Problem:
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It has become increasingly difficult for shadchanim to dedicate themselves to working on shidduchim fullitme because many can’t support their families solely on shadchan gelt alone.
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There is a shortage of shadchanim. No shortage of singles. How can we recruit more people to become part time or full time shadchanim?
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Many singles especially as they get older feel as though they are forgotten. They cant reach shadchanim and find it difficult to keep a shadchan’s attention for more than a minute or two. How can we get singles in front of shadchanim who can dedicate a period of time to focus solely on each single?
Potential Solution:
I’m working on this idea called Book A Shadchan (bookashadchan.org or callashadchan.org) that I think may help solve some of these issues to some extent.
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Imagine a directory of shadchanim online with a detailed profile on each shadchan that explains what each shadchan specializes in and what type of people they focus on.
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Singles browse the different shadchan profiles and find appropriate shadchanim that can help them find a shidduch.
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The single is then able to book the shadchan for a specific amount of time on a specific date whereby the shadchan is dedicated solely on this singles shidduchim.
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The single pays a fee to the shadchan to confirm the booking. This fee is preset by each shadchan.
This might help solve all three issues raised above:
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Shadchanim will now be able to get paid for their time upfront and not just from engagements alone. This can improve a shadchan’s income which would allow them to remain full time focused and dedicated shadchanim.
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We now also incentivized new people to begin working on shidduchim because they can now get paid for their time to dedicate to singles instead of waiting for an idea to follow through to engagement and marriage. Even if people are now incentivized to dedicate an hour a day to shidduchim they can potentially make a few thousands dollars a month extra. That can be a serious incentive for many shadchan dabblers.
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Singles will now be able to get a shadchan’s undivided attention and stop feeling as though they were forgotten. The single can move from shadchan to shadchan by booking each appropriate shadchan for an appropriate fee that gets paid to the shadchan for the booking.
This is the very basic high level concept and I’d love to hear your feedback. The good and the bad.
Your Feedback Needed:
- Do you think this can work? Should we set this up and test the viability of this idea?
- What issues do you think we’d run into right away or down the line?
- Would you pay to book a shadchan? How much?
- Would you start getting involved as a shadchan if someone booked your time and paid you? How much would you want to get paid for your time?
Thanks in advance for your feedback.