First Date Do's and Don'ts

First dates are very nerve racking and often leave us shy, silent and blowing are chances of getting a second one because we weren't prepared for this one. Here are some pointers to help you get the best start and make a good impression.
Do
1. Be on time - The last thing you want to do is make a bad impression on your date. If you are late they will think that you don't care and worse still might not hang around for you to turn up.
2. Make your partner feel comfortable - We all feel like a bag of nerves on our first date with someone; so by making them feel comfortable you will also be able to relax and enjoy yourself.
3. Be an interesting date - The worse thing you can do is turn up for a date with someone then sit there all night and talk or worse still talking and not making sense or having nothing good to talk about.
4. Laugh at their jokes - Even if you have heard the joke 100 times or more (or it just isn't funny at all) laughing a long with them will make them feel you are interested in them.
5. Keep the conversation alive - That dreaded silence when no one knows what to say can seem to last for a life time and will make both of you think the other is boring. Jot down a few questions you would like to ask. Practicing for the date can make all the difference and once you have started the rest will just follow. Here are a few conversation starters you could use.
6. Take an interest in them - Listen to them when they are talking. Be interested in what they have to say and show how interested you are by asking them questions about what they like to do etc..
7. Take them somewhere unique - First dates don't just have to be about going to the cinema or to a restaurant for a nice meal. You will make a longer, lasting impression if you are imaginative with your date.
8. Be confident - Confidence says a lot about a person. Being more confident will help you get through that first date with ease.
9. Be yourself - You won't fool anyone by pretending to be someone you are not. Also if you are wanting to continue seeing them, the real you will come out eventually and they may no longer be interested.
10. Most importantly - STAY SAFE. Check out our guide to dating safely
Don't
1. Be late - First impressions count and if you are late this will make them think of you as lazy, having lack of responsibilities, etc..
2. Talk about yourself all night - There is nothing worse then a person that loves to talk about themselves all the time. How vain can you get?
3. Talk about past relationships all night - May be that's how you lost the last one. Nobody wants to hear you drone on about your ex and what they did or didn't do. Concentrate on this one and see if you can get to the second date.
4. Eat with your mouth open - Just the thought of it makes my stomach turn so save your date the horrible experience.
5. Ask too many personal questions - This is your first date and they won't want to reveal to much about themselves just yet. If you like each other and want to continue with the relationship then there will be plenty of time to ask questions.
6. Try to be something you are not - You will only attract the way that you act and if that is not the real you, when the real you does come out the other person will not be interested. Find someone that will want you for you not for what you are pretending to be.
7. Forget to thank them for the date - Not only is this good manners but this is where you will get your chance to end it if you are not interested or for you to ask them out on another date if you would like to see them again.
8. Propose marriage or kids - Unless you don't want to see them again.
9. Pursue sex after your partner has said no
10. Don't get drunk - You don't want to spend half the night in the toilet vomiting and your date won't think much of you. You can also put yourself at risk of unwanted advances and will not be in the right frame of mind or body to do anything about it.

Blind Date Basics Info

Your friend has just set you up with a guy you have never met and know nothing about, except what she has told you. You have those fears. What if I don't like him or what if I like him but he doesn't like me. Well don't worry, we are here to help.
Keep an open mind
Remember this is a blind date. You have never seen this guy before. Don't form a mental image of him or have high expectations. You will only be disappointed if he is not how you imagined. You will know within the first few minutes whether you are attracted to him or not.
Keep it short but sweet
Don't arrange to meet at the cinema, for dinner or any where else hat could keep you together for more than an hour. Arrange to meet up for a coffee or during your lunch break. If you are not interested in the guy then you can make a quick exit if you have only agreed to meet for half an hour or an hour and if you do like him then you can stay where you are or arrange to meet up again.
Way out
It is crucial when on a blind date that you have an escape route. You could get a friend to call you 30 minutes into the date and if you don't like him you can make an excuse and leave and if you do like him then you can tell your friend to call you back later. (Remember to always let someone know where you are.) Or you could tell him that you promised your friend you’d go shopping an hour after you and he planned to meet. If the date is going well, pretend to go call her to let her know that "you’re not up to going shopping." Go shopping if you aren't interested. You could get some friends to turn up at the meeting point and if things aren't going well you can leave with them and if things are going well tell them you will meet up with them later.
Meet ‘n’ greet
One of the biggest mistakes people make when going on a blind date is trying to be someone they aren’t.
When meeting someone for the first time, be yourself. Whether that means going all out or remaining casual, your personality will shine through only if you’re not trying to be something you aren’t. While first impressions are important, do not feel the need to wear heels on a Sunday if you’d normally wear flip-flop sandals. He wants to know who you are; not who you think he wants you to be.
Better safe than sorry
While going on a blind date can be exciting and fun, remember that you have no firsthand knowledge about the person you are meeting. If you have been set up through mutual friends, they will most likely have a rough idea of your plans. But just in case, make sure someone knows exactly where and when you’re meeting.
If the person you are meeting is a complete stranger, however, you need to take even more precautions. Make sure someone knows your whereabouts, knows the name of the person you will be meeting, and how long the date is scheduled for. You may want to have a friend join you, or "run into you" about 15 minutes into the date to check up on you.
Who's paying
Make it clear from the start if you intend to pay for half of everything. You may not want to feel like you owe the guy anything.

Goodbye
Parting after a blind date has the potential to be very awkward, but it doesn’t have to be! Should you kiss him, if you like him? Should you tell him you aren’t interested? It’s always best to do whatever you think feels right. If you are interested in going out with him again, make sure he knows it and tell him that you will call. If you aren’t interested in seeing him again, make sure that you let him know. It’s better to be honest then stringing him along to false hopes.

Getting to know him
Pay close attention to the things he says, which can reveal a lot. Discussing taste in music, film, food, and art can be a great way to find out if you two have common interests—or nothing in common at all!
You should also look for common "warning signs" when on a blind date. If the guy does any of the following, watch out!
• Talks about his ex-girlfriend throughout the date
• Doesn’t offer to pay for the first date (or the second, or third…)
• Speaks badly about his mother or ex-girlfriends
• Treats the waiters, staff rudely or doesn’t tip
Remember not everyone's tastes are the same and there will be things about a guy that you do not like, such as baldness, lack of hygiene etc.. Theses are your own warning signs so don't ignore them.