matchmaking services?

[BluEyeL]

Interesting. The Stir events my friends went to were all in the 50-100 person range. It made it worthwhile to attend. Maybe it had to do with the size of the city.?

 

That UPS guy sounds like a total creeper if he stood guard and waited while you were in the restroom...and got in the way of you speaking with anyone else. Yikes! There are always one or two in any group. You'll learn to manage them politely off you. You paid and you're there to meet guys who interest you, not guys you don't really care for who decide they can prevent you from meeting any other guys, like bullies on a playground.

 

Maybe is the size, Indianapolis, I don't go in my very small town anyway, drive 50 miles there, which shows my level of committment:laugh:

 

That guy was desperate. I don't understand why he flanked me so much, he heard me talk, he was quiet. I didn't behave any different on the date with him, but it became very clear to both that we are not a match. Oh well, that's history, it was in February.

Edited May 9, 2013 by BluEyeL

[2sure]

I used a service two years ago now I think, for a year.

It catered to certain types of people.

While I did have the opportunity to meet several men who were viable,

The service basically told me that to meet my criteria I'd have to move...

 

To NYC. Where I had just moved from.

 

Not helpful.

[El Brujo]

There are good and bad meetup groups, and the only way to find out is to start going to them.

 

But forget matchmaking services. Great Expectorations is the worst... from what I've read about them, they started out decent in 1976, but then when they realized the dating industry is practically unregulated, they got greedy and turned into a cash mill for the guys who ran them.

 

Also, they apparently split into at least 4 regional companies with the same name... so for example, GEx California is a totally different outfit from GEx Florida. But they all use the same logos and the same routine to separate fools from their money. About 12 years ago, they were sending me all kinds of ads to make an appointment to come in, so after about a year of junk mail from them, I did just that. When it came time to drop the bomb, they quoted me $3.6K. Talk about high-pressure sales pitch! Needless to say, I walked out of that place still lonely but no poorer. I had a bit of fun with them for years afterward though... I'd just take the business reply mail envelopes out of the junk mail they sent me, and paste them to boxes full of sand and rocks, so GEx got to foot the bill. They better be lucky I'm such a nice guy, else I'd have sent them something a hell of a lot more dangerous.

 

Even worse was a local L.A. outfit called Model Quality Introductions. This was a one-man operation in which you give Craig, the operator, $10K, and he'd hook you up with one of his women who looked like a model. I haven't heard anything about this outfit for a couple of years now; maybe ol' Craig became another victim of the lousy economy. Hell, for $10K, I could get a custom made Realdoll from Abyss Creations.

Edited May 9, 2013 by El Brujo

[Cutiepie1976]

Maybe is the size, Indianapolis, I don't go in my very small town anyway, drive 50 miles there, which shows my level of committment:laugh:

50 miles is an hour's travel. Perfectly reasonable in my book if it results in greater choice and quality.

 

Do you mean 50-100 years old?

Approximately 50-100 attendees at each event.

[BluEyeL]

I usually agree with your posts, Blu, but come on now.

 

As a woman, there is no shortage of options for you on OLD. You don't need a matchmaker.

 

Problem is, I dated all eligible men in Indianapolis that are on match, it's gotten slow, same profiles come up now Kidding (only half). Need to expand the pool. I'll just go to some meetups.

[BluEyeL]

50 miles is an hour's travel. .

Less, I'm speeding a little

I never get tickets. I've had 7 warnings within the past 8 years, one per year on average

[Cutiepie1976]

I used a service two years ago now I think, for a year.

It catered to certain types of people.

While I did have the opportunity to meet several men who were viable,

The service basically told me that to meet my criteria I'd have to move...

 

To NYC. Where I had just moved from.

 

Not helpful.

 

Yes. I've used matchmaker services in NY, LA, and San Fran. I doubt that there would be a market outside major cities.

 

Everyone involved found it worthwhile. For guys, the coaching and post-date feedback they got was often the most valuable part.

 

If you select carefully, you can have a great experience. But there are other ways to meet the same people.

[HoneyBadgerDontCare]

Problem is, I dated all eligible men in Indianapolis that are on match, it's gotten slow, same profiles come up now Kidding (only half). Need to expand the pool. I'll just go to some meetups.

 

That's better.

 

I could always count on you to be honest, Blu.

[BluEyeL]

Yes. I've used matchmaker services in NY, LA, and San Fran. I doubt that there would be a market outside major cities.

 

Everyone involved found it worthwhile. For guys, the coaching and post-date feedback they got was often the most valuable part.

 

If you select carefully, you can have a great experience. But there are other ways to meet the same people.

 

I heard Great Expectations has no coaching/post date feedback. It's just lunch has some feedback after 5 out of the 10 dates they give their clients.

[FitChick]

I think there is one called Table for Six or Dinner for Six or something like that. I've heard it advertised on the radio. Sounds like the same thing.

[BluEyeL]

I just joined that meetup group of singles over 40. I also joined a meetup group for just single women in Indy. Which gives me an idea, why don't I be the one to open a group for single women in my small town? I need more single friends. Marrieds are annoying,they look at me like I'm an alien, with a mixture of pity and disdain Having another project might also help with not obsessing just over dating like I'm doing now.

[outsidethebox]

The meetup group over 45 singles (or over 40 maybe) here was started last year by a woman whose profile is on OKC, had same idea as you looks like.

[MidwestUSA]

I think the meetup groups sound like a great option. Wish I'd known more about them seven years ago. Well, maybe not, LOL!

 

Have you considered any type of a car club? That lead foot of yours will surely attract attention from a man. Or are you trying for a state trooper?

