A live crowdsourced dating app, and you are the crowd. Meet five people looking for love, help pair them on dates…and see what unfolds. Will things end happily? Awkwardly? Or some other way?  Their romantic fate is in your hands.

Awesome!  So how do I Play Cupid?

Step 1. First, get the full answer to the question: what is Play Cupid?

Step 2. Then, buy your tickets (to be a part of our crowd) here .

Step 3. Great! Now that you’re an official member of the crowd, learn a little bit in advance about the date-seeking participants you’ll be pairing up.

Step 4. Attend your scheduled event at the Capital Fringe Festival. There, meet the participants in person, and, as a crowd, get to know them better.

Step 5. Discuss with your fellow crowd-members and collectively decide who to pair up for a blind date.

Step 6. Watch how the dates you paired up turn out.

Step 7. Congratulate yourself on experimenting with the future of dating!
(And afterwards, vote for Play Cupid here!)

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What is Play Cupid?

Play Cupid is a new concept in dating – crowdsourcing romance, exploiting the wisdom of the crowd to help pair people up for dates.  The crowd is given a small amount of time to get to know each participant; then, whoever the crowd votes to put together is sent on a totally blind date… and after that, how the night goes is up to the lucky pair.

We have selected five willing participants from the DC area, who are all interested in being sent on a blind date with someone the crowd has paired them with. With five participants, there are ten possible date pairings, but you will not be able to see them all – naturally!  If two people you set up have a bad date (or a very good date) you shouldn’t be suprised if they do not want to get sent on another blind date right after that.

Their romantic fate is in your hands, so pair responsibly.

If you’re as excited about this as we are and want to be part of our crowd, be sure to get your tickets fast!

(There are multiple days available to come be a part, but the same choices will be available to you at each one – attend whichever you prefer.)

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Get to know our five Play Cupid participants!

We’ve brought in five strangers from around DC – five very different people – to be our Play Cupid participants.

Which of our five participants do  YOU have most in common with? Take our short quiz to find out!

Let’s meet Jessie!

Pronouns: Female. She/her.
Age: 38
Occupation: Lobbyist
Where do you live? Eastern Market
Where are you from? Alexandria
How long have you been in DC? Most of my life. I was born here. After grad school, I worked in New York for a while, then came back here in 2010.
What brought you to Play Cupid? Curiosity. Boredom. I like shiny, new things.
What are you looking for in a partner? Someone who enjoys the moment, who doesn’t take things so seriously. Who likes to flirt and appreciates a good banter. Someone who takes care of themselves, but not at the expense of life’s pleasures. Someone who can relax and laugh and let go.
What’s a typical Friday night for you? Me time. Gym, steak, bourbon.
What’s the last thing you read? The Wall Street Journal
If you were a dog, what breed would you be? Malamute. Or Direwolf.
What do you wish people knew about you? I don’t care about money. I have enough of my own, and I couldn’t care less whether someone I date has any. But I like quality, so I buy quality for myself. That doesn’t mean I expect, or even want anyone else to. It’s just money.

 

Now let’s meet Jakes!

Pronouns: he
Age: 32
Occupation: High School Teacher
Where do you live? Northern Virginia
Where are you from? Manassas
How long have you been in DC? 8 years where I’m at now, the DMV area my whole life
What brought you to Play Cupid? My family thought it’d be a good idea for me to get back out there.
What are you looking for in a partner? Honestly, I don’t know anymore.
What’s a typical Friday night for you? Simple things. Going to the gym, or reading a book.
What’s the last thing you read? Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
If you were a dog, what breed would you be?
Probably like an American Bulldog
What do you wish people knew about you? Even though it doesn’t seem like it, I’m trying really hard.

 

Here’s Kyle!

Pronouns: they
Age: 35
Occupation: Bartender
Where do you live? Eastern Market, DC
Where are you from? Frederick, MD
How long have you been in DC? 8 years
What brought you to Play Cupid? The unique experience. I thought it would be pretty cool to have a crowd control who my date was for the evening. (Be nice, everyone!)
What are you looking for in a partner? Intelligence, similar sense of humor, empathetic, and socially aware; travel necessary for the position.
What’s a typical Friday night for you? Normally, bartending.  Afterwards, I’ll usually get a drink or two with friends or co-workers, hit up a house party, or read at home while soaking my poor bones.
What’s the last thing you read? book one of Game of Thrones!
If you were a dog, what breed would you be?  
Bernese Mountain Dog!
<– Just look at its smoooosh face!
What do you wish people knew about you? I’m an open book! All you have to do is ask.

 

Get to know Brianna!

Pronouns: she/her
Age: 29
Occupation: PR strategist
Where do you live? West End
Where are you from? Chicago
How long have you been in DC? a few years
What brought you to Play Cupid? I’m excited about having real people help me find my soulmate!
What are you looking for in a partner? I’m looking for a caring person who wants to build a beautiful life together.
What’s a typical Friday night for you? Happy hour with colleagues or clients.
What’s the last thing you read? Either my Google alerts or the Post.
If you were a dog, what breed would you be? Irish Setter
What do you wish people knew about you? I can read sheet music.

 

Finally, here’s Ali!

Pronouns: he/him
Age: 26
Occupation: Intern (at a nonprofit)
Where do you live? College Park
Where are you from? LA, California
How long have you been in DC? 4 years
What brought you to Play Cupid? I was interested in seeing how this would differ from my normal dating experiences.
What are you looking for in a partner? Someone who I can trust and who will take care of me and let me take care of them.
What’s a typical Friday night for you? Generally quiet, staying in, cooking and watching TV, maybe go out to a trivia night
What’s the last thing you read? The Idiot by Dostoevsky
If you were a dog, what breed would you be? Chocolate Labrador!
What do you wish people knew about you? That I’m energetic and open-minded!

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Did you remember to take our short quiz to find out which participant you have the most in common with?  Then all that’s left is to get your ticket now:

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Cover and central image: the video game-esque Controller of Love, with the X, Y, A, and B button positions replaced with hearts, credit Sonia Zamborsky.