Soulmate searching: Speed dating organizer offers niche sessions for sci-fi fans, vegans and more

Dating can be intimidating.

The stress of picking the right clothing or starting the right conversation is enough to keep anyone at home. But while dating can give even the calmest person butterflies and sweaty palms, it can also lead to a night full of laughter and fun memories.

Enter dating expert Sam Pocker.

In an attempt to help local singles find love, the Summerlin resident hosts social gatherings for people seeking relationships through his business Sin City Speed Dating.

Traditional speed dating allows attendees to have a series of short conversations with potential partners in order to determine if there is a mutual interest; however, Pocker kicks it up by tailoring each gathering to fit a specific niche of people, such as those with social anxiety, sexually transmitted diseases or just a love for science fiction.

“I noticed that speed dating in general hasn’t changed much since the mid ’90s, and I wanted to come up with something that has changed with the times,” Pocker said. “In today’s situation, you could spend $100 on dinner and not even be interested in the person. So through Sin City Speed Dating, you get to go out with a number of different people, pay a relatively small amount and still have a great experience.”

After purchasing a ticket, attendees have the option to speak with a dating coach before the event to walk them through the process, provide conversation tips or answer questions.

“Traditionally, you would just purchase a ticket, show up to the event and take your chances,” Pocker said. “I realized that people are really anxious for this, and a lot of the times, they are forced in the door by friends or family members. So I hired some dating coaches to help prepare them for what is to come.”

Dating coach Angie Shaw said she explains to attendees the importance of body language, appropriate conversation subjects and how to remain relaxed.

“I’ve been divorced, so I know that dating has changed a lot over the years, especially with all the technology,” Shaw said. “I run a Twitter advice page called @flirtyafter30, and even my friends call me in the middle of their dates for advice, so I joined (Pocker) to put my advice to good use.”

One tip Shaw emphasizes is to avoid immediately sharing sad stories about ex-partners.

“Yes, we all have pasts, but we can save that for another conversation,” Shaw said. “You should focus on things that you have in common and things that are deal breakers. And with theses niche groups, you go into this already sharing certain interests. Use that to your advantage.”

During the event, attendees have three-minute dates with 10 potential partners. Each event accommodates up to 20 attendees.

“I’ve read a lot of studies that if the group is too large, people start to focus heavily on only one or two individuals because they can only process so much. Then if they aren’t matched with anyone, they feel that they had a bad experience,” Pocker said. “With a smaller group, you might be attracted to four or five people, and statistically, two or three might be attracted to you back.”

At the end of each date, attendees write on a paper if they are interested in their date. If there is a mutual interest, Pocker and his team will exchange the individuals’ contact information by email within 48 hours.

“We make it so you cannot exchange information during the dates,” Pocker said. “It can make some people feel uncomfortable because they don’t want to say if they’re interested or not because they’re afraid of how the person might react.”

To relax the anxious or entertain those who are bored, Pocker said his team will use “tricks” to keep the dates moving along smoothly.

“Traditionally, if you’re not into the person or nervous, you would sit very awkwardly for three minutes,” Pocker said. “We have some tricks to alleviate that and make sure everyone has a good time.”

With a background in marketing and consumer behavior, Pocker researched the valley’s dating scene for months before launching the specialized events in January. From conducting surveys to purchasing online data, he gathered and studied hundreds of responses.

“When I got to Las Vegas, everyone said it’s so hard to meet people outside of work. And with my background, I like to solve problems,” Pocker said. “It’s a very complicated puzzle because the data shows that the people are here, they’re just not finding each other.

“I spent many Friday nights just walking around Marshalls or Home Depot to get a sense of what people were looking for. I started seeing trends and wanted to provide these niches that people are looking for but haven’t existed yet.”

While the gatherings are always held in public bars or restaurants, the locations are not disclosed until attendees purchase tickets.

“It’s for the safety and privacy of the people attending,” Pocker said. “We’re really just concerned with providing a comfortable and great experience for people to find love.”

Upcoming events are set to be tailored for Star Trek fans from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 10, Christian singles from 9:30 to 11 p.m. Feb. 10, vegans from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 11 and vampire fans from 9:30 to 11 p.m. Feb. 11. Tickets start at $35.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit sincityspeeddating.com.

Contact Henderson View reporter Caitlyn Belcher at cbelcher@viewnews.com or 702-383-0403.