Hello, World!
OUR STORY
We built the antidote to dating apps
OUR MISSION
On The Spot Dating exists to bring real connection back to modern dating. We put real people on the spot and let genuine connection do the rest, blending live entertainment with intentional dating to create meaningful first encounters. No apps, no algorithms, no endless swiping. Just real people, real chemistry, and real couples walking out the door on real first dates.
The apps, the swiping, the "hey" that goes nowhere, the plans that get cancelled an hour before. The feeling that you're being judged on one photo before anyone even knows your name.
We built On The Spot Dating Show because we believe real connection happens when people are actually present: when you can feel someone's energy, hear how they laugh, and get a sense of who they actually are in real life.
The flakiness in modern dating is real. The awkwardness is real. The loneliness is real. So we leaned into all of it, and made it entertaining!
At On The Spot Dating Shows, the awkward IS the show. The nerves are part of the fun. And the room you're sitting in is full of people who all showed up for the same reason: because they're ready to put down their phone and see what happens when you're just... present.
Some people leave with a first date that same night. Some leave with new numbers, new friends, a great story. All of them leave having actually lived their night.
We also believe in community, which is why every sponsored first date supports a local San Diego business. Because showing up for each other shouldn't stop at dating.
No apps. No algorithms. Just show up, take the leap, and see what happens.
Dating is exhausting.
The Founders
Meet the humans behind the show
ashley carter
Co-Founder
Ashley brings over 15 years of operational leadership, event strategy, and hospitality experience to On The Spot. As a former Associate Vice President of Student Engagement in higher education, she spent her career designing experiences that build real community and bring people together at scale.
She later founded Pure Pawsh, a dog-focused social bar in San Diego, where she developed deep expertise in experiential programming, venue operations, and the challenge of filling a room consistently and meaningfully.
Ashley is the engine behind the scenes — the strategy, the systems, the partnerships, and the reason the whole thing actually runs.
💡 She built her career creating spaces where people feel like they belong. On The Spot is just the next chapter.
Co-Founder & Host
Mary puglisi
Mary is the voice, the energy, and the person holding the microphone on show night — and she was made for it.
With a background in event production, marketing, and live entertainment, Mary previously produced shows with Don't Tell Comedy, where she mastered the art of creating curated, experiential nights that people actually remember.
As On The Spot's host, Mary makes the whole room feel like they're in on the joke — because they are. She turns the nerves into laughs, the awkward into entertainment, and somehow makes two strangers meeting for the first time feel like the most natural thing in the world.
🎤 She loves meeting new people, laughing through life, and yes — she really loves a microphone.
What Sets Us Apart
People-First Approach
Everything we do is built around understanding your needs and helping you succeed—because when you thrive, so do we.
Long-Term Relationships
We’re not just here for the now. We love creating lasting relationships with our clients and growing with them over time.
Proven Process, Flexible Execution
We bring structure where it counts and adaptability where it matters. Our methods are clear, but always responsive.
We’re just getting started
On The Spot Dating Show started in San Diego, but the problem we're solving isn't unique to one city. Dating app fatigue is everywhere. The desire for something real — something that gets you off your couch and into a room full of opportunity — that's everywhere too.