Professional Foreign Matchmakers?

[cojack]

I've tried professional matchmakers here in the states.  While I got a lot of good encouragement from the matchmaker and their tips for making my dates better, they struggled with finding me good matches out of their pool of women.

I have tried simple searches and come up empty with actual professional matchmakers.  So far all I can find are websites with a database, but I expect the same results as any other online dating website.

Is there a good list of professional matchmakers around Europe?

[steveboy]

Elizabeth Jamison. You can find her in linkedin If you say I recommend you

http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=169821423&authType=name&authToken=zS2F&trk=prof-connections-name

[GQBlues]

How'bout the ol' reliable DIY kits?

[Lily]

I've tried professional matchmakers here in the states.  While I got a lot of good encouragement from the matchmaker and their tips for making my dates better, they struggled with finding me good matches out of their pool of women.

Where did they get their pool of women from? If they gathered that pool from the women profiles on the free dating sites, what difference did they make for you?
 
Apparently you did not hire them in order to hear the words of encouragement, didn't you?

[Manny]

It may be that Ed is the type of chap you need: http://realrussianmatch.com/

[Shadow]

I hope they use the no-cure-co-pay principle.

[Muzh]

There are plenty of escort services in-country. Every major city has plenty of them.

[mendeleyev]

CoJack, this is a different world and I'm not convinced that a match maker as you may have experienced will understand or deliver a successful courtship and marriage.  If you are too busy or just accustomed to paying someone else to do the footwork, then an FSU lady might turn out to be a mismatch. This is a situation where long term success will depend on you getting involved in her family, region, her interests, etc and so I'd caution you not approach this as you ordering a wife by delivery service. You didn't say that, but your initial message was brief and so I bring up the potential obvious.

Next lets assume that what you mean was someone to guide you, help make introductions and get you started. Then, as was suggested upthread contact Ed (there was a link provided) as he'd do a great job. He will however require you to get involved as you can't apply for a visa for a lady with whom you've had no face to face relationship in her home country. If you are willing to spend some time, travel, and get involved in the process all the while in her country, then Ed is a high and worthwhile recommendation.

If you are too busy and find the need to order services from someone else so that you won't be inconvenienced, then an FSU lady won't be your cup of tea. I wish you well.

[cojack]

Where did they get their pool of women from? If they gathered that pool from the women profiles on the free dating sites, what difference did they make for you?
 
Apparently you did not hire them in order to hear the words of encouragement, didn't you?

The matchmakers find the women at professionals gatherings.  There would be some sort of convention or event in town for a certain profession and they'd be there handing out cards and meeting people.  They find a mix of business, fashion, medical, and technology professionals.  That's how they found me as well.  It's a better group of people than you'd find on a dating site, for the most part.  My biggest problem is that she didn't have a large enough group of millenials just yet and older women would refuse to date me since I already looked 10 years younger than I am.

It may be that Ed is the type of chap you need: http://realrussianmatch.com/

This is a great start and exactly what I was looking for.  I'm not limiting myself to just russian speaking countries, but I'll definitely connect with him once I'm ready.

[Lily]

The matchmakers find the women at professionals gatherings.  There would be some sort of convention or event in town for a certain profession and they'd be there handing out cards and meeting people.  They find a mix of business, fashion, medical, and technology professionals.  That's how they found me as well.  It's a better group of people than you'd find on a dating site, for the most part.  My biggest problem is that she didn't have a large enough group of millenials just yet and older women would refuse to date me since I already looked 10 years younger than I am.

This is a great start and exactly what I was looking for.  I'm not limiting myself to just russian speaking countries, but I'll definitely connect with him once I'm ready.

Not a bad way to recruit the prospective brides.     How do the matchmakers know which women of those present at the gathering are single and available?
 
Toronto is a cosmopolitan city with a vibrant life, including lots of professional gatherings and events of all kinds. I tend to visit a number of them. Sometimes i meet the commercially interested guests, like salespeople or professional insurers, shaking hands and leaving their cards in the hope to meet new clients at the gathering. However, I can hardly think of someone who would even try to approach a guest with a matchmaking topic. In the best case, his or her matchmaking suggestion would be taken for a joke.

[cojack]

The way it worked for me is that a representative would just go around talking to people without wedding rings on.  They would politely introduce themselves and ask if anyone was single or knew a professional there was single and hand out their card.  They had a flip book of photos of the couples they had brought together, and that was it.  They're not there to be ridiculous braggarts that their clients may be millionaires.

A friend of mine's coworker was there and 3 times divorced.  He openly told her how he married 3 women and they all filed for no fault divorces.  I don't know the circumstances behind all the divorces, so I can't say what's wrong with him, other than he might pick these women up on dark dance floors.  I'm sure matchmakers get to risk the good and bad responses.

[mendeleyev]

One issue that you must think of is that Russians/Ukrainians don't typically use matchmakers except for the very wealthy. Using a matchmaker as the term applies in your experience will send an unmistakably clear message that you are wealthy. That will attract some very clever female sharks as well as repel some worthwhile professional ladies who based on their understanding of modern day Russian matchmaking, might believe you to be seeking a permanent arrangement rather than a genuine marriage.

We recommended the services of Ed in the posts above but his strategy while somewhat unique in this adventure, isn't the Western model either.

It is fun to recall the humorous storyline of Yenta, the Jewish matchmaker in Fiddler on the Roof. That however was a very differnt time and of unique circumstances in Russia.

