Speed dating Matchmaker, Matchmaker, make me a match!
By BRITTANY OAT Norwich Bulletin
Speed dating tips
Don't be judgmental, be open to each person.
Start the conversation creatively: "Instead of starting
each conversation like 'my name is Jill', I would start each
conversation differently like 'that's a nice shirt where did
you get it?' or 'what did you think about the Yankees? I love
the Yankees.' and let the basic information come out."
Don't be afraid to give your information that night: "I
think people shouldn't be nervous to ask that question, if you
don't want to give it then just say I didn't bring my
card."
Believe in chemistry and fate, but go in with a general
idea of what you are looking for.
LISBON -- Twenty-three years ago, Cindy and Al Lazuk of
Lisbon fell in love through the Together dating service.
With the grand opening of her own three-minute speed dating
company, Happy Hearts LLC, Lazuk hopes to bring the same joy to
others.
"These seminars are open to everyone regardless of race, creed,
religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation," Lazuk said. "We feel
that everyone deserves to have a happy heart."
Beginning this month, she will conduct speed dating each evening
at the Kennel Club of the Plainfield Greyhound Park.
Lazuk says in addition to the seven age brackets for all singles,
she will have special gay/lesbian and interracial nights.
The Happy Hearts program, which originates from the Jewish
tradition of matchmaking, differs from the nationwide Eight Minute
Dating company that meets occasionally at the Mohegan Sun casino and
the Mystic Hilton.
Tracey Hydeck, the Connecticut leader of Eight Minute Dating,
divides the singles into two age brackets that meet simultaneously
to promote intermingling.
The singles in attendance use a Web site to select if they wish
to see any of their eight dates again. If a match is made, contact
information is exchanged.
Lazuk says people should be in charge of their own destiny so, at
Happy Hearts, they must exchange their own information.
"We bring you together, we let you decide," said Lazuk quoting
the company motto. "We're not there to invade people's privacy....We
feel like we shouldn't get any more involved than a bartender."
By following her heart instead of waiting for an online matchup,
Jill (who requested her last name be withheld) of Manhattan met her
fiancé on a Connecticut speed date about a year ago.
"When I went in there, I felt I was going to be lenient about
judging people," she said. "I figured I'd give them this
opportunity, because that's what it was all about."
In the one-on-one scenario, Marissa Barnard of East Lyme feels
more comfortable socializing than in a bar where, she says, most men
are either intoxicated or taken.
"When you go out with just the girls, you get all dressed up and
it's not just for the opposite sex," said Barnard, who did not get
as 'dolled-up' for this event. "You get to be more of yourself
because you are by yourself."
On Sunday night at the Mohegan Sun's Dubliner, Barnard and other
singles became engrossed in conversation, accompanied by champagne.
"You could walk around this room naked and people would not
notice you," Hydeck said.
Be it eight minutes or three, online or fate, love or friendship
all speed daters say they have one thing in common -- their love for
meeting people.
In fact, that is the only reason Suvit Nopachai of Mystic attends
speed dating.
"If it happens, it happens -- but you don't expect to find a
girlfriend or a wife," Nopachai said.
