Posted on October 12, 2006 - by Administrator

How to have a Conversation on Your First Date

You know you have someone interested in you if you have scored a first date. First step accomplished. Now, what do you talk about on your date?

Besides deciding what to wear, what you say on your first date can be a real nerve racking experience. For some people, conversation comes naturally, even if the other person isn’t a real talker. For the rest of you, good news: you can mold yourself into the talker.

There is one major rule to first date conversations. Do not make a fool of yourself. This may sound obvious, but for some people, being overly anxious and nervous can really make a bad impression. Try to suppress all signs of nervousness.  All you have to do is be yourself and conversation will come naturally. Remove the thought of rejection from your head and avoid negative thoughts. Remember, if this date does not work out, then so be it!

Those awkward silences will happen. Blurting out the first thing that comes to mind will not help! Better to have a few seconds of silence than to say something you will regret. There are little things you can do to help you get through the silence. For instance, sipping your drink can grant you a couple of precious seconds to think of something to ask or say to keep the conversations going. Keep in mind, if you are being yourself, you will eventually find things in common, which will make for more conversation than you can get out in one night. You know what happens then… second date!

There are many things that can get a conversation going. Make a quick observation of your date. If he or she is the intellectual type, current events can be a great topic to begin with. Talk about your job and how happy or discontented you are with your career. You can also share your experiences. Something funny that has happened to you may be a good conversation starter. Ask your date about their hobbies and what interests them. Always reply with comments or follow-up questions to keep the conversation moving forward.

The popular “what’s your favorite” questions should not be missed. You can actually get to know a persons individual taste with this kind of question. Almost everybody loves traveling, so you can also talk about where you went on your past vacations. Your date might share some thoughts of a dream holiday as well, and who knows, you might even end up taking a vacation together!

After the first date, one can tell if the date went well on the basis of how the conversation went. Always prepare yourself with a mental list of the possible things you can talk about. The key to a successful first date is to be yourself, and if you can accomplish that, everything else will be a piece of cake.