Tips!

What makes this night different from all other nights?
or:
A date by any other name would just be another night of you not getting laid

We know you are itching for our first specific date recommendations. That will happen next week; one thing at a time, America. This week- Date Tips!

This is a date; an adventure that you and your main squeeze are taking together. Make it special. It doesn’t have to be extravagant or ooey-gooey romantic. It just has to feel separate from the rest of your week.


PREPARATION

Make a decision. “I don’t know, what do you want to do?” repeated more than once in any serious fashion, is the death quote of a date. Pick something fun. Go for it. Don’t be afraid your date isn’t going to like what you have planned. If you live in fear, you’ll never get to second base.

Do your homework. Cost, reservations, parking… the surprises you get on the date should be fun, not frustrating.

Have a plan. Mapquest/ Yahoo maps/ Google maps is your friend, ALWAYS KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING.

The Bankroll. Don’t spend too much, don’t spend too little; don’t pick a date that is going to make you anxious about spending money all night. Pick a date in your financial comfort zone.

Make it a sweet ride. Your car doesn’t have to be fancy. Any date that would care about the actual type of car that you drive is lame and not worthy of the awesome date you are about to take them on. However, take out the wax paper your hamburger came in. Make sure it doesn’t smell like a hangover. And pick some tunes that set up the mood for the date.

Look Good. Even if it is a casual date, even if you have been seeing each other for years. Smell good. Change your outfit. Trim/shave. You know.

Always have a plan B. The plan B includes a first aid kit, road flares and an epi-pen. For real, though, get yourself a Thomas Guide and a current LA Weekly- if you have those two things, you can save any date.



EXECUTION

Mind your manners. We’re not talking finishing school, but etiquette is critical. Opening car doors, saying “thank you” and making eye contact all seem totally obvious, but their power can never be underestimated.

Get your confidence on. Besides a Thomas Guide, confidence is one of the most important things to have, and while one of the most elusive, it can be the sexiest. A little bit goes a long way and will make the other person feel more at ease. You don’t want them to worry about you, just enjoy you.


Who pays? This is one of those things that has become more and more unclear. Times have changed, but in our experience, we tend to keep with the old-fashioned trend of the guy paying for the majority of the date. If the lady feels uncomfortable, or she just wants to do something nice for her fella, other arrangements can be made. Tips, parking, drinks, coffee, tickets, etc. are all things that can be split, shared, or deferred.

Same sex couples aren’t any different, but the person taking the other out is usually the captain of that ship.

Remember, wherever you are, make your own fun. Stuck in traffic, sold out of the concert or dealing with terrible service as you wait an eternity for an iced tea refill… no problem, you are with someone you like (hopefully) so have fun.

LUCKY-YOU-TION

Wanna’ come back to my place? Don’t get ahead of yourself, Cowboy.

Follow the barefoot rule. Always. Your pad should be clean enough that anyone would be comfortable being barefoot in there. That means no hair on the bathroom floor, and white socks should not be black after walking from the kitchen to the den(You have a den? Nice.). Hardwood floors? Get yourself a Swiffer. It is easy and takes two seconds.

The barefoot rule is important! While tonight may not be your lucky night, we all know where we want to end up, so keep in mind that you may want “barefoot” to become “bare.”

Can I offer you some…Have wine, coffee and tea at the ready, as well as some sort of treat. That is a good rule for any night, not just date night.



Dating shouldn’t be every blue moon, but you don’t have to go out for steak and lobster three times a week. Later on we’ll talk about big dates and little dates, and how the little dates matter just as much as the big fancy ones.

Just remember to be yourself, be comfortable and conscientious, and adventurous- you’re on the date too, right?