Getting into dating shape - Tips on Tiptoeing back onto the dating scene.
Not much can get the stomach squirming as that all-important first date. Especially if you havenÂ’t dated in a while and are going out with someone you might like to see again. No matter what, donÂ’t take it, or yourself, for granted. For a first date to go smoothly, The Right One and Together Dating offer these tips to help you prepare.
(PRWEB) June 16, 2004
Not much can get the stomach squirming as that all-important first date. Especially if you havenÂ’t dated in a while and are going out with someone you might like to see again. No matter what, donÂ’t take it, or yourself, for granted. For a first date to go smoothly, you have to prepare.
Why? Simply put, first appearances make huge impressions. If you are setting up the date and have no concrete plans, or if you arrive at your destination then are at a loss for words, your date will not be impressed. And rightfully so. The act of dating implies social interaction between two people. So be prepared to carry out your end of that obligation.
Think ahead of time about conversations youÂ’d like to have. Run through some topics that interest you, from your work, family and hobbies to current events. This isnÂ’t to say you should be able to give a dissertation about the impact of Bedouin tribes on Iraqi politics. But people usually want the people theyÂ’re seeing to be reasonably well-rounded. And chatting easily about headline news as well as why you like golf (or crochet, or traveling, or gardening, etc.) increases the comfort level of both parties.
Just as you should be prepared to chat, also be ready to listen. “The best conversationalists are good listeners,” says Paul Falzone, CEO of The Right One and Together Dating, the world’s largest dating service. “Listening closely, and asking pertinent questions about what your date is talking about, shows you care. You and your date should be talking about things that interest you. If it’s important to your date, then you owe the courtesy of listening well. Besides, you can score some big points by being truly interested.”
Falzone also says it’s imperative to play it straight on a first date. “Acting or carrying on false pretenses will surely backfire with the person who is just getting to know you,” he says. “Be yourself, be honest, be sincere. That doesn’t mean don’t have fun. Having fun together is what dating is all about. Just don’t try to be someone or something you’re not. That will backfire every time.”
Both parties should understand what the date is to entail. An invitation to go out to dinner does not mean having a picnic in the park. And different restaurants imply different attire, so mention the restaurant by name when planning a date. An outfit just right for Jerry’s Wild Irish Saloon would likely be inappropriate for dinner at the Ritz. Being under - or over-dressed can be embarrassing. And whoever does the inviting should plan to do the paying. On subsequent dates you might want to trade off on expenses. Talk about it. Finances are part of your reality, so be up front about what you can – and can’t – afford.
And don’t feel you have to stick by the old dating standard of dinner and a movie, Falzone says. Be creative, if moderately so. Cliff climbing is a bit extreme for a first time out. But viewing a gallery opening and reception for a local artist might be just the thing. Or taking in a comedy production by a nearby repertory company (nothing too heavy until you know your date’s likes and dislikes) could precede cocktails or coffee at a café.
“One of the keys to successful dating is being courteous,” Falzone says. “Confirm your date, be on time and conclude it comfortably. If you want to see each other again, great. If not, that’s OK too – not every date leads to another. Go into it with no expectations, and be sure to end it on a polite note.”
Unlike in the movies and on TV, not every date ends with a kiss. “A kiss should be meant for someone you care about and is not automatic on first dates,” Falzone says. “A warm smile, a lingering look or a meaningful handshake with a sincere ‘thank you’ each says you had a good time. And they plant the seed of future discovery while keeping the interested party intrigued. It’s OK to move slowly. The ideal date leads to more dates and increasing interest in each other. Where that leads is up to you.”
Finding Love from Sea to Shining Sea
The merger of The Right One® with national franchises of Together® created the world’s largest introduction service. The alliance is a marriage of convenience for clients – offering a more consistent product, a greater number of potentially compatible mates and more flexibility in transferring memberships to another geographic region.
Today, with an ambitious plan to open 12-24 new offices a year, Together and The Right One have more than 125,000 members – many of whom have their memberships on hold while they take the time to explore a successful relationship. With more than 500 employees, Together® and The Right One® gross more than $45 million a year in revenue.
ROMANTIC LOCATIONS
The Right One has offices and affiliates located throughout the United States, including: California (San Diego), Colorado (Colorado Springs, Denver), Florida (Boca, Tampa), Georgia (Atlanta), Hawaii (Honolulu), Illinois (Chicago, Springfield, Peoria, Rockford, Downers Grove and Bloomington), Iowa (Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Bettendorf), Nebraska (Omaha and Lincoln), New Hampshire (Bedford), New Jersey (Cherry Hill and Hackensack), Massachusetts (Hingham, Chestnut Hill, Shrewsbury and Woburn), Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Monroeville), Rhode Island (Warwick), Wisconsin (Madison, Appleton and Milwaukee), and Texas (Dallas and Austin).
North American locations and affiliates of Together are located in: California (Encino, Irvine and Los Angeles), Florida (Palm Beach), Indiana (Ft. Wayne, Indianapolis and South Bend), Kansas (Wichita and Kansas City), Louisiana (New Orleans), Maryland (Columbia and Frederick), Minnesota (Minneapolis), Nevada (Reno), New Hampshire (Hooksett, Nashua, Portsmouth and Salem), New Jersey (Bridgewater, Clark, Colts Neck and Lawrenceville), Ohio (Cincinnati), Pennsylvania (Mechanicsburg and Doylestown), South Carolina (Greenville), South Dakota (Sioux Falls), Texas (Dallas, San Antonio, Beaumont and Houston), and Virginia (Falls Church).
For more information about The Right One and Together Dating and Together Dating, please visit their websites at www. therightone. com and www. togetherdating. com, or call
(800) 348-DATE (3283).
(EditorÂ’s note: For interviews with the colorful and articulate Paul A. Falzone, CEO of The Right One and Together Dating and author of a recent book on the history of dating, please contact Steve Dubin, PR Works, at (781) 878-9533, or by e-mail at sdubin@prworkzone. com).
