How do I get a date?

We can get a fabulous dinner easily enough...thank you Open Table!!! We can pick out the perfect car and get a great deal...thank you promotion at work. We even can get new living room furniture WITHOUT leaving the living room.

So, in this day and age of convenience and in a time in our lives when things are running just fine, why is it so hard to get a date?

The problem certainly isn’t that there AREN’T any potentials out there. We see plenty of attractive, well-dressed, successful looking individuals out there. So why don’t we get to meet them? The folks that we really want to meet that is, not the guy who still lives at home with his mom, or your friend’s trainer from the gym who is “really hot”. 

Now, more than ever it can be more difficult for successful people, particularly successful women, to find dates who measure up to their expectations. 

So how do we solve this dilemma? Well, at It’s Just Lunch Toronto, we’ve known how important it is to match our successful clients with quality individuals for more than 20 years. The secret of our success lies in knowing that creating lasting relationships is based on a date with someone who you really want to date again. So, let us set you up on a great date. All you have to do is just show up and enjoy. Mission accomplished. 

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Debunking Dating Myths, Part 1: Setting Expectations

For anyone going on a first date, there are lots of initial questions that can pop into one’s head, ranging from “will I be attracted to them in person?” to “what kind of plans should I make tonight?” It’s Just Lunch recently surveyed singles around the world to get a sense for the “state of the first date”.

Heightened expectations
Do looks really matter? Most people have natural attractions toward others based on hair color, skin color, body types, and so on. Even though we’re constantly inundated with images of sexy celebs and other attractive figures, most of the time we have a general idea of the type of person we like. Some people may have a specific type, while others are a little broader in their perspective—and having a firm opinion either way is a good thing!

However, we did ask both men and women a simple question that seems to come up time and time again. Does height really matter?  The results aren’t surprising. Typically, two out of three men want to date women who are shorter than they are, and they believe women want the same thing. Ladies, you overwhelmingly responded that you’d like to date guys who are taller, and believe men are on the same page. So what’s the takeaway if we all already knew this? Guys, do not fib about your height before going on a date. Adding an inch or two (no pun intended) really won’t help your cause, from a statistical standpoint.

However, when it comes to sheer attractiveness, women may not have guys figured out after all. We separately asked men and women if guys prefer looks to brains. Most women believe they do. However the guys told a different story: a majority of men would date someone who is smart over someone who just brings a pretty face to bring to the table. Ladies, use the power of wit and confidence to overwhelm your guy on a date.  Trust us, he’ll appreciate it.

The Money Question
When it comes to money, this question comes up on a date both directly and indirectly (and we’ll cover the direct part in a second.) According to our survey, both men and women candidly agreed that they want the other to make more money, which kind of brings us to an impasse. However, from what we can deduce, this isn’t about who brings home a larger paycheck. This is simply a matter of being on equal footing. While it’s nice to be able to pay for dinner or treat someone to an outing, it’s also nice to get some reciprocity once in a while.

On that note, our survey results revealed that seven out of ten women don’t always want the guy to pay the bill—and guys believed the same thing. Picking up the tab is certainly a nice gesture on a first or second dinner date, but it often isn’t required. The way we see it, if the guy picks up a tab at dinner; ladies, if you’re clicking along and having fun, treat him to an after dinner drink. Guys, if your date kindly insists on splitting the bill at dinner and you’re heading out for more fun, pick up her movie or drink tab later in the night.

To close out Part 1 of our survey, we asked both men and women the following question: “would women rather have champagne and lobster or burgers and a beer.” Again, the results were pretty clear on both sides, with 71% of men and an 82% of women responding that burgers and beers trump lobster and bubbly on a first or second date. Why? Simply put, the point of dating is to get to know someone. While it’s certainly important to impress, a nice yet casual dinner puts both men and women at ease and allows both personalities to emerge naturally. Head to a fancy restaurant, and you might not be as open as you think. Relaxed confidence is always sexy, so be human when you’re starting out and you might just click with your date better than you initially think.

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Glamour Mag Reveals Why Valentine's Day is Not Just For Ladies

Based upon an It's Just Lunch survey debunking Valentine's Day myths released earlier this month, Glamour magazine has reveals why the "Hallmark Holiday is more mutual than you might think."

