Alice Makes a Match

I should probably start out by explaining who Cilla Black is to you New Zealanders. Actually I should probably start out by explaining that I’m English, and as such probably just as qualified as you lot when it comes to dating. Dating in England usually involves maneuvering an opportunity to get drunk enough with your desired other to blurt out that you like them, followed by shame and the basest of communication, texting. Americans seem to have got it right, at least on our screens, as the conversation between nervous dater and friend usually runs ‘just ask her/him out’, followed by a smooth chat-up which infuriatingly often doesn’t involve any of the details of the date (what exact time? How are you going to pick me up if you don’t know where I live? Do we need to book a table? Do you have my number?)

For us Brits, we decided in the 80s that we needed a little help. We turned to a Liverpudlian redhead with chipmunk features, the singer and all round livewire, Cilla Black. Blind Date was classic Saturday night T.V viewing, Cilla would work her charm with the help of voiceover Graham to match unlikely girls and boys and send them on cheesy dates. The best part of the show was the satisfying voyeurism of watching how the date unfolded. I feel like Cilla, only less Liverpudlian but maybe just as chipmunk-y, as this week I’ve been on a quest to make blind dates a thing of the present once again. We at gather and hunt decided that we have a great platform to connect creative Aucklanders. What better way to utilise our little website than to potentially keep humankind going by uniting creative minds and trying to make them fall in love?

A quick whip round of friends provided me with a rich pool of potential matches. I asked friends of friends of friends to recommend interesting, creative, lovely, single people from all over this city. I then tried to make these people a match. How? By asking if they untie their shoelaces before they take their shoes off, what their favourite place in Auckland is, and what three things they’d take with them on a desert island, amongst other things.  My very scientific approach hopefully paid off, but you can judge this for yourself by reading how the first blind date went between g+h editor, Courteney Peters, and digital marketing agency director, Brendan Jarvis, here.

I didn’t think I’d ever say this, but maybe we should try and learn from the Americans, and face our phobia of old-fashioned dating. Dating can be a great chance to meet someone new, even if you don’t end up falling desperately in love. Plus, being gather and hunt, delicious cake and amazing spots in Auckland are part and parcel of the Alice Makes a Match experience. Fancy a go? Email me at alice@gatherandhunt.co.nz, and I’ll be specific and practical in a non-American style and work some Cilla magic for you.