Lucinda Price Makes Virtual Dating Look Easy

Lucinda, tell us your ways – what was your dating strategy pre #iso?
“Obviously not a very good one because I’m single.”

And now?
“Unfortunately, in the four weeks since isolation began, I am yet to find The One.”

Opening lines are a minefield. What’s your go-to opener on apps? 
“I’ve never survived longer than 24 hours on a dating app, mainly because I can’t choose photos of myself. I want to look good but not better than I do in real life but also not worse.”

“If I were on them though, my opening line would be “Hello”. Simple, but open for interpretation. Am I saying it like Lionel Richie? Or is it more Adele?”

So we can get our standards right, what sets the bar as a really, really good date? 
“I have a fantasy of getting really dressed up for a date, getting the address of the place, rocking up and it’s McDonalds. I really love McDonalds and it’s a great ice breaker. It’s universal. Everyone’s got a favourite order. Mine is a medium Big Mac meal with a diet coke and a soft serve. What’s yours?”

And the opposite?
“I really couldn’t poo-poo anything. Anything can be great so long as you’re in good company.”

When #iso was called, what were your first thoughts? 
“Do I have enough toilet paper?”

Your thoughts now?
“I don’t know. I hope everyone is ok.”

You’ve been on a few Zoom dates – anything you’ve learnt from these? Hot tips for young players you can share?
“So the story goes, a month or so ago a guy sent me a DM. In it, he wrote:

“I dreamt last night that we matched on a dating app and we went on a date but didn’t go on a second one because I wasn’t as funny as you. Your side job was brainstorming and selling new ideas to game shows. You were really good at it.”

I was impressed by his technique. Telling a stranger you’ve had a dream about them? Creepy. Backing it up by stroking their ego? Genius!

I proposed an Instagram Live date because, like the game show saleswoman I am, I thought it would be entertaining to watch.

We broke the date into sections with hard questions, isolation tours and a dance segment.

My advice to aspiring zoom daters would be to have a strong exit strategy. Since no one’s doing anything, you can’t exactly say, “gotta go!”. Get a smoke machine so when it gets awkward you can pretend the sourdough you’re making is on fire.”

What’s your game plan here? Persist, or wait this out? 
“The IG live date was my first and last. I'm living vicariously through Love Island for now.”

Your dream partner – better describe them to us, just in case they’re reading. 
“Does Shane Warne read THE ICONIC?”