YourTango Online Dating Bootcamp: Day Seven

Day Seven of YourTango's online dating bootcamp focuses on everyone's favorite subject: the first date. First dates are nerve-wracking for just about everyone, and if you don't feel at least the tiniest bit nervous about meeting someone for the first time, you may want to put two fingers to your wrist and check your pulse.

The pressure can be a little overwhelming, but dating experts Jenn Burton and Dina Colada are here to help. Here are their top tips 20 for flawless first dates:

1. Safety first. Meet in public, take your own car, and be sure a friend knows where you are. For maximum safety, Burton also suggests giving a friend your date's phone number and email address.
2. Be yourself. Don't leave all the decisions up to your date. Speak your mind about what you'd like to do and where you'd like to go - your date will appreciate that you've taking some of the pressure off of them, and they'll get a few more clues about who you are.
3. Do something fun. The first reason is obvious: the likelihood of him wanting a second date correlates directly with how much fun he has with you. The second reason is a little less obvious: he wants to know what gets you excited. Try to replace traditional dinner-and-a-movie dates with activity dates, like a concert or a sporting event, that ease tension, encourage conversation, and give you a little more insight into each other.
4. Wear something comfortable. The hottest outfits are the ones that make you feel comfortable and beautiful. Real sexiness comes from wearing clothing that fits and flatters, not from wearing the latest trend or the skimpiest clothing possible.
5. Be positive. Not every first date will kick off with instant chemistry, but that doesn't mean that chemistry won't come at all. Sometimes it takes time, so wait until the date is over before casting your Simon Cowell-like judgment on your date. "Chemistry is more likely to develop when you quit obsessing over everything you think is wrong with him and find out what is right," says Burton.
6. Don't forget to flirt. I know you're nervous, but don't let those nerves get the better of you. Being playful and fun are two major pluses on a first date. A little teasing and a little banter go a long way.
7. Don't reveal too much too fast. If the relationship works out, you've got an entire lifetime to get to know your date, so take things slowly. There's no need to lay all your cards on the table right away.

There's more where that came from...stay tuned for the rest of Jenn and Dina's tips for flawless first dates.

Related Story: YourTango Online Dating Bootcampe: Day Six

Related Story: YourTango Online Dating Bootcamp: Day Seven (Part II)