I've organized three 7for7 events to date, and occasionally, a few participants ask the question, "Can I put Kok Leong's name on my program sheet?" This happened again at the most recent event held this past Wednesday.
Well, not that *I* actually get asked the question. :-) Typically, the person who gets asked the question is my assistant...who is usually at a loss for a response. So, I figured I might as well clarify matters.
To participants who have ever wondered if I'm "on the market", this is my response:
One of the best parts about attending a speed dating event is that participants do not need to expose their interest in someone else unnecessarily unless that other person is also interested in them. As the event organizer, I play the role of an intermediary in bringing guys who have a mutual interest in each other together.
So, if you are interested in getting to know me better, yes, you can put my name down on your program sheet. However, unlike with other participants, you must be aware and be comfortable with the fact that I will know of your interest in me. I may or may not reciprocate your interest, however, regardless of whether I reciprocate, I will be impressed with any guy who is bold enough to be direct with me, and be willing to risk being declined. Doing so takes real mettle, and I admire that kind of spirit in a guy.
If you are really bold, you can save time and just ask me out at the event itself. :-)
On a related and somewhat ironic note, while I myself have been attracted to some of the guys who have attended my events, I generally will not initiate contact with a participant I am interested in. The reason is because I can't.
As event organizer, I hold everyone's registration and contact information in confidence, and it would not be appropriate for me to initiate a call or message with someone in my database. If I was a participant, and I wasn't interested in the organizer, I would be a little perturbed if the organizer cold called me to ask me out. It could also raise uncomfortable questions, such as asking if the organizer had removed matches from guys he was interested in so he could move in.
This might all sound a little fraught and exaggerated, but I prefer to do things professionally. As a rule, when I initiate contact with participants, it will be on event-related matters only.
