circle and, once you feel comfortable enough, dip your toes into a speed dating event to find your match!