Being yourself and having a sense of humor is right on the money.
When you act yourself, that is a sign of respect to the woman. It sends the message that "I am confident enough in who I am that I can be relaxed and just be who I really am."
This is a key to getting that girl you want. if you act like yourself and she doesn't care for you, than it was not meant to be. Another thing to consider is that building a relationship is a process. During the beginning dates, you are not looking for a commitment, but just getting to know who the person is, and what she enjoys doing. So, don't worry if she is "the one" or not on the first dates. Just be a gentleman and enjoy yourself.
Good luck and i hope that this helps.