Emma Witman
Author Emma Witman has witnessed countless first dates and seen all the worst mistakes people make.
- As a bartender, I've witnessed countless first dates play out in front of me.
- I've come to learn several mistakes people make on their first dates, like getting too drunk, underdressing, or not having enough money to cover the bill.
- Here are the biggest mistakes I see people make on first dates at bars.
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Something a world-famous bartender recently said on bars and dating culture stuck with me.
Jim Meehan, author of "Meehan's Bartender Manual," said that in the early years of his career, bars weren't where people went on dates, but to find dates.
Nowadays, online dating has changed the game. And as a bartender in the age of dating apps, I'm grateful that I'm spared the horror of seeing real-life Tinder swiping in front of my eyes.
But one painful ritual I'm frequently audience to is the cringeworthy first date. I've witnessed countless first dates play out from behind the bar, and I've gotten a sense of what works and what doesn't from both parties.
These are the worst and most frequent mistakes I see people making, and what they could be doing better.