[BluEyeL]

The meetup group over 45 singles (or over 40 maybe) here was started last year by a woman whose profile is on OKC, had same idea as you looks like.

I like that, but it looks like she's still on OKC

[BluEyeL]

I think the meetup groups sound like a great option. Wish I'd known more about them seven years ago. Well, maybe not, LOL!

 

Have you considered any type of a car club? That lead foot of yours will surely attract attention from a man. Or are you trying for a state trooper?

 

It's for the best that you didn't I cannot join a car club, I don't give a rat's a** about cars. I can afford a good car, but I drive a 2005 Chevy Cavalier, just because it runs great and why should I pay for a new car? As soon as I pull over for a meeting, they would notice quickly that I'm a fake and don't care about cars

[BluEyeL]

So I just started a meetup group for single women over 35 in our town. Let's see if anybody joins

[outsidethebox]

I like that, but it looks like she's still on OKC

 

yep, and says in her profile that she spends a lot of time organizing a singles group activities. It wasn't until after I joined the Meetup that I recognized her from OKC.

 

Haven't spoken to her or anyone in the group. I went to one dance on a weeknight at a restraunt / bar on inland waterway (both the bar and oldies band playing there that night were very good) but it was dark and crowded and they were somewhere in there.

 

Like I was saying earlier, should be going to other things but haven't. I'd rather read posts from people bitching about bad dates.

 

Sad but true.

[outsidethebox]

So I just started a meetup group for single women over 35 in our town. Let's see if anybody joins

 

Seriously? Already? Whoa, you don't let any dust settle do you.

 

I sort of understand, but is a group for single women a sort of a therapy thing?

[MidwestUSA]

Seriously? Already? Whoa, you don't let any dust settle do you.

 

I sort of understand, but is a group for single women a sort of a therapy thing?

Well, we all know she's really into the therapy thing Hey, kudos for trying to get something started; I hope it's a success!

[SunsetRed]

YES, that would b money thrown down the drain. There are plenty of organizations that are free to join, such as Meetup and many cities have singles dances that are free.

 

I joined a singles club once and it was kind of like online dating, as in the guys were looking for quick hook ups and many of the guys had money problems and some still lived with their parents.

 

I think its best to put your time and money into going out into real life situations where you might have that accidental encounter that changes your life.

 

You could spend that same thousands of dollars on a great cruise and end up meeting someone that way. And if you didn't meet someone, well then at least you had a nice cruise!

[BluEyeL]

So I went last night at the "new members meet up" for this singles meetup group. It was kinda fun and relaxing. Not everyone has their s*** together though. Few of the women were attractive (by my, low, standards) and two men were attractive (out of 7 or or so). That to be superficial. When we introduced ourselves, one woman was going on and on about "the gentleman she's been seeing", who died, and how she has been like a hermit and isolated, and doesn't have a job, looking for temp jobs etc. I felt sorry for her, but she sounded kinda pathetic, i wouldn't date her if I were a man, but I think I could easily take advantage of her. I felt like taking her "off the streets" and offering her shelter or something. Other guys kinda didn't mention what they were doing for a living, I guess nothing to brag about (??), while one was also looking for a job.. Another, overweight woman (I'm not skinny, this one was like size 18 or so), kept going on and on and on on how this is not a dating group, it is an activities group and men should leave the women alone, and not follow them around, 'cause some men won't leave you alone even when you tell them you are not into them blah blah blah... She sounded kinda bitchy and I didn't think that hoards of men were following her, wth? At least shut up or speak for yourself, I want to be followed, and I can take care of those I don't like All in all, it was interesting and fun. I even recognized some characters from the forum, the funny/player guy, the unpleasant ******* that creeps me out, the shy/ugly guys... pretty much the entire spectrum I'll go to some of their activities when they come up. I somehow felt the center of attention because the organizer and a couple other guys kept referring to me all the time while talking, how I'm from Romania, we have her blahblahblah etc., I seemed to be a "theme" of the meeting

 

 

The women's group is not a therapy group, but I'd like to have single female friends. I only have 3 friends, one married couple with who I have an weird relationship (too close), and one single female friend, who is more of a freenemy and doesn 't want to go out with me. I want more female friends to go out with. I can't go out alone.

 

Nobody signed up for my group within 24h, but I got an email from meetup saying that "your group will be announced to the community in 2 days, this is how you can promote it". So I guess in 2 days it'll be "announced". There must be some single women in this town, I don't need more than a dozen.

[SunsetRed]

Lol, I would never think of a singles group as a therapy group, most women need therapy because of a man they have or have had, but not because they don't have one.

 

Its also a great way to have a group of people to go out with, so you don't have to sit at a bar by yourself.

 

You get to have fun going out and if you meet someone GREAT and if you don't meet someone, that's great too because at least you went out and had fun.

[Cutiepie1976]

Sounds like an amusing evening. Of course people are at a singles group to be followed around...by the right guy of course.

 

Nobody signed up for my group within 24h, but I got an email from meetup saying that "your group will be announced to the community in 2 days, this is how you can promote it". So I guess in 2 days it'll be "announced". There must be some single women in this town, I don't need more than a dozen.

 

Make sure that you have at least a couple of events scheduled on the calendar with details (location, activity, and date/time) so that when it gets promoted via email and people take a look at the group, they see that it will be active. I would have the first events 3 and 4 weeks from now. That gives you a chance to collect members and attendees for the events before they happen.

 

Good luck!

[BluEyeL]

I did schedule a new members meet and greet on May 31st. And invited a couple of friends to join, one said she'll invite a few others. When I start something, I start it LOL

[Cutiepie1976]

Perfect! If there are already a few members, more people tend to join.