Would you pitch your single friend at a dating event?

This article was originally written by Ella McLachlan.

According to Time Out’s 2025 Best Cities in the World survey, Brisbane is one of the most challenging Australian cities to find love, with about 28 per cent of residents saying it is easy to meet someone.

While dating apps have become the go-to option for modern dating, many people say it is challenging to form genuine connections.

A new dating event called Pitch Your Single Friend offers a unique alternative for Brisbane residents.

Hosted by Conscious Connections, the event invites people aged 25 to 45 to bring a friend who has three minutes to pitch their personality to the audience.

Conscious Connections founder and organiser Sheridan said Pitch Your Single Friend was created to offer an intentional, low-pressure alternative to form genuine connections away from online dating.

“I think online dating and speed dating events are often the epitome of small talk and shallow connections,” Sheridan said.

Many singles events can make people feel pressured to find “the one” by the end of the night, but Sheridan says Pitch Your Single Friend focuses on genuine connections formed in a relaxed environment.

“Even if you don’t meet the love of your life that night, you might make a friend who could introduce you to your next partner,” Sheridan said.

The presentation by the participants’ “wingman” acts as a good conversation starter.

“It is designed in a way that you can get to know a few people at once without those daunting one-on-one conversations,” Sheridan said.

25-year-old Ella said she used to feel exhausted after constantly checking apps for replies.

“I remember seeing people who had the qualities I was after, but they were only looking for short-term,” Ella said.

Ella said she was successful once she stopped pressuring herself to force connections.

24-year-old Tianyin said meeting new people in Brisbane can be difficult.

“Brisbane feels like a big town, there’s a lot of overlap in various social circles,” Tianyin said.

Tianyin said from his experience in online dating, he learnt that it is about not being judgmental of people, but getting to know each other through face-to-face connection.

Events like Pitch your single friend offer organic connections and real conversations, producing positive outcomes.

“I know at least three couples who met at our first Brisbane event,” Sheridan said.

Conscious Connections hosts other social events in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, including games nights, group dinners and picnics.