At the Pitch and Pair event in New York, matchmakers have 3 to 5 minutes to introduce their single friends to hundreds of other singles. The presentations are elaborate, complete with photos, videos, and bullet points describing personalities and hobbies.
Joe Teblum, 33, the event's founder, said, "I have a lot of introverted single friends who are 'great catches' but don't showcase themselves well on dating apps. I also noticed a trend of people wanting to meet in person after the pandemic".
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At Pitch and Pair events, New Yorkers introduce their single friends to other singles, hoping for connections. *Photo: EmmyPark/NY Post* |
During a recent event, 16 "matchmakers" took turns presenting. Kedar Venkataramani, a 30-year-old, 5'8" lawyer, was introduced by his cousin as having "a sharp intellect, always impeccably dressed, and humble". "He'll take you to Broadway shows and bike everywhere like it's his own personal Tour de France," she said.
The audience was particularly enthusiastic about the introduction of Chris Puch, a 33-year-old firefighter, known on TikTok for his good looks. "He'll cook you healthy meals but isn't a picky eater. He loves to travel and is looking for a companion", Puch's friend shared.
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Firefighter Chris Puch, with friend Caroline Busch, was a crowd favorite during their Pitch and Pair presentation. *Photo: EmmyPark/NY Post* |
Anand Tamirisa, 33, who works in investment banking, prepared most of his own presentation. His slides highlighted: "Moved to New York in 2018 after being inspired by Jay-Z", "Works in investment banking but doesn't wear a vest", and "Has performed stand-up comedy".
The approach seems to be working. As soon as Tamirisa stepped off stage, he gained five new Instagram followers. At the end of each presentation, the singles' contact information is shared. "If I end up with one of them, that would be a great story", Tamirisa said.
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A slide from a Pitch & Pair presentation in New York. *Photo: EmmyPark/NY Post* |
Pitch & Pair takes place twice a month, and tickets typically sell out in about 34 hours. The cost to be "pitched" is 40 to 60 USD, while audience tickets are 15 to 25 USD.
Joe Teblum noted that initially, people tended to roast their friends for laughs. Now, he requires participants to maintain a positive tone. "The audience is very enthusiastic. Just showing a picture of someone's dog or hobby gets the crowd cheering", he said.
Sophia Demetriou, a 26-year-old fashion designer, was praised by her friend for her "killer" fashion sense and being a Pizza Hut "expert".
"It's terrifying, but I think this is how people will date in the future. It makes so much sense", Demetriou said.
Minh Phuong (*Via NY Post*)
