From situationships to the horrors of online dating, it’s no secret that the modern dating scene can throw singles out of the pool. Many women I know are used to disappointing relationships. Boring dates, inconsistent communication, and ghosting are all taken for granted.
That’s why comedian Alison Goldberg decided to break the mold and create a comedy dating show that gets everyone, mostly women, in the same room and laughing.
The standard format for “Love Is Not Blind” is that four men compete for the heart of a single person on stage, with the crowd egging them on as Goldberg tells jokes and games.
Conceited?
The men cannot speak.
One night a month, you can feel the buzz of energy at The Cat’s Crawl in East Hollywood as people stream in from the wrap-around line outside. People in their 20s and 30s of various ethnic backgrounds file into a modest theater bar, nodding their heads at other patrons. Everyone is looking for love tonight.
The lights dim and Goldberg hops on stage with a microphone.
“This is a dating show where men can’t talk, because men are supposed to be seen and not heard,” she says. The crowd cheers in agreement.
From time to time, she experiments with the format, presenting queer versions and one-night-only reunion specials. For example, the recent version where four past Bachelorettes joined in on the fun as contestants.
The name “Love is Blind” comes from the Netflix series “Love is Blind,” where contestants try to find love without first looking at the other person’s physical appearance. Goldberg, on the other hand, is all about the in-person connection.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the dating landscape has shifted significantly online, with Chapman University reporting that about 96% of singles are using dating apps.Although their numbers have declined, online dating apps are still the most popular way for singles to find a date in the US
And Goldberg finds it nauseating.
“Oh, I think online dating is a travesty of humanity. It’s a cesspool. It’s terrible. How many words can you come up with right now?” Goldberg says. “But I agree,” she added with a laugh.
Some of the “Love Isn’t Blind” games involve looking into a contestant’s cell phone, checking their Amazon shopping history and calling their parents.
By the end of the show, only one Bachelorette contestant remains on stage. The winning couple then disappears for a date.
But for the rest of the audience, the real fun begins at the afterparty. The venue turns into a dance floor, where the losing contestants also join the crowd of singles trying to mingle. With the help of music, a full bar, and a designated wingman and wingman dressed in fairy costumes, the show turns into an immersive date experience for everyone involved.
After one recent show, wingwoman Mary Jo Madda promoted connections by handing out relationship status wristbands (green for single, red for married, purple for same-sex, yellow for complicated, rainbow for queer). ing. She says it worked. “One of my best friends had been dating a guy for about six months who was introduced to him by another wing person. [at ‘Love Isn’t Blind’]”
Those who attended the show agreed on one thing. “I think a lot of the men here are hot,” contestant Aneri Shah said.
Fellow contestant Amber Wyman agrees: “I think some people are really cute,” she says.
However, the age range of the crowd can skew a little towards Zoomers. “There are so many millennials here, but I’m 22 years old,” attendee Citlali Gomez Williams said. “Honestly, I like the app a little bit more.”
Those wishing to appear on the show must complete a free application online, which includes a video about who they are and what they are looking for. Goldberg also reviews his social media accounts for a “vibe check.” (If you only want to see the show, please purchase tickets online.)
Shah is looking forward to seeing where her relationship with Bachelorette Graham North goes. “I’d like to at least go on a date,” she says. “I like him. And he has a lot of fun going out and meeting people and feeling their energy.”
Kita agrees.
“It’s so interesting to hear someone’s father talk about someone when you first meet them. It’s like they’re having an unusual, insane, different experience,” North says. .
In Goldberg’s experience, how contestants’ connections develop varies. I dated two contestants for six months. … [But] Besides that, so many friendships were formed. My best success story is a joke. [former contestants] Jay and Jeremy, two men who are now just brothers. ”