Get Matched May 2008

Sonia Boonchanasukit, BK Magazine

Dating in the 21st century—here’s how you do it. 

You already know it—your mom is not going to hook you up. She might have plans, but that “nice” girl or boy she picked, well, it’s just not going to work out. Problem is, you’re still single.

So if you cannot get a “nice” girl or boy thanks to mom (or the village matchmaker), what are you going to do? Network! The name of the game, when it comes to hooking up, is meeting up with a lot of people—and it doesn’t stop with Facebook and singles bars.

You Need a Pro

You’re partying every night, you’ve got 1453 friends on facebook.com, you’ve exchanged business cards with everyone in town who has one (and even handed out a few to people who didn’t) and you’re still single. Time to get professional help and some one-on-one appointments with like-minded people who have decided to get serious about hooking up.

But before we introduce you to a matchmaker, let’s just put it out there—you’re not a desperate soul and opening up to a stranger is not as bad as you think—especially when they’ve been trained to do it. You’re going to be asked about everything from your daily routine to what your past relationships were like—so get ready to spill the beans with someone who might be a stranger now, but could potentially be the first person you call later.

It’s Just Lunch

The Matchmaker: Anisa Hassan

The Process: Hassan’s service has been in the business for over 17 years and has offices worldwide with branches from Singapore to New York. Because it’s an international brand, you’re probably not going to be talking to Anisa herself, but trusted with a senior consultant from the Singapore office who will conduct the interview process. Once they’ve picked your match, your first name is revealed to the person but nothing else. They set up the date at a restaurant and your job is to show up (on time) and have a good time. If you’re made to shift locales for work, your membership can be transferred to a different city.
The Deal: B25,000, one-year membership, 12 introductions.
Verdict: It’s worldwide, which suggests international-standard  professionalism. Plus! You get to get cozy with our neighbors from Singapore!
Contact: www.itsjustlunchbangkok.com