The It's Just Lunch surveyed over 750 single men and women about Valentine's Day.  While many singles may view the days as "couples only" or even disparage it as a "Hallmark holiday," the survey suggested that many see the 14th as a day to try something new or even expand one's dating boundaries.

The article states that "rather than the dude taking it upon himself to plan the special day, 54% believe that the couple should plan the date together."

The article went on to highlight  that "a larger percentage of women said the best gift would be a certificate for an activity that both parties can enjoy together."

While going out is popular, one date idea is to cook the Valentine's Day meal together.
 
It's Just Lunch Toronto director Jacquie Brownridge suggests making a dish from a favorite vacation destination, homemade pizzas where you combined each of your favorite toppings or a recipe that reminds you of one of the first restaurants you visited.

Use the shared time in the kitchen to turn up the heat in your relationship. This is the time for you to interact on a personal level with your partner and even flirt a bit.   Be a good listener, make meaningful eye contact, smile, laugh, touch your partner and enjoy your time with your other half.

So, what are your plans for Valentine's Day?

Read the full article.

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Valentine's Day Guide to Finding a Dating Service

Is Cupid’s aim a bit off for you?  Thinking about turning to a dating service to redirect Cupid’s arrow in time for Valentine’s Day?

It’s Just Lunch, Vancouver’s premier matchmaking service, and director Jacquie Brownridge are offering tips for singles looking for a dating service.

Before You Start Your Search

Contemplating getting into the dating scene?  There are a few things a person should consider before beginning the search for a dating service.

• Know What You Want From a Dating Service
  Most dating services have the same goal – to get singles in touch with one another.  From speed dating to matchmaking, each service has its own unique spin or niche market.  Make sure you know the type of person you are searching for and find the service that fulfils your requirements
• Do Your Homework
  Do a little research before signing up or posting a profile.  The best way to learn more about a company is to read their privacy policy and “About Us” sections of their websites. 
• Dating Frame of Mind
  No matter the type or organization, dating is an investment of your time, energy and emotions.  Take stock of your life and what you have going on before committing.

Before You Join A Dating Service

You’ve narrowed down your options and selected the agency that will fit your dating needs.   The following is a list of questions you should ask ANY dating service before signing on the dotted-line:

• How long have you been in business? 
• What is your track record?  How do you define success? 
• Do you have special training? Qualifications? Awards?
• How many active members?
• What is the average age of your members? Ratio between men and women?
• If you live outside the metro area, ask how many members live in your area. 
• How do they select dates? 
• Ask the agency to put in writing the minimum number of introductions you will receive.  
• Ask the price before you attend an interview.

Dating 2.0: Matchmaking with a Modern Twist
It's Just Lunch specializes in matching busy professionals who would love to date but barely have the time for dinner -- let alone browsing online profiles, cruising the bars or enduring yet another blind date.

It's Just Lunch, with over 20 years of service and over 100 locations, minimizes the stress and maximizes the efficiency of dating by sending single professionals on casual, no-pressure dates over lunch, brunch or drinks after work.

It’s Private:  We respect your personal life.  You choose when you are ready to reveal your personal information to your date.  There are no online profiles and all of your information remains confidential.

It’s Real: IJL believes real chemistry happens face-to-face.  From the interview to the date, you will be meeting real people.  With IJL, you are guaranteed to go out on real dates with real people. 

It’s Personal: Our matches are selected by hand, not by a computer.  IJL’s award-winning matchmakers get to know their clients personally so they can make informed, intuitive matches.   We also feature relationship coaching and date feedback.

It’s Convenient:  We arrange a casual lunch or drinks after work that fits into both of your schedules.  We even choose the restaurant you’ll both enjoy and make the reservation.

It’s Flexible: For the busy executives who spend time in both Toronto and Vancouver, It’s Just Lunch offers a dual-membership for both regions.

It’s Time:   The only thing you have to lose is your single life. 

It’s Just Lunch is dating simplified.  We take care of the stressful, annoying and time-consuming parts of dating -- leaving the fun parts for you.

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