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Show Page Three Tbe DaSy Utah Gbraoide, Tacaday, November 1 J, ItSI S.L matchmakers say love business is growing by Lisa Carricmburu Chronicle staff Although young people seeking companionship can no longer rely on the wiles of a slumped --over village gossip if. for finding a mate, a more modern matchmaking is alive and thriving in Salt Lake City. profession ? J. MP 1 v - t Salt Lake currently boasts four successful dating services, all of which claim a dedication to providing quality dates and possible "significant relationships" for their clients. Selecting dates from photo profiles or vidoetapes is the most common service available in town. Three of the four agencies in the area employ these methods. Mike Shane, director of Professional Matchmaker, said members of his dating service can make an unlimited number of selections from photo profiles in their age group. "When clients decide who they want to go out with, I contact their selections," he said. "If there is mutual agreement, I will give both clients each others' last names and phone numbers so they can arrange a date. "I never force anyone to go out with someone I think they wouldn't like or whose profile doesn't interest them. The whole system operates on mutual consent." Professional Matchmaker is the only agency which guarantees accepted clients at least one date. If a client doesn't receive at least one date in the period they purchase, Shane will renew their contract. W - t v. 73 Mike Shane, director of Professional Matchmaker, directs one of four dating services in Salt Lake City that claim a dedication to providing quality dates and possible "significant relationships" for their clients. Hellen Rigby, director of Continental Marriage accept all applicants who are both Mormon and single. "As long as applicants can verify that they are both practicing Mormons and single, we won't refuse to try to help them," a spokeswoman for the organization said. "If we think they will be unsuccessful, however, we will give them our honest opinion and leave it up to them to decide." All the Salt Lake area dating services have between 300 and 400 members and report rapid growing businesses. Is checking into a dating service worthwhile if you are looking for a mate? The spokeswoman from Latter Day Ideals said her agency produces a marriage every other use dating services. People should really check it out before they believe any preconceived notions they may have because we can really offer a quality service." Kenneth Thompson, director of Singles International, said many quality people decide to try a dating service because they are too busy to spend a lot of time looking for dates or because they feel uncomfortable in a singles bar environment. "Many people like the idea of being able to look at an informational profile of a person before asking them out," he said. "This is an option the singles bar scene does not Bureau, said her service is unique because she stresses confidentiality by using no video or picture profiles. Through detailed personal interviews, she said, she is able to personally match couples with fair accuracy. "I believe marriage is a more satisfying way of life and I am interested in helping people who are looking for significant relationships, not just one night stands with no commitments," she said. "It takes time to meet the right person, and my method allows clients to meet a lot of different people and establish many good friendships." A spokeswoman from Latter Day Ideals, a service exclusively for LDS singles, said her agency is highly selective, serving mostly business professionals who want to get married. Besides requiring verification that all clients are both Mormon and single, Latter Day Ideals requires character recommendations from every client. "Unfortunately, there is a lot of unfounded stigma surrounding the notion of a 'dating service'," she said, is simply not true that losers are the only people who j "It offer." "A lot of university students seek my services because they are afraid of putdowns in a normal dating situation," said Rigby.pson. "Clients must look decent or we will week, and through a combined program called Matesearch, Singles International and Professional have to give them a negative sales pitch and refuse to accept them." Shane said, "If I think someone is a jerk, I won't hesitate to tell them. If I don't think I can guarantee them at least one date, I won't take them on." Latter Day Ideals is the only dating service which will Matchmaker, have reported nearly 500 marriages in the last five years. "I find that very often people I match at Continental Marriage Bureau will end up getting married," Rigby said. 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