First Date Tips

 

Useful First Date Tips For Men

A few first date tips are always nice to have, not only for a first date, but especially for your very first date, the one for which you have no previous experience to fall back on. While there are any number of things to be aware of, you don't want to be constantly pulling out a checklist as the date progresses. Just try to keep a few tips in mind, and most of all, keep aware of what your goal should be.

The Goal - Most first date tips are dos and don'ts, designed to favorably impress your date, and keep you from looking like an idiot at the same time. That's well and good, but assuming you really like the girl, and would like to keep things going, the primary goal of the first date should always be to get that second date. If you succeed in that, it's a big first step. Look at the first date tips as little ways to help you get to that second date. First dates can be scary, not only if you haven't had the experience before, but the preparation, planning, and asking for the date can be extremely stressful.

Some Basics - Before getting into some details, here are a few first date tips on how to act. Remember that you're not trying to impress your date so much as you're trying to make a good impression. There's a difference. Rather than telling your date all about yourself, and the wonderful things you've done or can do, you want to be asking her what she is interested in, looking for topics of mutual interest, and giving her the impression that you are well mannered, reasonably intelligent, and committed to showing her a good time. If she is indeed interested in you, she's looking for someone she enjoys being with, rather than being a trophy wife at sometime in the future. It's always better to show her your interest in her, by your efforts in seeing she is having a good time. As infatuated with her as you may be, treat her like a good friend, not like a china doll on a pedestal. Put her on a pedestal too early and she may indeed look down on you. Keep it casual and friendly.

Keep Your Cell Phone Handy - Things can sometimes get off to a bad start. If you're going to be even a few minutes late for the first date, call on the phone to let your date know when you're going to get there. Once on a first date I got lost trying to find the girls house. It was dark, and I was in an unfamiliar part of town. It was a date for dinner and she had dressed for the occasion. I arrived nearly an hour late. She had figured by then I was standing her up, and had changed back into jeans and a sweatshirt by the time I arrived. When the front door opened there was a plainly irritated girl and two not terribly friendly looking parents. I pleaded my case, my girl got back into her nice clothes, and we ended up having a very nice evening together. Eventually we were married, and still are! I should mention that this was before the time of cell phones, and I couldn't even find a pay phone. So the only really stupid thing I did was to get lost in the first place. It did make for a good conversation piece later on.

Have A Plan - But we're getting a little ahead of ourselves. Before arriving for the first date, you need to plan as to where you are going and what you are going to do, and the girl needs to be in on the plans. You need to take the lead on this. Don't make the girl figure out where you're going, unless she has already expressed some particular desire. It's up to you to make a suggestion, even two. It can be something as simple as going for a walk or a drive, but have a destination in mind if that's the case. The date may be conversation over coffee or drinks, or an inexpensive dinner in a cozy restaurant, but be specific. You can always ask if there is a place she would rather go to. Dinner in a fancy expensive restaurant is generally not a good idea. It puts pressure on your date, and is often not the greatest place for casual conversation. Neither is the movie theater for that matter. You really want to get to know your date, not stare at the screen for 90 minutes. In other words, have a plan. (continued...)