Blind Date Basics

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.