Introducing the next 100 dates: Finding 10 dates for 10 fine people!

Hi and welcome to the next phase of the 100 dates project. The first phase was all about finding dates for me (and that worked out pretty well!) – the next phase is about sharing the love. I said from the start that if I met someone before the 100 dates were finished, that I’d like to step into the role of matchmaker, and use 100 dates to help find dates for other people. So that’s what we’re doing now! 100 dates is now looking for 10 people to set up on 10 dates each.

The catch is, of course, that 100 dates is about recommendations – so you can’t nominate yourself to take part in 100 dates – you’ll need to be recommended by a friend. This is because 100 dates is an experiment in crowdsourcing – we’re trying out the idea that our friends and networks will hopefully be better at recommending people for us to meet, than other types of internet dating. We’re hoping that 100 dates will be different, and better, because it gets the people who know us and care about us to recommend us for dates and try to set us up with people who suit us. At its heart, 100 dates relies on the very old fashioned notion of asking our friends to introduce us to interesting and hopefully very suitable people.

I want to take part in 100 dates – will you find me 10 dates please?

Update: 28 June 2010 – Please note we have a backlog of recommendations right now, so we are NOT accepting new recommendations right now! We’ll advise via this blog and Twitter when we are ready to accept nominations for a new 100 Dates contender.

It would be great to have you – but you’ll need to find a friend to recommend you! Ask a friend directly.. .or blog about it, or tweet about it, and I bet you’ll find someone willing to put you forward (don’t forget to use the #100dates hashtag if you’re tweeting about 100 dates!). Please note that there are a few things you’ll need to do if you’re selected, so make sure you read the next section and you’re ok with all of it!

What if I’m selected as one of the 10?

There are a few things you need to know about what will be expected of you if you become one of the 10 people we’re finding dates for.

1. You’ll need to supply a photo of yourself (trust me, when I was doing 100 dates without photos of the guys, it was a little nerve wracking having to turn up for dates not knowing who I was looking for!).
2. You will need to be willing to go on a quick ‘pre-date’ meeting with me or one of the 100 dates helpers so we can vouch for you before sending you out on your dates. I’ve decided to add this step to 100 dates, because while I’m perfectly happy taking responsibility for my own safety when I go on dates with strangers, I think we need to take a little more responsibility when we’re trying to set up other people! Also, if we’ve met you, hopefully that will give us a better sense of what kind of dates we should be looking for on your behalf!
3. You will need to be ok with the fact that 100 dates is a pretty public, online dating experiment. You’ll need to be ok with us ‘advertising’ you via the 100 dates blog and Twitter (for example: 100 dates is looking for a date for an outgoing 36 year old digital media teacher with definite geeky tendencies. We think an outgoing geek guy who shares her interest in sci fi and cycling would be perfect for her – do you know someone who fits the bill?)
4. You need to be willing to “report back” on your dates! The online network who watch, support and recommend dates for the 100 dates project are the ones who make or break this project. Without them, there would be no dates! So we need to keep them informed and involved with how 100 dates is going. This means you’ll need to be ok with writing a brief Twitter or blog post reporting on your 10 dates! We can work with you to put these together, so it won’t take up too much of your time and energy. And don’t worry, this isn’t meant to be a kiss and tell dating site – if you have a look back over the 100 dates blog you’ll see I worked pretty hard to discuss my dates respectfully and without infringing on their privacy! This is how I’d like the tone of 100 dates to continue.

Will you please find 10 dates for my awesome single friend?

Update: 28 June 2010 – Please note we have a backlog of recommendations right now, so we are NOT accepting new recommendations right now! We’ll advise via this blog and Twitter when we are ready to accept nominations for a new 100 Dates contender. But if your friend has already been nominated, you CAN help them by getting a few friends to put in a supporting recommendation for them!

Please nominate your friend! You’ll need to fill out the recommendation form. And your friend will need to agree to being put forward (see the previous section, What if I’m selected as one of the 10?). We will want you to write a brief testimonial, or a recommendation for your friend, which explains why you think your friend is awesome and deserving of an awesome date (or 10). We may also contact you throughout the process to get further information about your friend, or to get your advice on whether you think dates we’re going to recommend for your friend will be suitable.

Will you find a date for my gay/bi/straight friend?

100 dates is open to single folks of any sexual orientation. What’s important is that you’re single and looking for looove.

Where is 100 dates operating now? Can you find dates for my Sydney friend?

Right now, we’re accepting nominations for dates in Sydney and Melbourne. This is because we have 100 dates helpers in those cities. But we’d be more than happy to begin looking for dates in other cities (I know we have a few interested people in Brisbane, for example!) if we have a volunteer helper in that city who can help with locational advice (ie good date venues), has an online network of locals who can help with date recommendations, and can meet 100 dates prospects face to face when needed. So… if you want 100 dates in your city, please email us and volunteer to be the 100 dates helper for your city!

New Twitter account for 100 dates!

100 dates will stay at this blog address for the moment, so make sure you subscribe to receive updates. But most of the action seems to happen on Twitter. Now that 100 dates isn’t just about finding me a date, I’ve set up a 100 dates Twitter profile, so that’s where you can follow all the action now! As always, please tag any of your own 100 dates tweets with the #100dates hashtag so we can be sure to see it!

Any other questions?

Please leave a comment and we’ll get back to you asap. In the meantime, please put your thinking caps on and help us find 10 awesome people who’d like to go out on 10 dates! Happy Valentine’s Day!