RENO -- Speed dating may just step up singles' social life as a different way for them to meet eligible bachelor and bachelorettes .

“I never became much of a pickup artist, so you know, married twice, zero for two,” Speed dater Steve Shepherd said.

Steve Shepherd says that’s why he’s back to try speed dating again. Shepherd says last November he met someone through this event and dated them for a few months.  He says speed dating is a great way to meet someone without extra tension you may face at a bar.

“I always feel very awkward under those circumstances,” Shepherd said “Saddling up next to some lady at a bar and trying to figure out what’s the right thing to say.”

The pre-dating speed dating event has been in Reno for about a year and half. Event coordinator Dawn Murphy says this intimate setting is ideal for anyone that’s serious about finding a connection with somebody.

“And everybody is here to meet each other,” Murphy said. “So it’s not like you have to sit there and say I’d like to talk to him, but I don’t really know how to, you are going to talk to him and you’ll have six minutes and that’s it.”

Murphy says these six minute dating intervals gives everyone the opportunity to see if they have a connection with someone.  Dater’s usually meet anywhere from six to twelve potential matches at each event.  Kim Heathman saysthat crowd improves the odds over a bar full of people.

“I personally like the one on one interaction because what you see is what you get,” Heathman said. “You can get a feel for a person’s vibration, their sense of how positive they are, what kind of orientation they have, life experience.”

At the end of six minutes participants circle either “Let’s Talk” or “No Thanks” on their match sheet next to the person’s name they just met. If there is a mutual match between two people, Murphy will contact you within 24 hours after the event and emails are exchanged.  The speed dating events occur in different age groups: The 25 to 39 year old age groups, the 40 to 50 year old age groups, and the 50 plus age groups. And all ages agree that speed dating is a great alternative for meeting people.

“You know give it a chance,” speed dater Bonnie Fambrough said. “It’s so much better than sitting at a computer, wondering what’s true and what isn’t.”

“I’m just looking to see if I can meet somebody other than trying to meet them on the internet,” speed dater Gloria Hughes said. “I’ve tried that and you always kind of find some shady people.”

Murphy says these speed dating events usually occur once a month for each age group. Cost to sign up is 25 dollars per event.