Going on a blind date can be a very daunting experience. You’re arranging to meet someone you’ve never seen before and you know nothing about (except what the person who set up the blind date has told you). You don’t know what to expect, whether the person will like you, whether you will like them or even if you will have anything in common.

There are certain steps you should take when going on a blind date, both to make the situation more comfortable and to ensure your safety. Firstly meet in a place where there are lots of people (e.g. a wine bar, coffee shop etc.) An intimate atmosphere is a little too much for a blind date situation, so keep it casual. Secondly, if you can, get a friend or a few friends to be at the same place at the same time. They should not acknowledge you, but simply be there as a safety net in case anything goes wrong. If you can’t get someone to be there, at least ensure that you tell several people where you are going and what time for safety reasons – don’t forget, you won’t know this person.

Make sure that your first meeting is going to be a short one. You should try and meet up during a lunch hour if possible, so that you have an excuse to make a quick getaway if things turn sour. If you can only meet up on an evening, then arrange for someone to call you on your mobile. This way, if things aren’t going well, you can make your excuses. If they are going well, you can let your friend know and stay for the duration of the date.

Whilst you’re on your blind date make sure you don’t try and put on an act. You don’t want to start the relationship off with lies and deception, particularly if you want to keep seeing the other person. Simply be yourself and let your blind date accept you for who you are. You should also make a point of listening to what your date is saying. You won’t know anything about the person prior to the meeting, so by listening carefully to what they have to say you could pick up about what they are like.

And when the time comes to say goodbye to your blind date (assuming that you haven’t made an early escape!) don’t be afraid to let the person know if you want to see them again. Your blind date may not be sure whether you want to repeat the experience, and if you don’t take the necessary action by arranging another date you may not get the opportunity again.

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