Taking a spin with date and dash

You hear the stories from friends of friends.

Sometimes you listen to the radio commercials.

And, admit it, you wonder if all those singles events are just a bunch of awkward introverts or actually a great time.

Well, to find out the real deal, we are sending Beep readers to test these singles outings and let you know if it's worth the time -- and the money.

And don't worry, cute couples, because we're cooking up a few ideas for ways for you to participate in our Grade the Date feature, too. (Stay tuned to future Date Night pages for more.)

But for now, we've sent our first tester out on that classic-style singles event -- speed dating. Here's how it went:

Name: James Sandt

Age: 36

Hometown: Schaumburg

The date: Date and Dash at Lucille's BBQ in Chicago, which costs $36 for the night.

The crowd: There were a few more women than men with the numbers at about 16 and 13 (respectively).

It was actually a pretty good mix of people in their early- to mid-20s and early- to mid-30s, with an ethnically diverse makeup.

Because this happened in Chicago, almost everyone was a city person both living and working there.

A good portion of the women came with one or two of their girlfriends, while most of the guys came alone. But it seemed like for everyone it was their first time and they were just doing it for fun.

The vibe: It happened at a nice enough bar, although it seemed like everyone -- except for a few bartenders and organizers -- was there only for this event. I thought that was kind of strange.

The whole thing was a little nerve-wracking, especially at the beginning. When you meet someone, it's the first impression that counts and you've got 16 of those built up in your head. After the first few, though, you kind of loosen up a little.

Fun factor: I think it's more of a novelty, and I think a lot of people were there to try it and have fun. I don't think a lot of people took it too seriously.

The event allowed you about five minutes with each person, and the women were each seated at a table while the men rotated.

It seemed like you got through all the little stuff and then they'd blow the whistle before you'd get to ask many real questions -- but there weren't too many awkward or quiet moments.

I think if it were 7 or 8 minutes per person, it would have been a lot better but not too long.

Chance for romance: Honestly, I think it's very much a novelty. It seems like one of those things from the '80s that you can't believe people still do.

Part of me thought speed dating seemed kind of desperate, but it seemed like most people were there just to have fun.

Ultimately I think your odds of clicking with someone are kind of low. In addition, most people lived and worked in the city, so, being from the suburbs, it makes it an even longer shot that anything is going to work.

Check this out if … you go into it with an open mind just for fun and not looking to find your next boyfriend or girlfriend.

It's a good icebreaker if you have trouble approaching people, and it was more fun than I thought it would be.