Ron Lee has had several failed relationships. The 31-year-old IT professional remains optimistic about being able to find the woman of his dreams, but realises he must first survive the dating game. Lee decided a little expert help wouldn't hurt and signed up for a crash course on dating in April.
'I didn't really know how to be with a woman. I studied in a boys' school and there are only guys at my workplace,' he says. 'Sometimes you just need someone who can tell you what you are doing wrong and how to fix it.'
Lee is among more than 30 people who have turned to the 'dating consultants' of 214dating.com, which launched the dating classes last June. The clients, their ages ranging from the early 20s to the 40s, pay HK$560 for a two-hour session with two consultants.
During his intensive two-on-one session, Lee was told about some of his quirks that could make a poor first impression: he talked too quickly, stammered a little and dressed too casually for dates.
Often called 'dating coaches' or 'date doctors' in the west, these consultants draw on their own experience and knowledge of relationships to provide personalised advice in such areas as verbal and non-verbal communication, psychology and dress sense.
'We've seen men and women fail to get dates after taking part in our speed-dating events although they're attractive and successful. So we started this service to help them,' says dating consultant Tammy Chan Wing-sum. 'We localise the advice and consider cultural differences. For instance, splitting expenses might be done differently here.'