The Future Perfect Pickup

 

You'll always find some eligible bachelors at Camelot.             Instead of going to their website (www.camelot.ca), be adventurous and strike out on your own. If you have 3D glasses, these pictures will jump right out at you! - Technology by 3dheaven.com

Where can a woman find a cluster of quality men? Men who are stable, intelligent, well-employed and dependable? It isn't in the bar and it's not at a health club either. Granted, I think the idea of meeting men in a gym is just hunky and will continue to be long into Y2K. However, I surmise that the future perfect pick-up spot will not be a fitness centre. There, scouting is obvious and the men, hard to type. No, the future perfect pick-up will take place at the specialty bookshop. And more specifically, the computer/information technology (IT) bookstore. I took it to task to test my theory and selected Camelot-Info in Montreal's Place Ville Marie. I chose this store for three reasons: first of all my computer savvy friends said it was the best (most popular) techie store in the city; second, Place Ville Marie is the daytime repository of hundreds of young professional men who need to keep up with technology, and three, because of the name of the store, I figured if I wanted to find a worthy man, my quest should begin at Camelot. During the course of my study I spent time talking to many customers of the male variety and discovered that the majority tended to be executives, not techies, who use Camelot as a reference library more than a bookstore. These men were smart, friendly and successful. Their lives were too occupied with business and success to make them bar regulars. However, they did find the time (usually lunch hour) to return again and again to Camelot to find an answer to some computer problem or do research. I developed a tried and true "approach system" that I highly recommend for those of you interested in Connecting at Camelot - Info. The first step is to start a Project: If you are a Computer-owner, decide to update, upgrade your software, or create a website for yourself or your business. Or anything else that gives you a valid reason for browsing. For non-computer owners I recommend that you buy one! Or at least look and sound like you are in the market for one. Once you have chosen your project and are ready to enter Camelot you must avoid the staff at all costs! The staff at Camelot are great, I mean they are far too informative. They can have all your questions answered and set you up with anything you've requested in a heartbeat. We don't want that. Unless the employee is cute and you're into bookstore clerks - AVOID THEM! Next, I suggest that you pick a persona and become either the computer savvy female offering advice or the damsel in distress and seeking assistance. The latter is the best for those of us not too computer conversant. Besides, real men love to "rescue" women. Now you are ready for the approach. Once you spot a cutie, stand nearby and start a conversation. Pretend you are searching for something. Ask if he knows a lot about computers. Ask what he does for a living. Once you know his profession it is easy to ask for assistance. Simply tailor your request to his domain of expertise. For example, if he is a web designer you (coincidentally) will be looking to design a web page. Ask for his help and exchange business cards. This way everything appears to be professional and you have a valid reason for getting to know him. Lastly, and most importantly, follow up - No one can possibly know if they have met Mr. Right after just one brief encounter in a bookstore (even if it is Camelot!) The best way to weed out ones with true potential is the follow up phone call - now you can be more personal, chat and see if you are interested in moving to the next step. The meeting. Don't worry, no one says you have to follow through on any of these "projects." If you decide he is not for you, change your mind about making a webpage (or whatever) and if it does work out and you start to date someone you can't wait to introduce to your friends, tell him the truth, I am sure he will be flattered. And finally, if you do make it to Camelot but don't find your Lancelot? At least, you probably learned something about the new technology and are better prepared for the millennium.

For more information -  digitaldaisy@stylesense.com

This page was last updated on 05/23/02.