Speed Dating - We Click, You Must Try...

On a cold and rainy Thursday night, I headed up to the Paris end of Melbourne's CBD to attend a speed dating event, with two gal pals in toe. A few weeks earlier, I had been emailing back and forth with Benny from We Click, who asked me to come along to an event so I could see for myself how great the events were and decide for myself if I wanted to write a story.

My last experience speed dating was donkeys years ago, I actually did two rounds of it, because I am all about second chances. I am not going to lie, I didn't enjoy my experience. Fast forward to 2017, a slightly older, more open-minded and also coupled me walked into the experience and I can hand on heart say I was impressed from the moment I walked in.

Firstly, Benny a We Click host, can only be described as an absolute delight. His infectious positivity and confidence is so charming and best of all, the reason he works for We Click, is because he went to an event run by them and liked it so much he became a host. I mean, if there is higher praise for something being legend, I dare you to tell me!

While guests around us arrive. mingle and grab drinks, we chat to Benny about the evening and how We Click speed dating runs. Benny continues to be a legend during all of this, sharing his own experiences speed dating, my favourite of which and a tactic that is as genius as it is bonkers, is that at the first two speed dating events he attended he said yes to every single person as a match at the end of the night. His reasons "everyone was nice and why not broaden your chances of a match?" Why the devil not indeed!

Benny tells us that each date is 6 minutes long and that there is 12 dates, after 6 dates, you have a break for a bit of nosh and then it's back on for round two. When Benny formally introduces the group he makes a real good funny about 6 minutes either going too fast or that it could be the longest 6 minutes of your life, cue awkward laughter from participants, but I ask Benny "what do you do if people just look totally bored or have run out of things to say?!". He tells me in his genuine Benny way, that it is rare for that to happen and if it does, he'll grab them a drink and start a conversation up with them. Benny goes up another 700000000 pegs in my eyes.

So there we are, standing in the middle of what can only be described as a ripping good time. So good a time was being had that a random walked in off the street and asked what was going on, it looked THAT fun.

Now you're probably also thinking, what was the venue like and were the people freaks? Well, I'll start with the venue. A classy joint up off Flinders Lane, cool location, tucked away enough for you to feel secure you won't see your boss walking in. My last speed dating experience involved some spring rolls and dimmies for your mid break snack, not We Click. There was legitimately a quinoa salad and smoked salmon on offer and came from the Dutch inspired menu of the restaurant that the bar is attached to. It was fancy and I dug it.

Now for the people. Smartly dressed, friendly looking, happy folk all their to have a good time and to meet new people. Not a freak amongst them, the opposite for sure actually, and their snappy dressing and sense of occasion really warmed my heart, especially men in jackets and a dress shoe.  

In the break, Benny asks people if they would be happy to speak to me, so I made a beeline for a gaggle of girls in a corner chatting a way and drinking vino. I ask what bought them to the event and the answer was epic and the lady became my instant hero for braveness and taking people prisoner for the ride. She said "I paid for 3 tickets online and then made these two come with me", she should actually be with Benny, she's that much of a legend.

Her friends laugh, she's clearly a scallywag and plays fun trick like this all the time, and I grow to love her more, but I digress. They all agree that they are having a good time and were surprised that the time being had was so good. They still had 6 dates to go, but for the most part they are cool and enjoying the night out. I think it's a really great idea to go with friends, it becomes a night out and if you find love, well then beauty!

I then ask a guy for his thoughts. Now, I am already going out with the biggest hunk out there, but if I was to choose a second biggest hunk, this guy would be it. SO handsome *love heart eye emoji* I ask him what brings him to speed dating and his answer is equally as good as my new lady crushes. He says, "I have wasted so much time online, chatting to girls, only to be disappointed in person, by lack of chemistry or people not being what I thought, so I figure speed dating cuts that all out and you meet 12 people all at once and can decided from there."

SO TRUE handsome stranger. It's a really good point and one that I have been waxing lyrical about since my night of speed dating.

By now you should be googling We Click and signing up for the next event, they sell out quickly just so you know, but if you are still not convinced, the cost of the event is, wait for it, $32…. You could barely get a mixed lolly bag for that these days, they are practically giving it away. This gives you 12 dates and food and drinks are completely reasonable at the bar.

So there you have it guys. Speed dating with We Click. Get on it! Sydney siders, I am on the lookout for good companies in Sydney, so watch this space! Here is their website for those based in Melbourne : https://www.weclick.com.au/melbourne-speed-dating/