HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- At Hate It or Date It, a date lasts seven minutes.

And "Ice Breakers" questions such as "Would you rather know your future or change your past?" help potential sweeties get to know each other during these speed-dating events, held Thursdays at Humphrey's Bar & Grill (109 Washington St. N.E.). Hate It or Date It is a production of Terri Michal's mobile DJ company Zoot Suit Riot.

"Keep things moving, keep it light," Michal, who hosts the events, says. "Speed-dating should be stress free. You can get through seven minutes with someone even if you decide in the first three you don't like them."

At Hate It or Date It's Jan. 3 debut, 18 participants (nine guys and nine gals, as luck would have it) turned out and six matches were made.

Michal decided on the seven-minute date duration after researching speed-dating and finding many such events went with a similar time frame. At Hate It or Date It, female participants sit at separate tables, each of which are outfitted with a candle, pair of dice and a card containing Michal-penned Ice Breakers questions, numbered one through 12. (The candle is to set a relaxed vibe and the dice to pick the next Ice Breakers question.)

After seven minutes are up, Michal, who goes by "Sweet T" at her DJ and host gigs, triggers a sound effect, such as a "Family Guy" sound bite, and the male participants move one table to their right to begin a new mini-date.

Participants, who can use their real name or an alias, carry a "date card" with an accompanying Hate It or Date It identification number. After each seven-minute woo, each person writes down their date's name, ID number and either yes (as in "I'd like to see them again") or no (as in, well, you know.)

After the guys have made their rounds, date cards are submitted to Michal. If someone you found to be a "yes" also indicated the same of you, Michal contacts both parties via e-mail and/or phone within the next two days with their match's contact info.

Following the speed-dating component (9 p.m. registration, 9:30 p.m. start), Hate It or Date It presents entertainment for the night – local rock band The One Night Onlys is set for Jan. 10 and Huntsville comedy troupe Comedy Mayhem for Jan. 17.

At the first Hate It or Date It, Michal says most of the participants were in their 20s.

"As we get more and more people, probably what we'll do is divide (the speed-dating portion) into age groups," Michal says. "Like under 35 and over 35. But while we're building it up, I'm trying to get people focused on just trying to have a good time. Not everyone's going to be a good match for you, but you can never meet too many people. It's not like a meat-market feel. This is more of a mingle."

More: facebook.com/hateitordateit