“Well, it said ‘Halloween Bash’ on the ad,” the 44-year-old explained, cl... A need for speed...

“Well, it said ‘Halloween Bash’ on the ad,” the 44-year-old explained, clutching a drink as he looked around at the other 100 or so normally dressed people.

Alas, Fox was the only buccaneer Friday at the speed dating event hosted by FastDater, a company that has offered speed dates to Lincoln’s singles since 2002, said Lori McGinnis, who coordinates FastDater events in Nebraska.

This was Fox’s third tryst with FastDater, which, for around $30, gives a woman three minutes with a guy to flash a toothy smile and decide whether a second, longer date is in order. Then a whistle blows and another man sits across from her.

scorecard. After three minutes, both the man and woman confidentially circle either ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ If both circle ‘yes,’ it’s a match and McGinnis later informs each of the other’s by e-mail.

“This is my third one in about two-and-a-half years,” said Renee Ziegler, 33. “The benefit is you get to see the guy first. You can see a picture of guy online, but that’s not the actual person. And it’s safe – you’re not giving anyone your phone number, and if you don’t like someone, it’s over in three minutes.

“I met a decent guy last time, and I’ve made some good friends. It’s fun and, really, there’s nowhere else to go to find single men,” said Ziegler, who works nights as a nurse.

Although he’s from Omaha, Steve Alverson, 27, and Carolos Zourdos, 26, said the scene’s not much different in their neck of Nebraska.

The two met at one of the first FastDater events in 2002 and married a year later, said Alicia, 32. The couple’s first child was born about five months ago.

FastDater participants are paired by age – 20s and 30s, 30s and 40s, 40s and 50s, and older – and with the opposite sex, McGinnis said.

Speed dating originated at a Torah class in Los Angeles. A rabbi and his students formulated the concept of a speed date to help Jewish singles meet and marry.

PreDating has two Omaha events scheduled. Ages 32 to 46 can experience speed dating at 7 p.m. on Nov. 29, and ages 43 to 58 at 6:20 p.m. on Dec. 13 Both events are located at 72nd and Dodge streets. For more information, call (402) 630-6586 or visit www.pre-dating.com .

You’ve got three minutes to find out all you can before deciding whether or not you want to ever see a person again. What questions are important?

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