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Wednesday, 14 June 2006 |
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Speed dating is a relatively new concept to dating. The idea is that you go along to a venue that has 5-30 people of each sex, and you have a limited amount of time to talk to each person of the opposite sex. You have to make a snap decision as to whether you would want to see that person again, and you fill your intentions in on a form that you carry with you. Either at the end of the night or after the event is over, anybody you want to see again and who wants to see you again (a "mutual match") will be given the contact details of the other person, and it is then up to the two of you to arrange something else. Here are my suggestions:
When you go to a speed dating event, try and dress smartly, but don't go overboard. Shirt and tie or a nice smart dress or two-piece should do.
Chances are, you will be very nervous! Many speed dating organisations help you with this by taking your money off you before you attend, so that if you don't attend the session, you have wasted your money! Seriously, although you will be nervous to begin with, you will settle down after the first few "dates." I was probably the worst bag of nerves imaginable before my first time!
Realise that you don't have to "succeed." There are different definitions to success. The more experience you get, the better success rate in terms of getting partners you will have in the future as you find out what works and what doesn't. If you fail to generate any interest, it doesn't matter; just think about how the night went, and try to visualise how you may have come across. You have become more experienced, which in itself is a success.
Try to ask interesting questions. Do you really need to know what they do for a living at this stage? Chances are, if you ask that question, either they are not excited about their work at all, and that will dampen your own enthusiasm, or they will start to rattle off on how good their job is, leaving your eyes glazing over! For example, a girl who I speed dated once asked "Elephants or monkeys?" It was a very unusual question, and that girl has stuck in my mind, whereas the others have tailed off.
Make sure you are aware of your body language and the other person's, and try to flirt! A few minutes is not normally long enough before you can comfortably touch somebody other than with a handshake or kiss on the cheek, but as time is so short, you may want to try that.
One of the most important points I've found is that as you only have a short amount of time with each person, if you get on really well with somebody in those first few minutes, try to talk to them again during breaks, and after the speed dating is over. Maybe your date ticked the "No" box on the form? Remember, you don't have to have ticked yes on the form to exchange telephone numbers; you can both choose to do it on the night!
If you are fairly new at the game and certain people appear to be more successful than you, observe them! Watch and listen to how they interact with the other people. These people are likely just more confident than you are, and this is where speed dating increases your confidence, because you can see what they are doing that works.
If you're not particularly good at small talk, a little alcohol may help to loosen your tongue, but don't go overboard! Some dutch courage is a good thing, but you won't come across as very attractive if you start slurring your speech!
Also, if somebody tells you they've been before and had 15 matches out of 20, you don't have to believe them! It's very easy for people to lie or exaggerate. Don't let people telling you this story put you down!
Finally, you need to be aware that the lying thing may even go as far as somebody attending the night when they already have a boyfriend or girlfriend, or even husband or wife. Some people go along to have fun; some people may even have more sinister motives. Be wary, and be aware, especially if you're a girl.
I'll just briefly talk about my own experience with speed dating. I had been out of the dating game for some time after a previous relationship. I have been to three nights of speed dating, and in each case there were twenty girls that I got the opportunity to chat to. I got no matches in the first session, one in the second, and one in the third; even though I did go out on dates with them, these people were not right for me. I had lots of fun, though, and most importantly I developed my confidence! Remember, confidence comes from doing.
Dave Thomas is a web publisher with a wide range of interests, including psychology and dating. He publishes articles like this at http://Flirt-Coach.net which you can view for free, and you can add your own comments, giving further advice and turning it into your web site. It's a great place to learn!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Thomas
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Monday, 12 June 2006 |
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By Lee Dobbins
Do you love to travel but don’t have the money to take all the trips you want? What if you could cut your travel costs? You might be able to take more vacations or finally visit that special destination you’ve been dreaming of.
Finding travel discounts does take a bit of legwork, but in this age of computers you can do a lot of the legwork right in the comfort of your own home. You can find discounts on airfare, hotels and car rentals at major airline and travel web sites if you want to invest a little bit of time in surfing the web.
But getting discounts on your airfare and hotels aren’t the only way to save on vacations. Here’s seven things that might help you cut costs the next time you take a trip.
1. Shop around for the cheapest flight online either at the airlines website or the big travel sites. Airlines offer discount tickets periodically so you should check their sites often. The big travel sites have specials as well and it can really save some time if you register to receive an email when a discount to your destination comes up. Don’t forget to check these sites often since you never know when a good deal might pop up.
2. Look for web-only discounts offered by hotels and airlines for people who don’t mind making reservations online. You must commit to your reservation but sometimes you can save half the cost with one of these specials.
3. Check on detour flights other than the straight one you’ll most likely get when you inquire. Your total flight prices can be cheaper when you take two flights instead of one. Some people save thousands booking their flights this way.
4. Check out package deals for your dream vacation as you can usually save a bundle and it’s a bit more convenient for you too. Packages that combine airfare and hotel can be had at a steep discount compared to what they cost when paid for separately. Even better, try to get a trio package that combines airfare, hotel and car rental for a really great travel.
5. If you’ll be staying in the same hotel for more than 7 days, call ahead and ask if they have any week long stay discounts. Sometimes you can get a free day or a bit off your overall price.
6. Travel to great vacation places that have a low cost of living - the prices there will tend to be a bit less than other vacation spots. Malaysia and the Philippines are good examples where both have great scenery and tourist spots but prices are reasonable. Make sure there is plenty of English speaking people there unless you enjoy the challenge of communicating with people who do not speak your language.
7. Once you’ve gotten all your travel discounts on hotels and airfare, you can still save some money on your vacation by buying food at the grocery and cooking it yourself instead of eating out for every meal. Restaurants tend to have cheap food that might not be the healthiest so do your wallet and your health a favor by eating in. Of course, you’ll want to make sure to get a hotel room that has refrigeration and allows for cooking too.
Lee Dobbins writes for http://www.airfare1st.com where you can find more articles on air travel, vacations and
how to save on airfare.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Dobbins
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Monday, 15 May 2006 |
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Are you sick of meeting the same kinds of people in life? Try the online dating sites. Dating online is a way to meet a variety of different people who you might never meet in day to day life. With its ever increasing popularity, your chances of making your perfect match constantly grow better. With computer matching used at the online dating sites, you are able to find that very special someone just for you. You can find people that share your exact interests and hobbies who are looking for someone just like you before you ever even go on a date. Technology is truely great when it comes to LOVE.
If you are considering dating online, you must also consider the risk that is involved. Meeting someone in a chat room or through a dating site sounds simple, but you never can be sure how honest the other person may be. You should never give out personal information, such as your full name or address to strangers. If you choose to meet someone in person, it is best to go on a group date or meet somewhere public. There are bad people in this world we live in, so be cautious.
Some online dating sites are completely free. "Plenty of Fish" offers a simplified service to you, which includes searching by location or gender, and will never charge any fees. "Book of Matches" is another great site that makes the online dating experience free, fun, and easy. An equal variety of people are available on non-pay sites as with a site that can charge a fee just to post your profile. Only you can be the judge on which type of site to work with.
When you begin to pursue dating online, it is important that you follow some simple guidelines. Be positive and completely honest about yourself. If you expect someone to be honest with you, then the least you could do is represent yourself exactly as you are. Do not automatically assume that someone that shares your interests is the right person for you. Be clear about what you are looking for in a potential date and emphasize what you could provide to a relationship. This goes for both guys and gals. Honesty will always pay off in the end.
Keith Londrie II is a well known author. Please visit http://www.dating-information.info/ for more information on dating, online and offline.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_Londrie
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