How you conduct yourself on the first date will determine whether or not you get a second one.

If you really want to keep seeing this woman that you’ve worked so hard to find, here are the top 10 things not to do on your first date…

10. Put on an act

Many men will acquire the skills to attract a woman, but then screw things up by trying to be someone theyâre not on the date. Theyâll act richer, cooler, more ambitious, more rebellious or anything else they think will impress the woman.

Donât put on an act. Simply be the same guy she was first attracted to when you asked her out on a date. Not only can most women see right through the act, but youâll lose her trust early on, which will destroy the foundation of your budding relationship.

9. Discuss past relationships

Yes, you have a past and so does she, but a first date is not the time to talk about or complain about your ex. Right now she is living in a fairy tale (that line is very important. I recommend you read it again. She is living in a fairy tale with you) where she’s met her potential prince.

If you want to drown her dreams immediately, start trash-talking your ex. Not only will that remind her of your love for previous women, but it will show her how you might behave if you and her broke up.

If she asks you about your past girlfriends just say (in a friendly manner), âYeah, weâve all had previous relationships. Personally, Iâd rather enjoy this time with you now instead of talking about other womenâ¦wouldnât you?â

8. Use the “You remind me of⦔ line

Women like to feel as if they are unique and special to you. If you tell her that she reminds you of woman you liked but never got to have a relationship with, it can set off alarm bells in her mind. Sheâll think that you obviously still like the woman and given the chance, would probably leave her for the woman you couldnât score with.

Another bad idea is to compare her to your mother, sister, aunt, or, worse, your ex. No matter how much it was meant as a compliment, it’s going to turn her off.

7. Drink too much

You may be tempted to down an extra glass or two (or more) of alcohol to calm your nerves when you’re on a first date, but the more you drink the greater your chances are of doing or saying something stupid that insults your date or makes you look foolish.

The only exception is if youâre both having plenty of drinks together. In those cases, enjoy the drinks but make sure youâre still sober enough to perform your duties later on.

6. Forget to look your best

You don’t have to wear a tuxedo or a suit (unless your planned date calls for it), but you should put in some effort to look good. There is a fine-line here: Weâre not recommending you care âtoo muchâ about your appearance, but at least respect yourself by presenting yourself well.

Dress appropriately for the occasion, even if it’s just a casual date. She will undoubtedly go to a lot of trouble to look nice for you. The least you can do is return the favor by being properly groomed and wearing nice enough clothes.

5. Show up too late or too early

If you make the date for a set time, make sure you are on time. Arriving late (especially if you don’t call to say you’re delayed) is rude.

Picking up from her place: Arriving too early will not only make you appear over-anxious, you’ll likely catch her unprepared if youâre picking up from her home. If you arrive earlier than you planned, wait until your scheduled arrival time before you knock on her door.

Meeting her somewhere: Walk into the venue on time, not a minute later. Walk up to her in a confident, relaxed manner and with a smile, ask her she is doing and tell her how great she looks.

4. Stick to boring, polite conversation

When you’re on a first date, it’s not unusual to experience a few silences where either of you don’t know what to say next.

If you are worried about awkward silences or pauses, you might want to go to the date prepared to talk about a funny current event (not boring political or negative stuff), a cool new movie, TV show or a similar topic that will keep the conversation moving along or bring it back to life if it dies.

If you are stuck for something to say, the best option is almost always to get her to talk about herself and things sheâs passionate about. People love to talk about themselves when a great listener is present.

3. Talking on your phone for too long

Unless it’s a matter of life or death, there’s no reason to have a call interfere with your dateâ¦and that means no texting either. Your only focus should be on your date. If you need to keep your phone on and it happens to ring, check who is calling and if it’s not an emergency, hit the âend callâ button and ignore it. If it is one of your close friends, feel free to answer it, say hello and let them know that you’ll back a little later.

2. Forget to listen

A lot of guys make the mistake of trying too hard to come up with things to say, when if they listened to the woman and expanded on her conversation â theyâd never run out of things to say. Check out this article to learn 3 ways to keep a conversation going.

If she’s talking and you’re really listening, youâll always find an opportunity to comment on something she’s said. The conversation will flow easily and naturally and you wonât run out of things to talk about with her.

1. Make a big deal out of who pays the bill

Our golden rule for paying the tab is: If youâre going to date her again, pick up the tab and tell her she can get it next time. If you know you wonât be seeing her again, split the bill.

However, donât make the mistake of letting the check sit on the table for a prolonged period of time. It creates an unnecessary awkwardness where she feels unsure if you’re expecting her to split the tab with you, or whether you’re waiting for her to pick up the bill.

If you think that by picking up the check too fast you’ll look as if you’re trying to end the date too quickly, simply move the check next to you so she can see that you plan to pay the bill. Then continue on with your conversation.

By avoiding these first date mistakes, you can look forward to more dates or a great relationship with the woman youâve chosen.