Fancy a night of dress-ups? A spoon with someone you've just met? What about an eight-minute heart-to-heart with 12 strangers at a swanky destination? Well singles, get out your best outfit because it's the party season...
"Blokes be warned!" shouted headlines when a new study by the institute on loneliness was unleashed. "Those who rely too heavily on their tribes are more likely to end up single and lonely."
Single men don't despair. Dating is tough, we know. Finding "the one" is even tougher. Yet it seems to have gotten a whole lot easier thanks to a host of spanking new dating services and parties designed for us to meet, greet and be merry.
Speed Dating
I am usually not one to attend a gathering specifically for the anxious, distressed or lonely singleton looking for lurve in the big city, but in the name of "research" I decided to let down my hair and try my hand at speed dating. Yep, it's the latest craze to scoop the pool of modern singletons and now it comes in the form of wine tasting, salsa dancing and cocktail making. (Who would have thought!)
But the question remains - can you really fancy someone after an eight minute tete-a-tete? That was the challenge my male colleague and I set ourselves as we nervously joined the Fast Impressions Speed Dating Wine Tasting event. (Thank goodness for the free flowing wine - speed daters are a terribly thirsty bunch.)
So how does speed dating work? The girls are seated at random tables while the blokes are given eight minutes at each table to show off their best side. The rapid-fire format is certainly an interesting way to meet people. The 12 potential blokes I spoke to included six guys from I.T. (apparently it gets quite lonely staring at a computer screen all day - I should know), four from construction and one a journalist. (By the way, none were fat, balding or boring I am happy to report!) While I dashed home afterwards to post my blog, my colleague stayed on to exchange emails, chat up the chicks and meet some new friends. Not bad for a Wednesday night.
The Porn Party
An interesting email flipped into my inbox on Monday morning from another male fan. "On the weekend I went to a 'Porn Party!'" he sneered enthusiastically. "Essentially, we all went along for a dinner at a friends place, and everyone had to bring a plate of something to eat and a porn DVD/movie. We played Porn-Bingo (like normal bingo, but instead of numbers, you call out porn sayings, such as 'My, you're so big!', and the winner of each round has to take a shot of Vodka). We then proceeded to watch (and laugh hysterically) at really bad 80's porn." Not everyone's cup of tea, but worth it for the giggles.
The "Rubix Cube" party
In case you've never attended one, the Rubix Cube party is where everyone arrives wearing at least 6 different pieces of clothing with each piece being a completely different colour. By the end of the night you have to leave wearing clothes all the same colour by going up to random strangers and saying "hey, take off your pants, I need them!" and swapping. Not bad for a bunch sexually charged singletons eager to take their gear off.
The Cuddle Party
It's the hottest trend to come out of the dating scene - the cuddle-party phenomenon. In full swing since February 2004 when self-proclaimed sex and relationship experts Reid Mihalko, 36, and Marcia Baczynski, 27 launched their first event for touch-hungry, hug-happy strangers, it's now expanded world wide. So what is a cuddle-party exactly? The founders describe it as "a playful social event designed for adults to explore communication, boundaries and affection." Facilitated by a "Cuddle Lifeguard on Duty" who creates a comfortable, non-threatening environment, it seems singles flock to Cuddle Parties to cuddle in a safe, fun, and non-alcoholic way to meet other people. While Cuddle Parties haven't yet reached our shores, touch-hungry singletons, watch this space.
What's the most innovative way to meet someone? Share your experiences!
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