Here are more tips for enjoying your blind dates.
You don’t have to fall in love at first sight to have a successful blind date. Keep in mind that you are both probably nervous about being on a blind date, which may make you seem too shy or disinterested in each other. If neither of you is having a good time, it’s OK to end the date early and just agree that you weren’t right for each other, but don’t be too eager to give up on the date.
Be honest about your feelings towards your date. If things just didn’t work out, let them know rather than offering empty promises of future dates. Some people, especially women, are reluctant to tell the other person that they’re just not interested them in a romantic way, because they don’t want to hurt the other person’s feelings. But as long as you’re polite about it, it’s much better to tell them than to go on several more dates with them. That just builds false hopes, and makes them think you have a future together since you keep going on dates with them. I personally would much rather have someone turn down a date if she is really not interested in me.
Some people recommend bringing a friend along on a blind date. This can helpful for two reasons. If your blind date had any bad intentions towards you, bringing a friend along will help protect you. Also, a friend may be able to help you break the ice by getting the conversation started. The big problem with this is that bringing a third person on a date can be awkward or just plain weird. A date usually implies two people, so your blind date will probably be surprised or disappointed when you show up with a friend. To some people this arrangement would not be a date at all. There are at least two ways around this problem.
One alternative to bringing a friend is to make your blind date a double date. Rather than bring one friend with you, bring a couple. This gives you the protection of having them with you, but eases the awkwardness since it turns the group into two couples. If your blind date is going very well, you and your partner have the option of going off together and meeting the others later. This could be as simple as just taking a short walk away from your friends. Another option that is less awkward than taking a friend on your blind date is to simply meet have your friend introduce you to your blind date before the actual date. This could be at your friend’s home or a public place. Of course if you meet the person before the actual date, it’s no longer a blind date, but who cares?
It’s a good idea to end the blind date after two or three hours at most, even if the date is going well. (This is a good tip for any first date.) This is enough time for two people to get to know each other on a date and decide whether they want a second date with you. A first date is not the time to plan your entire future together. If you let the date run too long, it’s easy to run out of things to talk about. This situation quickly leads to boredom and negative feelings at the end of the date. These feelings unfairly get associated with the other person. Keep the blind date short to end the date on a positive note, which will leave you with more to talk about the next time.
Your blind date does not know you, so it’s important to be yourself. This is a good idea on any date but even more so on a blind date. It’s better to give your date true sense of yourself. Some people can get away with pretending to be something they are not, but this may cause trouble in the future when your date figures things out. Note that being yourself does not mean revealing all the skeletons in your closet or discussing your personal problems. Keep your conversation positive but honest.
Always treat your blind date with the same courtesy and respect that you would expect from them. Make an effort to arrive on time, be polite, and try to make your blind date a good experience for both of you.
Blind dating is really not much different from any other dating situation. Just follow the tips above, use some common sense, and have a good time. If you are fun, open, real, and show a genuine interest in your date you will be much more likely to get a second date. Even if they don’t want to go out with you again, your blind date may be able to introduce you to other people.
Don’t miss part one of this blind date article if you haven’t already read it.
