At a recent dating event, friends talk up the best qualities of their single friends. (Photo: Micaela Cashman)
By Micaela Cashman
The novelty of dating apps has officially worn off.
I gave one guy my number and he started texting me, “Good morning!” every day at 6 a.m. I hadn’t met him in person yet.
One guy was easily 10 years older than his profile indicated. He claimed his short film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. When I looked it up, I found that the film didn’t exist.
Countless conversations fizzled out or ended for no reason. And then there’s the barrage of fish photos and gym selfies to scroll through.
According to a Forbes survey, 80% of millennials and 79% of Gen Z users feel burned out by dating apps. Their list of grievances includes an inability to connect with someone, feeling disappointment or rejection, and the tedium of repetitive conversations.
So local singles have started taking matters into their own hands. Interactive, in-person dating events like Des Moines Girl’s latest get-together are attracting sold-out crowds. After months of my friends pestering me, I decided to give it a try.
How it works
Similar to a business pitch, the dating event hosted by Des Moines Girl invites people to present slide decks about their single friends to a room full of fellow singles. After the presentations, there’s a chance to mix and mingle. Then, you can fill out cards expressing your interest in specific people. Each participating single receives a list of interested prospects the next day, and then the ball is in their court.
My experience
As an introvert, the idea of standing in front of people while someone talked about me was downright nerve-wracking. Luckily the presentation only lasted 3 minutes, and I was first on the roster.
Then I got to sit back and watch the other presentations. It was inspiring to see the love and creativity everyone put into their decks, highlighting what makes their friends so special and worthy of the kind of meaningful connection people aren’t finding on Hinge or Bumble. Beyond a dating event, the night ended up feeling like a celebration of friendship.
My favorite part? Seeing two people who seem to be absolutely meant for each other connect. She was a quirky theater-loving lawyer. He was an orchestra conductor who had donated his hair 11 times. It was like watching a romance novel come to life.
The verdict
While there was no love connection for me this time around, I can only hope Theater Lawyer and Charitable Conductor will live happily ever after. I wholeheartedly encourage fellow singles to ditch the apps and try dating in real life.
Editor’s note: Morgan Chicchelly, founder of Des Moines Girl, told dsm that her team plans to pause these events while she and her team rebrand the event to include similar meetings for platonic friends. But fans and singles hoping for future meet-cutes can be assured “we want to keep the spirit of the event going,” Chicchelly said. Follow the @desmoines_girl Instagram account to stay updated on future events.
Contributing writer Micaela Cashman lives in Des Moines and works as a freelance video producer and writer.
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