The time allotted for getting to know each date varies depending on the group sponsoring the speed dating. Hurry Date offers just three minutes, while 8 Minute Dating obviously allows 8 minutes, and there are more variations as well. With such a short amount of time, what should you talk about?

Let’s talk strategy first. With just minutes to connect with a prospective date, what’s the best way to spend that time? To make a good impression, create a fun and comfortable exchange. Ask questions that will help determine if the two of you can carry a conversation. No matter how curious you are to discover if your speed date meets your “datable criteria,” save those interview questions for later. If you don’t manage to enjoy the time, you’ll never get a chance to find out anything else.

Start off with a smile. People often decide if they like you or not within the first 15 seconds, so do your best to appear confident and look like you are having a good time. When you smile, you put the other person at ease. That’s always a good strategy for getting to know someone.

What topics are good for these “mini-dates?” Here’s a list of conversation starters to get the ball rolling easily. These are opened ended questions that require a person to provide real information. Avoid yes/no questions which tend to create dead ends. And, don’t forget that if you use these questions, be prepared with your own answers in case the tables are turned and you get asked the same thing!
# Tell me about your favorite vacation? What made it so good?

# If you had a day off next week and plenty of cash, what would you do?

# What makes you smile?

# What’s your favorite kind of food?

# If you could drive any car which one would you choose?

# What’s your favorite holiday memory?

# If you were an animal, what would you be?

# If you could try any job for one day – what would you choose?

# What do you do to relax?

# What’s your favorite movie and why?

# Would you rather spend a day in the woods or at the beach? Why?

# Tell me about a sporting event you’ll never forget

After your date responds, say something to acknowledge him/her. You may even share your own perspective on the topic or say what you liked about the answer. Don’t worry about interpreting anything during the conversation itself. Just make a mental note if you had fun with the person and leave the rest for later.

The most important thing about speed dating events is to relax and enjoy meeting new people. Acquiring the skill for easy chit chat will serve you well in the long run. Even if a speed dating event produces no matches, you still practiced flirting and talking to the opposite sex. You never know when you’ll meet “the one” or who will introduce you to the right person, so get out there soon!

Some say that speed dating is a shallow pursuit that doesn’t really allow people to get to know each other at a deeper level. For these people, the source of a good and long-lasting relationship, is found in the slow and patient getting-to-know another person. But for those in the dating game, the ease of speed dating parties puts the pressure off trying to sustain a bad date. At a speed dating gathering, there is no pressure to perform past those quick 8 minutes. Whatever the pros and cons, speed dating is the latest matchmaking craze. It is fun and totally safe. Speed dating parties are normally held in stylish venues, where people can dress up, have fun and get to know each other in a warm and comfortable atmosphere.

Succeeding at speed dating is relatively easy, during your conversation with a date, even though it is only five minutes or so, you already know whether or not there is a connection. This is because your mind has already made the determination. There is a certain level of emotional attraction that has already taken place. You can certainly enhance or make the experience better by the things that you do and say so follow these guidelines for how you can improve your speed dating session.

While many would think that 10 minutes is not enough time to really get to know a person, it is enough time to have a chat and maybe think about whether you want to see that person again. Besides, with the 10 minute time limit you wouldn’t at least to get stuck with a lousy date for long.

During the speed date, contact information is not allowed to be exchanged. At the end of the speed dating session, each speed dater would submit to the organizers a list of the names of the individuals that they would want to see again. It is the event organizers who try to look for a match and when a match is established this is when contact information is provided to both parties.

Daters would want to make an impact and an impression but when choosing an outfit for a speed dating event do not dress to attract people but instead dress attractively. There is basically a difference between these two. To dress to attract is to just draw attention and you wouldn’t want that especially with the wrong kind of individual. Dressing attractively will let that person focus on you. Avoid distractions like exposing certain body parts. You want to be assured that this person wants to meet you again because of your entire “package” and not because of any of your body parts.

Speed dating is not the appropriate time to be ranting about your exes, bragging about how you are in bed, or venting about bad relationships in the past. This is your chance to get to meet new people but with a limited time frame. While you might be wondering about what to talk about in a span of 10 minutes to somebody you have just met, safe topics would be those appropriate for a first date.

Be yourself. While you may want to make a good and lasting impression, being somebody else will ultimately not be of any help towards the goal of having a relationship. In the end if you do get a match after the end of a speed dating event, at least you know that the person likes you for your personality and for who you are.