Tips for your first date

Even if you are going on your second, third or twenty-seventh date, with a new person, it is always a first date. So it might be useful to brush up on your dating skills a little.
You have already done most of the work – you have contacted someone, talked to them and received their telephone number and a date when the two of you will meet. So you are actually going on your first date now. You can do much to prepare your date, to make the date a pleasant one (and hopefully secure a follow-up date).

Where can you meet

For your first date, you do not want a lot of pressure. So take it lightly. Lunch is a good option; it usually lasts one to two hours and there is no obligation to stick around if you are not comfortable. If things run smoothly, you can still go on somewhere else.
If you choose to go out for dinner, make sure the restaurant you pick will not dim the lights and soften the music if you did not plan the date to be a romantic one.

Prepare your date ahead of time

Silence makes many people feel more or less uneasy, but you can avoid most of the awkwardness in a by preparing yourself a little. Why not read a one or two newspapers to brush-up on celebrity gossip and current affairs? This will give you plenty of material to keep a nice conversation going.
To prepare your date well, it may be helpful to jot down four or five interesting topics and keep them handy. Most probably, you will find that you do not need them; just knowing that they're there is enough.
The beginning can be the most difficult part of all. Take down two or three things you could say at the start of your conversation, possible an ice-breaking joke (make sure it is not about the person you are meeting or someone they like), or something funny about how you got to the meeting site. It may even be useful to prepare a beginning, middle and end for your conversation on your first date.

Suggestions for a first date Conversation

Introductory Conversation

You could ask them a question about the menu, food or wine they like, their work, and if they enjoy it.
What would you like to drink?
Do you fancy wine with the meal?
Is there anything on the menu you have never had before and would be curious about trying?
Where do you live? Did it take you long to get here?
What kind of work do you do? Do you like your job?

Getting to Know your Date Better

Why not ask a question about favourite pastimes, travel or anything they've mentioned previously that could be expanded on:

• Do you have hobbies?
• Do you like to travel? What places did you visit?
• Are you going on a holiday this year?
• Which place would you most like to go to? What makes this place so interesting for you?

And for dessert

If you are still interested in the person you met, now is your time to secure a follow-up date. An opportune question to ask is:
What was the last movie you have been to? Anything on at the moment you would like to see? (No matter if you have seen it already, just say: "Oh I'd love to go to that") And if your date is interested, they may say something like: "Incidentally, I was planning to go and see it next week. You are welcome to join me."
Never mind if you do not like the movie they picked. The fact is you have secured a second date and when next week comes you can always say "I'm not in a cinema mood. How would you like going for a drink instead?"

Five tips for success

1. prepare your date: have a few conversation topics and questions handy.
2. Listen to your date with unfeigned interest.
3. Ask them questions - talk about the food, the people, anything that might get a light conversation going.
4. Keep in mind that you are a salesman selling yourself on the first date – be positive!
5. You have worked hard to go on this date with this person, so think happy and enjoy yourself!

Now stop reading and give your new dating skills a test!