Speed Dating - Round 2

After my terrible first experience with speed dating, it took months for my girlfriend to convince me to try again. She was extremely persistent and eventually convinced me.  My other girlfriend said she couldn't wait to babysit again an get a play by play on my eclectic adventures.  When it comes to life in general, I always say you should try everything twice before deciding whether or not you like it.  Time to take some of my own advice.

They chose a different venue for this event.  It was brighter and more modern looking in the pictures.  My girlfriend and I met in the market after work.  We thought we'd grab a quick bite and a coffee then head over to the event.  Just as we finished eating, she developed a bad headache.  I pumped her with Advil, but she started feeling sick and had to leave. I was going to drive her, but she insisted I stay and participate.  Besides I had already paid and it would throw the event off if two women were missing. 

I walked over and signed in.  I let the organizers know that my girlfriend had to leave as she was sick.  There were a few people there already.  The women were all well dressed, it was obvious most of us had come straight from work.  We mingled for a bit.  As I looked around the room, I was very disappointed with how the men looked.   Here we are at a speed dating event that is supposed to be for "young professionals" and two of the guys are dressed in Hawaiian shirts unbuttoned to their waist.  Really?  I wasn't getting a good vibe. 

The venue was nice, but then they lead us downstairs to an open room.  It wasn't decorated, just a large open space.  Eventually this would probably be an event space for private parties, but it wasn't finished.  The tables were set up and we waited for the green light to start.  Ok the ladies were seated and ready to go.

Date #1 - Mr. Permanent Vacation
Turns out he was one of the guys wearing a Hawaiian shirt. The age range for this event was supposed to be 35-45.  There's no way this guy was 45.

Him: "Hello beautiful."
Me: "Hi there."
Him: "How are you tonight."
Me: "Good thanks, and you?"
Him: "Great! Why don't you ask the first question."
Me: "How old are you?"
Him: "I'm 53, but I feel 35!"
Me: "What do you do for a living?"
Him: "I haven't worked for a bit, just enjoying myself and taking it easy."
Me: "What were you doing?"
Him: "You know, odd jobs here and there."

The bell rang, thank goodness!

Date #2 - Mr. Finding Himself
Another one in a Hawaiian shirt.  Was there a sale somewhere and these guys all happened to be at the same place? 

Him: "Hey!"
Me: "Hello."
Him: "How's it goin?"
Me: "Good, you?"
Him: "Good, do you know if they're serving food here?"
Me: "I don't think so."
Him: "I'm hungry, didn't eat."
Me: "Did you come straight from work?"
Him: "No, I'm between jobs."
Me: "How long have you been off work?  Did you get laid off?"
Him: "It didn't work out, just not what I wanted to do.  Been off work for a few months finding myself."

...I was done.  The guys at this event were supposed to be young professionals that have limited time to date.  Wow, two in a row unemployed.  This was not looking very promising.  I don't have  patience for dishonesty, not to mention the first guy was too old to be at this event. 

Date #3 - Mr. Artist
He looked like a slob.  There was no effort to look good, even wore flip flops.  The event dress code was business casual.  Obviously these guys are not professionals and have no clue how to dress.

Me: "Hi there."
Him: "Yo, what's up?"
Yo? I was beyond done at this point and struggled to be somewhat gracious.  It was very, very hard.  My girlfriend owed me big time for this!
Me: "What do you do for a living?"
Him: "I'm an artist.  I'm trying to sell some of my work."
Me: "So you don't have a job."
Him: "I express myself through art.  One day it will pay off."
Sure and maybe I'll win the lottery.

The rest of the night I was totally clued out and could not be bothered.  Didn't even use any of my questions.  The next several guys were all pretty much the same.  Not working, enjoying life, taking it easy, way too old and totally didn't know how to dress.  Half way through the event the organizers gave us a 15 minute break.  All the women raced to the bathroom.  We were all pissed and felt exactly the same way about these guys.  A few of us went to complain to the organizers.  This was not what we had signed up for.  The MC said they were short on men and had to bring in a few from another category to fill the event.  A few?  What category - unemployed and desperate?  So far not one of them was employed and this was one of the requirements to sign up for this event.

Back to the tables we went.  I let the guys do all the talking.  Got another one that was in his fifties and thought he was God's gift to women.  I couldn't hold back. 

Date #5 - Mr. Gigolo
Me: "So you're basically looking for a sugar momma?"
Him: "You are funny, love the sense of humour."

I wasn't joking.  His shirt was unbuttoned to his belly button, he had several gold chains and walked around strutting like a turkey.  He was much older with a beer belly and balding with a terrible fake and bake tan.

I didn't even meet with the organizers when it was done, I was out of there.  Most of the women stayed behind to complain and demand a refund.  I wrote a scathing email when I got home.  What a waste of time and money.  I was not pleased. 

When I told my girlfriend how it went the next day, she was shocked.  This was supposed to be one of the more reputable groups that organized speed dating events.  They most definitely did not deliver.  The participants on the men's side did not meet the criteria set out.  Not one of them was employed or a professional, not to mention most they fell outside the required age range. 

The organizer called to talk to me.  She apologized and said that some people lie and it's difficult to verify information. I told her I didn't believe her.  I can see there being maybe one or two people that don't meet the criteria, but she was very familiar with the participants as she also ran singles events along with a matchmaking service.  She would have known many were far older.  I don't appreciated feeling ripped off and having my time wasted.  If they didn't have a sufficient number of participants, reschedule the event.  Misleading people is wrong.  I had to get a babysitter on top of paying for the event and parking.  I wanted a refund.  She said they couldn't give refunds, but I'd get a 50% discount on the next event. Yeah sure, like I'd sign up for another one. 

Weeks later the organizer called back and insisted I participate at the next event.  She would not charge me given the bad experience I had at the last event.  She assured me this event would be better and everyone was appropriately screened and met all the categories.  In actual fact, I learned later she was short on women and was desperate as they didn't want to have to cancel the event.

I told her I'd think about it.  To date, my experiences with speed dating were not positive.  I wasn't sure I wanted to waste any more time or money on this kind of an event. 

Life goes on and there was online dating.
Dateless in Ottawa