Matchmaker, Matchmaker,
 Make me a match,
 Find me a find,
 catch me a catch
 Matchmaker, Matchmaker
 Look through your book,
 And make me a perfect match
 
 Matchmaker, Matchmaker,
 I'll bring the veil,
 You bring the groom,
 Slender and pale.
 Bring me a ring for I'm longing to be,
 The envy of all I see.

[mendeleyev]

A friend of mine's coworker was there and 3 times divorced.  He openly told her how he married 3 women and they all filed for no fault divorces.  I don't know the circumstances behind all the divorces, so I can't say what's wrong with him, other than he might pick these women up on dark dance floors. 

Perhaps indeed there was something wrong with a guy who stuck out three times. A larger question however would be his methods of attraction. Generally you catch sharks when you use shark bait.

I wouldn't take dating advice from the fellow no more than take investment advice from a habitual Wall Street loser, but learning what he did so that you could do the exact opposite might not be a bad idea.

[ML]

However, I can hardly think of someone who would even try to approach a guest with a matchmaking topic. In the best case, his or her matchmaking suggestion would be taken for a joke.

I don't agree Lily.  At many conventions, there are even sort of mail boxes for registered attendees.  I get all sorts of cards and sheets stuffed in the box.  Or, often there are tables at the entrance to the particular meeting room where all sorts of brochures, etc. can be found.  A stack of business cards from anyone could be placed there.  Another approach would be to hand out a card quickly to everyone you pass by, with a quick sentence "you might know a friend who would be interested."  That way, the person is 'let off the hook' of thinking they were viewed as someone who was in need of help.

[mendeleyev]

ML, I find myself with Lily on this example. It is not that conventions are different, but the attitudes to matchmaking don't easily translate across the oceans. As I said earlier, the unmistakable message will be one of wealth with half the eligible ladies wondering why the guy didn't show up to represent himself (and their perceived reasons for why he's absent will be all over the map), and the other half will instantly believe him to be an older oligarch type seeking a permanent arrangement with a young hot babe.

Being professionals, most would be turned off by the idea. There are reasons for the localized expression "Russia isn't America" and I believe a strong likelyhood that his efforts be misunderstood.

However, I'm willing for someone to try it, find someone, have a successful marriage and prove my thinking wrong. Anything can happen if the stars are aligned, you don't shake hands across the threshold, and remember to sit on the suitcase for a moment before leaving on a long trip. 

[skidoddle]

Sir Skidoddle will throw in his 2 cents being married for over 15 yrs to a Beautiful Russian women

I had a matchmaker when I lived over there MY TRANSLATOR who was a RUSSIAN WOMEN and
took a SHOT AT ME HERSELF.

We got by that ISSUE then progressed to finding me a WIFE.

But really FOLKS there is NO WAY one can go over there and FIND A WIFE unless you are very
STREET SAVY and worked in counterintelligence against the RUSSIANs which I did and I am very
street SAVY!!!!

If you do not have these SKILLs admit it and GET  A BOOTS ON THE GROUND TRANSLATOR that will
PROTECT your INTERESTs!!!

SKIDODDLE

[Lily]

Mendy, I am not sure whether my being an ethnic Russian would have an impact on this issue. In Russia, I saw zero usefulness in the marriage agencies, and preferred just to make a profile on the free websites. Here in Canada, the online matchmaking sites do a great job. A number of people create profiles on the free sites. Nothing is guaranteed, of course. Nevertheless, the quality of people on the dating sites is very diverse. One just has to be patient and know what does he or she want.
 
At some point, I also thought of resorting to a pro matchmaker, but I still could not reasonably figure out what can this person possibly do for me what I cannot do myself. So far no answer 

[ML]

My reply was from the viewpoint of the conference being in USA.

I didn't notice that the original post was directed toward 'foreign.'

[BillyB]

I've tried professional matchmakers here in the states.  While I got a lot of good encouragement from the matchmaker and their tips for making my dates better, they struggled with finding me good matches out of their pool of women.

Cojack,

Don't rely on matchmakers to do it all for you. There are plenty of women out there you can find yourself. Go to the library, shops, parks and other public areas and strike up conversations. You will be rejected more than accepted but that is normal and your social skills will improve over time with the opposite sex. No matter how many women a matchmaker throws your way, if you can't successfully communicate with the ladies, you're not going to have success.

[mendeleyev]

Mendy, I am not sure whether my being an ethnic Russian would have an impact on this issue.

Lily, I'm sure it makes you more qualified to speak to this issue than any of the rest of us. 

[mendeleyev]

But really FOLKS there is NO WAY one can go over there and FIND A WIFE unless you are very
STREET SAVY and worked in counterintelligence against the RUSSIANs which I did and I am very
street SAVY!!!!

Just think of the success had you be street savvy as well!   

I do think that plenty of guys have gone over and done well without working against the Russians. I've no experience in spying but have done very well by working with them.

[skidoddle]

Hello from Skidoddle

If you have been in the COLD WAR Era and have worked AGAINST the Russians I think it gives
you some unique background history of the country and know what really goes on inside Russia

You do not need this of course but for me it helped and I already knew what was going on over
there.

Now have alot of Russian friends. They confirm what I knew back than.

There is the Russia everyone sees from the WEST and there is the Russia that Russian live and the two
are completely different.

SKIDODDLE

[cojack]

I liked the matchmaker because they could do all the things like background checks so I didn't have to waste my time.  I find a lot of people on the free online dating sites like to fudge their age, height, weight, career, income, etc.  I don't want to feel like I need an exit plan before the date even shows up.

[Muzh]

[GQBlues]

LMAO! Where do you guys get these stuff?