Preparing For Your First Video Date
When face to face meetings weren’t allowed, it greatly impacted the dating world as we know it. As a result, many people started to get creative. Instead of going on real dates, they decided to improvise and started talking from home instead. It’s a really easy way to work out if someone is worth seeing in the real world. It can be done by phone or through a webcam. Many people are now completely used to talking on Zoom and the trend has continued.
Having a video date is now completely normal. It started with “Netflix and Chill” online with individuals syncing their TV watching. Couples who had been dating for short periods of time are likely who thought up video dating in an attempt to still be seeing each other. Now, there are many uses for video chat, including professionals tuning in.
If you’re not a technical person, don’t worry. Many dating apps, which you likely use already, are equipped with the ability to video chat. This was implemented during the pandemic, but will hopefully be a staple in the future. Meeting through video is a great way to reduce anxiety. Primarily because you’re in your personal space. You’re not vulnerable. You have the ability to be comfortable where you are.
Setting
You want your date to know a little bit about you by looking at your setting. This can be tricky if you’re living with other people. Perhaps you can ask them for privacy during the date. If not, find a quiet space that you can really make your own. Since you’re likely to be chatting from your cellphone, you can go anywhere. Make yourself comfortable because that’s the first step. Once you’ve found somewhere comfortable and quiet, it’s time to start decorating. Place things around your space that mean something to you. Maybe skis if you’re into that. Maybe you’ll place your favorite movies on a shelf over your head. If you’re a painter, you might have an easel. One or two things would be helpful. Anything over 5 will start to feel like clutter, which you don’t want.
You can skip this step if you want, but it does help to showcase who you are. The last part of setting is your lighting. If you have a ring light, you don’t need to worry about lighting. If not, you need to make sure there’s enough light to see your face, but not enough that you’re overexposed. You can even set out a few candles to create a mood. Just make sure you don’t forget about them! You can also put on a lo-fi playlist to add to the ambiance you’re creating.
Video Date Presentation
Although you’re going to be meeting over video chat, that doesn’t mean you want to broadcast in your pajamas. You can always try that after a few dates, but put the effort into your first one. Prepare for the date in the same way you would if it was face to face. This means you want to dress nicely. You may choose to wear make-up too. You can even throw on a splash of perfume to make yourself feel good. Even though your date won’t be able to smell you, the aroma might be helpful in the atmosphere. You don’t have to go overboard, but it shows you’re putting the best foot forward. If you prepare like you’re getting ready for a first date, your brain may believe it’s the real deal. The way you present yourself is about both your date and yourself.
Connection
One of the reasons a video date is recommended is that they are more personal than simply texting. It’s hard to get to know someone through text and the occasional exchanging of pictures. It’s not personal enough. You’d miss out on the little quirks that make people truly unique. You may also miss out on the red flags that tell you to stay away from someone. Through video dating, you’re able to make more of a connection.
If you want to show that you’re a great catch and serious about finding someone, you have to take these dates seriously. At first, you might feel like chatting through a screen is silly. You’ll soon see that you can have a lot of fun with these video dates.
