The dating game has changed. It’s quite a bit different now than it was just a couple of generations ago. Then, the first date inevitably took place at the local diner and you were married by the third. Our individual quests for love have become as diverse and strange as life itself. Ideas for a first date can be a little more complicated these days.

First dates are a lot like job interviews: look nice, make a good impression and lie a whole lot. It’s spending an entire evening with someone you hardly know, being on your best behavior and vigorously selling yourself. All the while, you’re silently hoping the person across from you is the love of your life.

That concept may seem ridiculous – even insane – but dating is also the fun, time-honored way to meet other people. There is an art to first date success and the first brush stroke is deciding on the ideal location.

It is not unusual to want the first date to be an adventurous one. It’s natural to want to showcase your diverse interests, active lifestyle and worldly knowledge in an attempt to invoke a desired impression. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to truly get to know someone while bungee jumping off a cliff or snoring at the symphony. It’s just too aggressive of an approach. When it comes to first dates, low key is the key.

Stuck? Kick things off with one of these.

Dinner and a Movie

There is a reason that dinner and a movie is a classic combination. It has been tested. It works. This also offers a lot of choice in terms of types of cuisine. The joy of food is universal. Talk about the menu, other restaurants, what type of foods you enjoy cooking – it comes naturally. Independent movie houses are also a fun idea! Plus, they’re cosier and cheaper.

Museum

Museum visits aren’t just for 5th grade field trips. Museums are ideal as there is usually something that piques interest. Walking through a maze of historical artefacts and relics generates conversation by encouraging couples to share their thoughts.

Comedy Club

Try pairing evening drinks with a comedy show. Laughter lightens the mood and makes people more at ease. Best of all, your date equates the evening with laughter and fun without much work from you.

First dates should follow a certain protocol. Whoever does the asking does the planning. None of that wishy-washy “playing it by ear” or “seeing where the evening takes us” stuff. Be sure to take initiative and make concrete plans. Remember that your first date does not have to be the best date in the history of the universe.

Think safe date ideas. This is not to say that first dates are easy or require little planning. And just because a date is safe does not mean it can’t be original. Let’s face it: you don’t know this person very well. It’s best to save your fun and creative ideas for later. Recognize that not every date idea will work for everybody.

If you tend to get anxious about first dates, you can always try to ease your mood and enhance that of your partners with the use of pheromones. If you haven’t heard of them, pheromones are chemicals that are secreted through our sweat which release neurotransimtters that are believed to attract the opposite sex. While they’re not a love potion (if only there were such a thing!), some studies have shown that using pheromones leads to increased affectionate gestures, increased foreplay, and increased frequency of dates. Many large cosmetics firms now include these substances in their perfumes or colognes to help increase the appeal of the wearer.

Whether you decide to use pheromones to attract your date or not, the most important thing to remember is to keep your date simple and safe. First date location and activities must involve conversation but also offer a distraction; something to take the focus off the gruelling interrogation that is actually occurring. It will help ease awkwardness should the conversation lag or nerves overwhelm. Aim for environments that introduce conversational topics naturally!

Mastery of the simple is far more impressive than bumbling through an attempt to be overly romantic or entertaining. When planning first dates, it is wise to keep the plan simple and focus on getting to know each other. Keep it simple and really get to know the other person.