7 Tips for a Great First Date
By Jeff Cohen
Special to Yahoo! Personals
1. Make a Backup Plan
The weather can change quickly, restaurants can close for renovations,
and your tickets can turn out to be counterfeit. Have a backup plan in
mind in case your date takes an unexpected turn.
2. Plan a Short Date
No need to map out the rest of your lives together. Start with a
simple, 1-2 hour date. If things go well, you can always extend the date.
There's nothing worse than being on an all-day tour when you realized five
minutes into the date that you have no future together.
3. Be Punctual
There's no greater sign of disrespect than being late for your first
date. Get directions to your location, arrive early, and show your date
that you care about him or her and the plans you made.
4. Agree on the Dress Code
When planning the date, talk about the dress code for the particular
event. It can be embarrassing if one person shows up in a suit while the
other wears jeans and a sweatshirt.
5. Compliment, But Don't Over Do It
A few nice words make everyone feel special, but persistent comments
about the other person's looks, personality, body, etc., gets old and can
seem desperate.
6. Drink Responsibly
A few drinks may take the pressure off the date, but don't pretend
you're at a fraternity party. Drinking too much will likely bring out some
bad sides to your personality -- and that can't help your chances.
7. Balance Talking and Listening
Pay attention to the amount of time you spend talking versus listening.
If the scale is weighing in either direction, look to balance it out.
Follow
these simple first-date etiquette tips and you'll greatly improve your
chances for a second date.
