Late-night scrolling on the phone revealed an advertisement for a live dating show. The format required a single contestant to choose a suitor based solely on answers to questions without seeing them beforehand. At thirty years old and thoroughly exhausted by dating apps, the idea felt like an unconventional way to break the ice in a new city.
Stepping into the unknown
Having moved to London just a month prior, doing something slightly wild felt appropriate. A ticket was purchased for one to avoid the embarrassment of flirting in front of newly made friends. Two weeks later, walking briskly straight from work along the Southbank, arrival at the Big Belly Bar happened without much time to process the magnitude of the upcoming event. Contestants were handed pagers with instructions that a buzz meant heading up to the stage.
Backstage nerves and the big reveal
Grabbing a drink provided a sense of calm, especially since the odds of being selected seemed minimal. However, a sudden buzz in the pocket changed everything, prompting excited squeals from the surrounding toilet-queue companions. Upstairs in the comedy club, a brief introduction with the other female contestant Zoe preceded a blindfolded entrance onto the stage under hot lights. Nervous chatter in the dark helped diffuse the tension before the audience settled into their seats.
Questioning the suitor
Host Danny signaled the removal of blindfolds, revealing an audience of 200 people. The mystery suitor immediately asked a question about our best assets, which drew collective groans from the crowd. Subsequent questions about personal habits and a request to create a marketing slogan yielded uninspiring results. The interaction highlighted a lack of engaging conversation skills, reinforcing previous dating disappointments.
Choosing friendship over romance
Upon realizing selection by the suitor, a wave of dread washed over as 200 faces stared intently. When the man suggested a first date downstairs in the bar, the lack of enthusiasm made the decision clear. Rejecting him politely, a group of supportive women stormed the stage in solidarity. Declaring a preference for a night out with the girls, the evening ended on the dance floor, reinforcing the truth that choosing friends over a man is always the right decision.
