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ADRIENNE P. SAMUELSYou've got four minutes to connect. To see if you want more time together. To size up the chance of a second date.
LARGO - The bell rang and the eligible singles - all 40 or older - knew it was time to take their seats.
The emcee grabbed the mike.
"On your mark. Get set. Date!"
The 46 men and women sat at their tables and broke into feverish conversation that got straight to the point: What do you do for a living? How many children do you have? Do you like to dance?
As the minutes ran down, the speed daters leaned into each other, sipping on their classic martinis and long-necked beers. The talk was getting good when the triangle bell rang again.
The four minutes were up. Time to switch.
But such is the nature of speed dating, one of the newest courting methods to hit modern times.
Think of it as an ultra-concentrated dating event with rules: An equal number of guys and gals rotate from table to table, each getting to know each other in four minutes or less. At night's end, gal No. 36 might mark guy No. 25 as a fumble, or a touchdown. If a guy and gal mark each other as touchdowns, the organizers exchange personal information for them and they are free to date. If not, no one needs to know about the rejection.
So far though, the acceptance rate seems to be pretty high. Speed mingle has spawned 2004 wedding plans for five couples in Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Des Moines, Iowa and Omaha, Neb.
"I think everyone wants companionship and friends and to me that's what it's all about," said Pat Maida, 50, co-organizer of the Tuesday night event.
Tampa Bay has seen speed dating before, but this was the first instance of a variation of the idea known as speed mingling. Maida and her sister, Donna Heiser, hosted their own speed mingle party after hearing about one in Jacksonville. They found Pappas Mediterranean Bistro on Ulmerton Road amenable to the idea. Heiser, 48, is married with kids. Maida, 50, is single and hopes to play match maker for total strangers.
The pickings were pretty good, too. Participants' professions ranged from legislative aide to teacher to dentist to registered nurse. Everyone came decked out in their best, be it a silk dress, expensive cowboy boots or Italian suits.
"I'm looking for friends and I'm looking to meet people," said Morris Swope, of St. Petersburg. Swope, in a navy jacket and tan pants, moved here three weeks ago from Annapolis, Md. He owns a golf cart advertising company.
The $35 entry fee ensures that only the interested will show up, he said.
"I figure this is one-stop shopping," Swope said. "What I expect out of tonight is to network. If somebody special comes out of it, that's a good thing."
Christian Screen, 25, of Omaha, created the four-minute speed mingle parties. The idea of speed dating is not new, but Screen says he refined it by allowing minglers to have 72 hours to evaluate their dates and to look at their date's pictures online in case they forgot what someone looked like. His Web site is www.speedmingle.com
"More than profitable, it's fun," said Screen, a University of Nebraska marketing grad who is single and focused enough on his business to come in for the event.
Marilyn Martin of Port Richey isn't looking for a long-term relationship, but is seeking a companion. She moved to Florida from the Jersey shore more than a year ago and didn't mind driving to Largo to meet 23 eligible bachelors in their 40s and 50s.
"I thought I'd come here to see what it's like," said Martin, an antiques dealer dressed in a sequined dress and high heels. "This is a lot easier than going to the bar. We're all here for a mutual reason."
Being proactive about dating is the best way to go, said Robert Morrison, 51, a probation officer.
"People sit at home and think their white knight will come," Morrison said. "That's not going to happen. My approach is to use the right avenues. The rules have changed. Whatever avenue you use is fine as long as you are exposed to a number of people."
Don't fret if you missed this one. In January, the group will host a speed mingle event in Largo for people 55 and older.
- Adrienne Samuels can be reached at 445-4157 or samuels@sptimes.com