Matchmaker Career
Matchmaker Career
The Real Poop
Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match.
Are you good at setting up your friends? Even the ones with funky breath and angry, jealous pets?
Do you like to tell people what to do? Are you the friend who constantly gives advice to friends how to dress, how to flirt, and what to say or what not to say on a date (even if they don't ask you to)?
Are you an expert at pointing out people's flaws and weaknesses when it comes to finding true love?
You're in luck—you might have a bright, lucrative future as a matchmaker.
So what's in it for me?
Matchmakers make big money. Patti Stanger, creator of The Millionaire's Club and star of Bravo TV's Millionaire Matchmaker show charges her clients $40,000 a year—minimum ($25,000 for a more basic arrangement for a year for some), with the uber rich paying $150,000 to $200,000 for round the clock attention from Patti and her staff of dating coach advisors. If Patti can't personally find your match, she will reach out to one of her many worldwide consultants and find you someone. That's right—matchmaking can be a global endeavor. Who would have known? Either way, you're going to be going on as many dates with as many matches as it takes for you to find your soulmate.
Manhattan matchmaker Samantha Daniels charges $425 for just a two-hour consultation. Then, if she likes how you look and thinks she can help you, she will charge a minimum of $25,000 to be on hand as your love coach, stylist, and dating fixer-upper. For $50,000 she'll leave New York and fly out to your hometown to search for your future spouse. If a couple gets married, she gets a six-figure bonus. Six figures. Who says money can't buy you love?
What does it take?
A successful matchmaker has an endless Rolodex of dazzling, eligible, and intelligent beauties of both sexes in a wide variety of ages, backgrounds, and interests—all ready to get serious and settle down.
A good matchmaker can screen potential matches for bad habits, bad credit, and B.O.
Think of a matchmaker as a life coach—or rather, a love coach. They will advise you on what to wear, where to take your date, what to say to them, and more importantly, what not to say. They'll tell you the things everyone else is afraid to, like how you could probably stand to shave that nasty beard off, or that you should finally get serious about losing a few pounds. Sure, a mother could do this for free, but paying money for the same advice just makes it so much better.
Wallflowers need not apply
You can't have a shy bone in your body if you want to be a matchmaker. You need to be willing to tell your clients what they need to hear instead of what they want to hear. This may include: fixing their wardrobe, cleaning up their language, getting them to go to the gym, and having to break the sad news that the hotties your client keeps falling for are just in it for the bank account, not her shining spirit or inner glow.
Remember: When it comes to matchmaking, the client is always wrong. If they knew what they wanted, they wouldn't need a matchmaker.
Most of your clients will be rich or famous, or both—they'll have to be able to afford your services, after all. You'll be dealing with all sorts of type A personalities, divas, and control freaks that you will somehow need to persuade to listen to you.
You will have to strip them of their fancy suits and snarky demeanors to get them to show their true, vulnerable selves on a date. Good luck. If these people were easy to get along with, they wouldn't need your help.
You'll always have to be on the hustle, hosting mixers to meet new potential mates for your clients and flying out to meet clients who aren't local.
You'll also have to build your brand. Don't think you won't have competition. What will make you stand out as a matchmaker amongst the hundreds of others in your hood who want your clients? You'll need to be business savvy, excellent at marketing yourself and your services, and it wouldn't hurt to have a gimmick.
It's a good gig if you have the right stuff. Matchmakers can charge clients thousands of dollars to help them find their soul mate. They say true love is priceless, but any matchmaker will tell you otherwise.