You’ve got a friend who wants to hook you up on a blind date, but you’re not so sure. You’ve never been on one, and you’ve heard horror stories from your friends. But you really want to meet someone and have a good time. Can blind dates be successful?
Absolutely! With the right planning, preparation and our blind date advice, you can amaze your date and have a great time. And best of all, you could just end up with a second date. All you need to do is relax and keep in mind these great blind date tips!
Blind Date Tips:
Planning a blind date
It’s never a good idea to go out for a meal on a blind date. If you’re not hitting it off, being tied down to dinner can result in a few hours of torture. Instead, meet up for drinks or coffee. Drinks and coffee can end any time, or they can easily be turned into dinner. And if you’re picking the spot, make sure you pick a place you’ve been to before. Make sure it’s not a place where you’re likely to run into everyone you know. That way you’ll be familiar with the drinks and food, but won’t have your date continually interrupted by your friends coming up to say hi. And ask around to see if your friends have any ideas for blind dates.
It’s also a good idea for each of you to drive your own car to your location. That way, if things aren’t working out, you can save yourselves the awkwardness of a silent drive back home.
Getting ready for a blind date
You’ve picked a great location and arranged to meet your date there. But now you’re getting nervous and obsessing about small things – what to wear, how to do your hair. Relax! The best thing to do is to dress nicely but casually. Wear something you feel comfortable in. Something that you think makes you look your best. It’s best not to go out and buy something new. Stick with something tried and true.
For guys, slacks or nice jeans with a button down shirt is a great outfit. For girls, nice jeans, slacks or a cute skirt with a nice shirt or blouse is great. Just remember not to show too much skin. First impressions are hard to get over, and you don’t want to give the wrong impression. It’s important to be well-groomed and put together. Blind dates are the ultimate first impression. You don’t want to miss out on more dates because you sent the wrong message!
The blind date
So, the date has started. Your date has arrived and you’ve ordered drinks and started talking. This is where things can go horribly wrong or wonderfully right. It’s all about your blind date etiquette. Remember that the key to a successful blind date is good conversation. A boring person is someone who talks only about themselves, but an interesting person is someone who asks good questions and listens well. Don’t ask “yes�? or “no�? questions. Ask questions that require a full answer, like “what do you like about your job?�? “Where do you like to travel?�? “What are some of your favorite movies/books/songs and why do you like them?�? Questions like that will get the conversation rolling and show your date that you really are interested in getting to know them.
And stay away from topics like religion and politics. Also, don’t tell crude jokes or use offensive language. This is your one shot at making a good impression, and you want to be on your best behavior.
Picking up the bill
The waitress comes by and drops the bill. There’s a moment of mortification and confusion: Who pays the bill? Do you split it? Guys, the best rule of thumb is for you to pay. If she offers to pay half, refuse just once. Politely say that you’ve had a great time and you’d really like to pick up the tab. If she insists, don’t push it. Let her split the bill with you.
Saying goodnight
The date is ending, and it’s time to say goodbye. If you’ve had a great time, be sure to let your date know. Be honest – tell them you had a great time and you’d love to see them again. Even set up date number two. But if you don’t want to have a second date, be honest about that, too. You don’t want to set up expectations that aren’t going to happen, like, “I’ll see ya around�? or “I’ll give you a call sometime.�?
Above all, end things on a high note. Some blind dates can last too long because no one is sure when or how to end things. You don’t have to stay out for four or five hours. It’s actually best to stay out for a few hours and end when you’re both having a good time. This way, you’ll both be left wanting more, and second date will follow quickly.
Blind date problems
There are times that no matter what you do, your blind date doesn’t go well. Here are some common blind date problems and what you can do to minimize them:
. . . your date doesn’t show.
You’re at the bar you guys picked out, but your date is ten minutes late. Fifteen minutes late . . . how long should you wait around? A good rule of thumb is twenty minutes. After you’ve waited twenty minutes, you can leave. And don’t worry about calling your date. They are the ones who should be calling you.
. . . your date is NOT what you expected.
Your date shows up and is not what you expected. As a matter of fact, they’re rude and you are having a horrible time. How can you skip out politely? Just be honest. Let the person know that things are going like you expected and you’d like to go home. If you skip out or use a lame excuse, your date could keep trying to contact you to set up another date. This way, you can let them know how you feel and end your contact with them.
. . . your date brings a friend with them.
Is this a brush-off? Or were they just nervous? You’ll be able to tell if they’re brushing you off if all they do is talk to their friend. If this happens, stick around for a while and then politely excuse yourself after a drink or two. If your date is talking mostly to you and listening to you, then call up a friend to come over. That way your friend can talk to your date’s friend so you can have more one-on-one time with your date.
Blind dates get a bad rep as being disastrous. However, many blind dates end up in good relationships and can even lead to marriage. Having a successful blind date is all about planning, being polite and showing interest in the other person. If you follow the blind date tips above, you can have a successful blind date. And hopefully, a successful second date.
