Speed Dating: The New Way to Meet People

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Shannon Mack

It has happened to the best of us. It’s Friday and you realize you have no plans after work. All of your friends are married or have a significant other, but you, my friend, are single. The phone is not ringing, there are no hot date offers, and once again you are spending the weekend alone. With the busy world that we are living in, it is harder and harder for people to meet each other like they used to before social media took over.

So when the traditional and nontraditional avenues to meeting people don’t suffice, what option does a single person have? Speed dating.


Nestled in the lobby of The Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles is the swanky Suede Lounge. Plush red velvet ottomans and stylish booths provide a luxurious backdrop, but it what’s waiting inside the bar and lounge that’s truly the showstopper: 15 single males and 15 single women mingle, apply nametags and pick up score cards, prepping for their “Match in a Minute” speed dates. The men are dressed to the nines in suits and business attire and the women are jazzed up in dresses and heels. When the festivities begin, each person is given a list of the participants and then they’re assigned to numbered tables. The women take a seat and remain stationary as a different eligible bachelor vies for their attention every four minutes. It is a sight to behold.

It’s a great and exciting time. The drinks are pouring, the smiles are rampant, and the love connections are being made simply and effectively. Match in a Minute CEO, Shannon Mack, is proud of the company she founded.


Shannon: “I’ve been in business for about a year and a half and it has been interesting … My hopes for people when they come out is that they will have a good time. I had two speed daters that came out several months ago who are now getting married and I am very proud of that. Most people always make a match. It cost about $35.00 and that includes a free drink and ice breaker games.

First-time speed daters Eula and Andre give their take on the interesting experience:

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Andre




Andre, an anesthesiologist: “I have been unlucky in love. I let a lot of good woman slip through my fingers being stupid and being caught up in the scene. So this is a great experience, I am having a lot of fun and meeting a variety of woman in a short amount of time.”






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Eula




Eula, a postal worker: “My friend and I decided to give it a try. It’s a nice environment to have a casual conversation — it’s not a meat market, and there is no pressure.





Want to Speed Date? Check out MatchinaMinute.com

marqueta smith

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