Valentines day is for everyone! Even the single people out there.
That’s the reason why speed dating is such a prominent event this season. While it can be found in a simple google search of your local events, I feel that if you want to really have you and your friends enjoy it, you can host a private speed dating event yourself! These tips will help you organize one that is fun and full of possibilities, without so much hassle.
- Guestlist – A smaller event makes it more manageable, a bigger one gives attendees more chances of a match. SO which one do you go for? I suggest going for a fairly sized one to start with. List down your single friends and invite them personally. Create event invites on facebook 2-3 weeks ahead. This allows people to save your date ahead of time. Consider food and drinks as part of the ticket price.
- Venue Considerations - Choose your venue wisely. You will need to consider ambiance and noise factor as the goal of a speed dating event is to be able to make as much of an impression on each other in short amounts of time. It will be noisy, and you will need proper lighting. You also need enough space to move around and to match the venue aesthetic to your crowd. Younger people appreciate more fun and loud environments, while a group of professionals may enjoy a swankier setting more. It is in many ways,just like planning a regular cocktail party. Pay attention to details, and always think of your guests.
- Set the Topics – Prepare the questions and print them out. A question sheet with general topics can help people ask the right questions, or even help shay people get started. Many single people out there can get tongue tied, this helps them move in the right direction.
- Hire the Right People – Everybody needs help. I suggest three crucial event hires: you will need to hire a host to liven up the party and be the master of ceremonies, a registration officer, and a bouncer for event security. In an event high on emotions, you need to make sure that you have the right people who will know how to keep it fun but organized.
- Timing is everything – I suggest keeping the dates to 7 minutes each, longer if you only have a few participants, but never past 10 minutes. Take a break in between the event to make sure that people aren’t overwhelmed, and at the end of it all, make sure to have comment cards. Your event only gets better with more practice.
Want to learn how to host an evet? Here’s a great read to learn more: Event Planning: The Ultimate Guide To Successful Meetings, Corporate Events, Fundraising Galas, Conferences, Conventions, Incentives and Other Special Events
