Mixology Obtains Ingredients for Successful LGBT Dating

If you’re LGBT and in the market for love, the odds have gotten a little better that you’ll meet Mr. or Ms. Right.

Mixology, the upscale LGBT matchmaking service established in Washington DC by Kim Rosenberg and Meghann Novinskie, recently opened an office in West Hollywood.

“Dating as an adult is challenging, period,” says Novinskie. “To meet someone who also has the same relationship goals as you, lives a similar lifestyle, you’re going to mesh, you’re attracted to them, everything has to line up.”

Things are starting to line up for Mark, a 41-year-old gay man who’s fit, financially secure and divides his work between West Hollywood and New York. He’s been using Mixology for about six months, after a friend found his same-sex fiancé that way.

“Oh my goodness, it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made for myself, dating wise,” says the advertising executive, who got frustrated with internet dating. “I didn’t have luck meeting people that way, I’m not really into the bar scene, and I wanted something serious. The guys I’m meeting through Mixology are quality guys.”

In a world that gets more impersonal with each advancement in social media, Mixology’s personal touch sounds like a nice alternative.  Many of its clients are gay men, and most don’t have a problem finding dates.

“All our clients can get dates,” says Novinskie, “it’s that they’re looking for something more specific. They’re looking for the most efficient and effective way, they’re looking for somebody that is their equal.”

“They’re professionals,” adds Rosenberg. “They’re established in their career, they come to us because we’re experts.” Indeed, people hire financial advisors to manage their money, personal trainers to get fit, why not hire professionals to find a date?

“We’ve been doing this together for over 14 years, so we have a lot of experience in the industry. We’ve seen a lot,” says Rosenberg.

While a discreet, high-class dating service sounds ideal for Hollywood power players, the Mixology mavens insist that while they have dealt with recognizable names, a celebrity clientele is “not the focus.”

“We’re here to serve the community,” says Rosenberg. “It’s not just celebrity-driven out here [WeHo] or high-end in DC, we’re here because there’s a void, and obviously it’s a professional clientele.”

Mixology also has a presence in other major cities, including San Francisco and New York. And it’s not cheap; fees can go as high as $25,000. If you’re merely looking to hook-up with a celebrity or a sugar daddy, this probably is not the place for you.

“Unfortunately, sometimes people do date others for the wrong reasons, so the fact that we screen all that out for them, they don’t run into that just because of their name or money or status,” says Rosenberg. “We interview all our clients and get to know them … so we’re matching clients based on their lifestyles and how well they’re going to mesh, not how much money they make.”

One piece of advice that the matchmakers offer: Before taking the leap into the dating pool, ask if you would date yourself.

“You’ve gotta look in the mirror; you’ve gotta feel comfortable with who you are and know what you have to offer a partner,” says Novinskie.

Novinskie runs the WeHo office and Rosenberg handles DC, but they are partners in life as well as business. Both have psychology degrees and agree that psychology plays into the search for the right mate or date.

Mark admits that he’s benefited from a little coaching. “They not only send me out on good dates, they talk to me about how to be a better dater, what to say or what not to say. They’ve definitely helped me in this area.”

“It’s a very old-fashioned type of matchmaking,” says Rosenberg. But, she cautions, “we don’t take everybody. The timing has got to be right. You have to be ready.”

Read more about the company at readytomix.com