Whether you’re in a sorority, on an athletic team, or part of any other group on campus, the date party is likely familiar cause of excitement (or panic) for any collegiette. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably spent a fair amount of time figuring out what to wear, how you’ll do your hair, and, the crucial part: who you’ll bring. For many of us, classes, extracurriculars and other day-to-day obligations have forced boys onto the backburner, leaving girls everywhere with a sense of desperation when the time comes to find a date.
For this reason, we have come to increasingly rely on being set up by friends. In theory, this sounds great – have a date picked out for you with little to no effort on your part, show up, and have a great time. In unfortunate reality, however, it also may present some troubling thoughts: Will he like me? Will it be awkward? Will he hit on my friends as I awkwardly sit by the dance floor wanting to bury my head in a hole, ostrich-style? I have seen some of these worries come to fruition, but it doesn’t have to be like this any more! Here are some tips to avoid awkwardness, make your date your biggest fan for the night, and have a blast with your friends like you’re supposed to:
1. Start with a clean slate.
One of the best things about being set up with a date is that he probably doesn’t know that much about you, so you can be the person you want to be from the start. Think of it as you, only better. Because he doesn’t have any preconceived notions of what you’ll be like, you can play up your good personality traits and own them. Since it’s your date party, you’re in control.
2. Be prepared.
A good way to keep conversation flowing smoothly is to have a few go-to topics or questions in mind before you meet your date. That way, if there’s a pause in the conversation, you can move onto something else without scrambling for things to say. Asking about your date is usually a good place to start, because he’ll see that you are interested and likely as you some of the same questions.
3. Be confident!
Remember, your friends wouldn’t set you up with one of their friends if they thought you were lame! Make sure you give yourself every reason to feel great that night: give yourself a facial, do your nails, listen to your Britney Spears albums, whatever it takes. When you walk into a room with a big, sparkling smile on your face, there’s no way your date won’t be excited to go with you. On the same note, nobody will want to be your date if you wouldn’t want to be your own!
4. Make friends.
If the night goes well, which it should, make sure you keep in touch with your date. Maybe something will come of it, and even if it doesn’t, knowing him will be a great stepping-stone to meeting more guys and getting more dates. Who knows, maybe at the next party you’ll be the one setting up all your friends!