Online dating services are taking their customers back to the bars. Chris Terrill, Match.com’s vice president for off-line initiatives at Match, won’t give dollar figures, but says his division’s revenues have more than doubled since last year, when it ran 1,000 events. Among the 1,600 to 1,800 events this year: sushi-rolling classes, wine tastings, harbor cruises and mini-dates at a Mercedes-Benz dealer in Miami, where couples who just met can test drive a car together. Match expects the events will draw 80,000 participants combined.
For the elections, Match is inviting campaign workers to sign up volunteers at its speed-dating “singles caucuses.” Political consultants James Carville and Mary Matalin spoke at a Washington, D.C., gathering. At an upcoming San Francisco event, Match.com will hand out suggested questions, hoping to replace “Where are you from?” with “How do you feel about the war on terror?”
Friendster.com runs events, too, including voting-theme parties, “Date my Friend” nights and promotions for an independent, unreleased movie.
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