How to Ask Someone on a Date

Whether the other person is interested or not, you'll never know unless you ask. So gather up all your courage and follow these steps.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Answering Machines
• Telephones
• Dinner Reservations
• Museum Tickets
• In-line Skates
• Mountain Bikes

1. Introduce yourself to that person you've been admiring from afar.

2. Get the person's telephone number, or tell a common friend you would like the number.

3. Call. Choose a time that is not intrusive. Call when you are comfortable doing so, regardless of what your friends might say about the right time to call.

4. Reintroduce yourself once you're on the phone by saying something like, "Hey, it's Shirley. We met at the drag strip."

5. Using as little pretense as possible (ideally none), ask the person if he or she would like to get together for a cup of coffee or do something similarly casual. If you are politely refused, take the hint and get off the phone.

6. Meet casually for a brief time - half an hour or so. If that goes well, suggest a more formal date, such as lunch.

7. Go on the more formal date.

Tips & Warnings

• Besides getting a cup of coffee, some of the best ideas for a date are the things you love to do the most, such as going to an art museum or getting muddy on a mountain bike ride. This gives the other person a chance to get to know more about your personality.

• Humor is often the best remedy for rejection. Congratulate yourself for trying and move on.

• Going to see a movie is not a very good idea for a date; it shows a lack of creativity and does not allow the two of you to spend much time talking.