Speed dating is the best new thing in dating since cavemen stopped dragging women home by their hair and instead started coaxing them over with wooly mammouth steaks.

Imagine! A bad date that’s over in three minutes?!! Why did it take us so long to think of this?

Oh, the fun date with the hottie is also over in three minutes? Hmmm. That gives me pause.

Well, it’s still worth it because if the hottie and I both give each other a "thumb's up" at the end of the evening, the speed dating company will be notifying us and we’ll be getting together for a nice long date anyway.

My Special Techniques

I don't know if I'm typical, but I always try to get the greatest number of my speed dates to like me - so I can reject most of them and keep the winners. LOL

But seriously, I just behave as attractively as I can because I figure even if I'm not interested in a guy, I can be friendly for three minutes. He's out trying to have a good time just like I am. And, there are techniques to getting dates to select you and want to go out with you for real. Here are my best tips for making it happen.

Top Tips

• Always greet each new person with a smile. If you're shy and can't smile easily, practice at home in the days before the speed dating event. You may even want to consider the beauty queen trick and smear a little Vaseline on your teeth to grease the wheels. Just leave the tiara at home. Especially if you're a guy.

• Some people adopt a "show me - what could you possibly say to me in a brief time that would make me want to go out with you?" attitude. This is not just a mistake in speed dating; it's a bad attitude in life. And if this is you, please don't sit next to me on the bus.

• This type of dating of course tells you to go with your gut instinct and first impression. But you've got a few minutes, so don't yell "Next!" before your date has even had a chance to sit down.

• However unimpressed you may be with the way the person looks, dive in and have some conversation. You never know. Have you seen what Bill Gates looks like? And yet, he is a fascinating and very decent man. Seriously. I bet there are a lot of girls who knew him in college who are kicking themselves now.

• Have a couple of questions in mind so you don't both just sit there struggling to get started. As you get more experience with this, you may find there are a couple of key questions that tell you everything you need to know. Like "do you live with your parents?"

• "Own" your part in making your quickie date fun. Dates who expect their partners to entertain them just because they showed up are big slugs and should have the salt from your margarita poured on them.

• And finally, of course, you're not going to click with everyone. But that's no excuse to be rude or obnoxious. If you don't meet anyone, just chalk it up to experience...and thank your lucky stars you didn't have to spend a whole evening with each of your minute men to find out.

To see my pick of the best site for fast dates, click here: speed dating information.