Emma is one of the funniest and most creative people we’ve had the pleasure of working with. We’re thrilled to be able to share more about her innovative matchmaking methodologies.
Tell us about yourself
I’m a matchmaker in the NYC area and I work almost exclusively with millennials. My services are a bit less conventional — I operate solo, and mainly by word of mouth and social media. In New York, I’m well-connected to both the art community as well as the business community because of my unique background. I worked in corporate America in Marketing for several years, but I’m also a comedian, which has given me the unique privilege of meeting and getting to know so many different kinds of New Yorkers. This city is special because the majority of people here have purpose and intention in their careers and/or interests and that’s what brought them here. There’s no “one-type” of New Yorker and I feel proud that my matchmaking reflects the diversity of the city.
How did you get into matchmaking?
Oddly, my comedy background is what started it all. I’ve always been a very good reader of people - credit my Scorpio intuition ;) - and I had set up a few different friends in the past (two of those couples are now married). It was something I loved doing for fun. As a comedic improviser, I noticed that so many scenes had to do with first dates. I created a show called In A World: The Dating Show, which married the two interests. I’d match-make two single people whom I thought would be a great match and they’d go on their first date on stage in an environment created by comedic improvisers around them. While the scenarios were fake, the date itself was real. It was voyeuristic and comedic at the same time. Before I knew it, I had a database of hundreds of singles who wanted to participate, many of whom just wanted to work with me privately. Boom. That’s how I got into matchmaking full-time!
Tell us about how you had to adapt your in-person events to virtual formats during COVID
I feel like my live events went out with a bang. In January, I partnered with millennial dating podcaster, Lindsey Metselaar of We Met At Acme, to create a unique mixer we called The Upcycled Mixer. Everyone brought a plus one of their desired sex whom for whatever reason was off-limits in their own dating life. The event sold out and was a great success. In February, I had my last live In A World show, where I set up a match who opted to go on a second date after the show. The show ended in a singles mixer for the audience where multiple digits were exchanged. Then COVID hit and I had to pivot.
Now, more than half a year into quarantine, the video chat date doesn’t seem so odd, but at the time, there was a great need for something more personable than a dating app and less intense than a video chat date. I created Single of the Day [now Week] on my Instagram @thedatingshow, where I’d go on Instagram Live with a dynamic, cool, kind single person each week with whom people could interact, learn more about, and make moves in real time.
Why are good photos so important?
Photos are the first impression! When someone is a complete stranger to you, your photos are all that they have to go off of, and more often than not, they determine if someone gives you a chance or not!
What are your photo tips?
I think the sweet spot is 4-5 photos. I recommend one photo that includes other people (with their consent). This shows that you have some sort of social network (be it family, friends, coworkers, etc). No mirror pics. No fish pics. At least one full body shot. Photos that show your range — in other words, don’t use 3 photos from the same day/shoot. If you have a very obvious feature, show it. A friend once told me she accepted a date with someone with all closed-smile pics. When she arrived on the date, her date had no teeth. Is this a deal breaker? No, not if they knew about it beforehand and already decided it’s not! Honest photos lead to a greater chance of a second date on both your ends!
If you can, include pictures where you’re doing something, or are in a location that speaks to your interests. (Side note: Interests are so important! It’s what you bring to the relationship and can share with someone else. If your photos can show this, A+!)
Learn more about Emma at:
www.emmavernoncomedy.com
www.inaworldthedatingshow.com
personal IG handle @emmavern
show IG handle @thedatingshow
tiktok: @emma_vern