For the vast majority of singles braving today’s dating world, there seems to be one overwhelmingly common complaint: “It’s hard to meet people.” After college, our lives tend to consist of work, home, friends and perhaps a hobby or two — all areas where we’re not usually making new connections with people. Meeting a mate in a bar doesn’t often work out the way we’d hoped, and well-meaning friends-turned-matchmakers frequently miss the mark. For all these reasons, Mike Vinn and Maryann Roberts decided to take the dating scene into their own hands. The pair have teamed up to create a unique speed-dating event — “The Fast Track to Love” speed dating at La Jolla’s Barfly on April 5. “Just in general, it’s really hard nowadays to meet someone, and everyone’s turning to online,” Vinn said. “I’ve always liked the more traditional way of meeting someone face to face. It’s easier for people to lie on the computer — there is that detachment from the person you’re talking to — than it is to lie to someone’s face.” Vinn, who has a regular gig doing stand-up at the Comedy Store in La Jolla, felt the event should allow guests to meet a wide range of people and get a good sampling of what’s out there, but he didn’t want to follow the traditional speed dating formula of equal numbers of men and women briefly talking and then moving on to the next. For their event, Roberts and Vinn decided to carefully select 10 bachelors willing to meet and talk to 30 eligible women. Vinn, mean-while, will provide comedic relief as the event’s emcee, introducing each of the bachelors and entertaining the women waiting for their turn for a three-minute date. The reason for the gender discrepancy is that guys, Vinn said, don’t tend to show up to speed-dating events in the same numbers as women. “Women tend to be more likely to go to these events than men, so we wanted to screen the guys,” Vinn said. “When guys sit around and think about wanting to meet someone, speed dating doesn’t really come up as an option. Guys have to sneak away from their buddies to go to something like this.” Barfly chef Shawn Sommers will be one of the event’s eligible singles. Like the rest of the bachelors, whose identities are being kept secret until the event, Sommers was vetted based on background information, self-sufficiency and, most importantly, a review provided by one very crucial person: a female reference. “We wanted to get a female’s view of the bachelor,” Vinn said. “A guy is going to lie for his buddy, that’s just how it goes. But a female — be it a friend or family member — will give us the real story.” The event, Vinn said, will hopefully take some of the pressure off that singles often feel when looking for love. And even if the night ends without a love connection, he said, “What’s the worst that can happen? You end up the same. You don’t end up worse off.” “There is the expectation of meeting someone at these kinds of events, but it’s also a night out,” he said. “Especially if you’re new or just getting back in the dating world, it’s a way to get back out there. A lot of the pressure is off because it’s not a full-fledged date. It’s just a quick conversation, and then you get to move on to another one. If you’re not ready to make a move, don’t make a move. “If you do like to go and meet people in public settings, it’s hard to tell who’s looking for love and who’s not,” he continued. “We’re putting 10 guys who are single and looking in a room with 30 ladies who are single and looking. When you go through something like this, everyone is putting themselves out there. You’re not alone in that situation. I believe that helps cut down on the nervousness. Plus, it will be entertaining.” Vinn and Roberts hope the event will turn into a regular — perhaps monthly or bi-monthly — affair. For the first event, they’re seeking singles from ages 25 to 50, but future events may be more specifically tailored to different age groups. They’re hoping the event will be seen as a fun activity with the added bonus of being exposed to a group of people who are all looking for the same thing — someone to share their life with. “If someone is willing to put themselves out there, chances are they’re right to meet someone,” Vinn said. “Everyone wants to be happy and share their life with someone, and the ones who say they don’t are lying.” If you go… “The Fast Track to Love” will take place on April 5 at 8 p.m. Tickets for the event are being sold to single ladies for $10 (bachelors will be selected in advance). To nominate a bachelor, email Roberts at [email protected]. To purchase tickets, visit Barfly at 909 Prospect St. #100, The Comedy Store at 916 Pearl St. (ask for Vinn) or by calling (858) 454-7272. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.barflyla-jolla.com.