Is speed dating safe?
Here, it's designed to be. Built for the women in the room first, which makes it better for everyone in it.
How does Oh Hi keep speed dating safe?
Every Oh Hi evening in Sydney runs in a public bar with a host in the room from the first hello to the last goodbye. Guests book by name with a real email and agree to a ten-rule code of conduct. Your name card shows your first name only. Matches are shared only when both people ticked each other, as a first name and email the next morning, never a phone number. And if anyone makes you uncomfortable, one look at the host is enough.
From booking to goodnight
Before you arrive
Every guest books by name with a real email address and agrees to the code of conduct. No walk-ins, no anonymous profiles. The venue is chosen so it's easy to arrive alone and easy to get home: close to a station or a bus, on a busy street, with staff on the bar.
In the room
Your host greets you at the door and stays all evening. Conversations happen at a table, in a public bar, six minutes at a time. Phones stay away. If anything feels off, a look at the host is enough.
When cards go in
Nobody sees your card. Only mutual ticks become an introduction, and only as a first name and email, at 9am the next morning, so nobody follows anyone out the door with a number.
If something goes wrong
Tell the host and they'll act on the spot. Afterwards, the report form reaches a real person and can be anonymous. Anyone who breaks the code is asked to leave and isn't invited back.
After a match
A mutual match is a starting point, not a guarantee. A few habits worth keeping for any first date:
- Meet somewhere public, at a time that suits you, and get yourself there and home.
- Tell a friend where you're going and who with.
- Keep your address to yourself until you know someone.
- Leave whenever you like. You don't owe anyone a second drink.
- Trust your gut. If something feels wrong, it's enough of a reason.
If a match behaves badly after an evening, tell us through the report form. We take it seriously and they won't be invited back. If you're ever in danger, call 000.
What we don't do
We don't run background checks, and we won't claim to. We don't share surnames, phone numbers or anything you haven't chosen to share. We don't photograph anyone who hasn't said yes.
Is speed dating safe?
At Oh Hi it's built to be. Every guest books by name with a real email and agrees to a code of conduct. A host is in the room all evening. Conversations happen at a table in a public bar, and nobody gets your details unless you both ticked each other. Even then it's a first name and email, never a phone number.
Will other guests get my phone number or surname?
No. Your name card shows your first name. A mutual match gets your first name and email address at 9am the next morning, and nothing else.
What if someone makes me uncomfortable at speed dating?
Tell the host straight away, quietly or with a look. You don't need to explain. The host can end that conversation, move seats around, or ask the guest to leave. You can also report it afterwards, anonymously if you like.
Do you background-check guests?
No. We can't run background checks, so we don't pretend to. What we do is keep it to real names and verified emails, put a host in every room, share details only on a mutual match, and keep anyone who breaks the code of conduct off future guest lists.