I've noticed several posts where people have been trying to arrange dates, but have done so rather poorly. Here are a couple techniques I use and thought may be of interest.

These are geared mostly to arranging dates by SMS, but the same principles apply in other mediums. If you're seeing older girls then they likely aren't crackberry whores and will appreciate a phone call. Otherwise just realize that this is how people communicate now and get over it.

The key point is to keep the number of messages to a minimum. You are using this as a tool to meet up with her and show her how awesome you are in person. By sending fifty boring-assed logistical messages you now look like a boring-assed logistical person.

Arranging a date

1) Avoid yes/no questions at all costs. Don't give her an easy out. For example, "Are you around for a drink on monday?" is terrible. You've handed her an excuse ("I'm busy!") on a silver platter.

2) Find out what her schedule is and work around it. For example "blah blah blah PS what does your schedule look like this week?" She'll respond with something along the lines of "working mon-tues, drinking wednesday". Now you know when she's free. Hint: it's thursday.

3) Give her a couple options that fit your schedule and let her choose. For example "Let's get a drink. Monday or Wednesday?" Notice how this is not a yes/no question. It is very hard for her to blow you off as you're not giving her an easy out. This is also a good information gathering tool as you can find out how much she's into you.

There are really two situations: 1) she picks a day (yay!), or 2) she's busy on both days. In the latter case, read the message closely to get an idea if she's genuinely busy, or trying to blow you off. If she gives alternative dates, she's genuinely sorry. If she doesn't usually use emoticons and it's littered with :( then she's sorry. If you don't get a response, she's blowing you off.

4) Always appear busy. For example if you've given her a couple of choices (e.g. "Monday or Wednesday?") and she says "Sorry, working both days. How about Thursday?" then for the love of all things holy don't say no. She just invited you out! DO, however, make it look like you're fitting her into your busy schedule. For example, "That's cool, but it will have to be after 8 PM" or "I can do dinner, but I'm going to be stinky from the gym". I've gone with "You won't want to be around me on Thursday; I'm going to be hungover and miserable". I was. We had sex all night.

Bonus material: don't try to arrange one-on-one time on popular nights (Fridays and Saturdays). First off, she's more likely to be busy and, second off, you look like a dweeb who's sitting at home watching TV by yourself when you should be out having a good time.

5) Confirm that she's coming, but in a non-needy way. Do this by sending her some extra information/instructions. For example, a couple hours before you meet send a message saying "just thinking....that place is really busy on Thursdays, lets meet outside". Or "How about this other place instead?" Hell, tell her you'll be 15 minutes late. We're trying to avoid things like "You still coming?", "See you tonight!", "Looking forward to seeing you :)", etc. You look like a pussy. Stop it.

Dealing with flakes

People have shit to do and it isn't always you. Get over it. If she flakes you need to figure out if it's because she's genuinely <insert excuse here> or if she's trying to blow you off. Does she even offer an excuse? If not, she's probably not interested. Does she give a plausible excuse? If not, she's probably not interested. For example, if she's a nurse don't be surprised if she has to stay late at work. If she's unemployed and says she has to work late, you're probably being blown off.

If she sends you a message to flake, think carefully about it and respond accordingly. If you've decided that it was a legitimate excuse then a good frame is to appear dissapointed but non-needy and willing to rearrange. For example ":( No worries, I'll let you make it up to me next week". If it's a garbage excuse, then think carefully. Is it her first flake? I try to rearrange. Is it a second infraction? Call her out on it, but in a joking manner e.g. "I've heard of playing hard to get, but leaving the country seems a little extreme :p". Is it a third infraction? Move on.

These are some of the approaches I take when arranging things by SMS. I'll add more to this list as people post.