First off we should note that a blind date is by no means the last resort of the despaired and disappointed ones. In fact, it is quite possible to meet the man/woman of your dreams on a blind date. Psychologists have been studying the behavior of married couples and the nature of their relationship. The result of this research is most likely going to surprise you: the majority of couples replied that they have been introduced to each other by their mutual acquaintances to the question of how they met.

However, blind dates do not always lead to a happy ever after. They may turn into a real torture, slowly but steadily growing into a disaster. All of us could share a horror story or two about a blind date going wrong. However, if you prepare yourself and follow our simple advice, you might actually find yourself having a fun time.

1. No Expectations. First of all, do not turn down the possibility of being set up. Chances are, if your friend is saying they know someone who would be great for you, they might be right. And even if they are wrong and it doesn’t work out, there is still a possibility you might make a great friend. However, try going into a blind date with no expectations at all. Having low expectations might make you negative and you will just keep looking for anything that is wrong with your date. Having high expectations might leave you disappointed if the person is not what you pictured in your head. So to avoid this, do not try to imagine how the person looks like, unless you have a recent picture in your hand, and accept what you get. Even if your date is not a looker, they might have a great personality and you will still enjoy your time together. Let’s face it, you might not be what they expected either.

2. Location, Location, Location. Always meet your date in a public place for safety reasons. Try to pick a good casual spot for your date, some place where you could talk, get to know each other, form an opinion about each other and have a good time. Going to the movies or any other place where you would have to sit quietly is not a good idea, just as going to a rock concert or a restaurant with loud music is not a good idea as well. Going for drinks or coffee is a great option for the blind date since there is less pressure and it won’t be expensive. If things go well, you can always go to dinner afterwards or set up a second date. You also want to try and keep your date under an hour, in case you don’t feel the spark there is no need to be stuck there for a long time. And if you like each other, again there is always that second date.

3. First Impression. Make sure to look your best and be dressed appropriately. This is a blind date, and this will be the first time the other person will see you, so make sure to make a good first impression. Take the time and effort to look good. Blind dates can be stressful, so make sure the clothes you are wearing make you feel comfortable and confident.

4. No Third Party. If the friend who introduced you to is present at the date, you are most likely going to feel awkward and embarrassed. They will try really hard to try and make things happen between the two of you and their efforts will just make things uncomfortable. If you want your friend to introduce you to each other, that’s great, but make sure you agree with them beforehand that they will leave in 15-20 minutes and let you spend some time alone.

5. Keeping the conversation flowing. Since you are being set up for this date, ask your mutual friend for some information about your date. What are their interest, hobbies, what do they do for a living, their background are just some ideas. This will come in handy if there is an uncomfortable pause in the conversation. You want to keep the conversation light and smooth. Don’t ask "yes or no" questions. If your date answers in that way, do not be afraid to ask "why?", they will feel like you are really interested in what they have to say. However, do not try to just say anything to fill the silences. It is ok to have some breaks in the conversation. However, if you and your date seem to have radically different opinions on many issues, then a long lag in a conversation might be the sign of an end of the date.

6. Plan Your Escape. Since it is a blind date, you do not have a lot of information about the other person. The date might turn out to be a disaster, so you always want to plan your exit strategy beforehand. Ask a friend to give you a call at a specific time with an emergency that will get you out of there, and if you don’t pick up the phone that would be code for the date going well.

7. Ending the Date. Even if everything is going great, you still don’t want to linger on your first date. You might consider making some plans, so that you actually do have a legitimate reason to bring the date to a natural conclusion. If the date went good, make sure to tell the other person that you had a great time and would love to meet again. And if you are not interested in having a second date, be honest and tell them straight up that you do not think you have much in common.

A blind date is a great way to start a relationship and it can actually be lots of fun as long as you follow our simple tips. So take your chances, go out on a blind date and enjoy yourself!