Hey blogging world! It’s a pleasure to be a part of the blog community! My first post will serve as an introduction about myself and why I’m launching my start up, Date Mapps.

Ok, guys let’s get started!

Let’s face it. Planning a date with someone isn’t easy. Coming from a guy, that’s not easy to admit and most men probably won’t admit it. If you’re a guy and  think it is, you’ve either… A. Never been on a date, or B. Live in a bubble. Here’s another thing that’s hard to admit. Women have a better idea of where to go out on a date than men do. Women love to see where we end up taking them, because it gives them a sense of how hard we try (and care) to show her a good time. On the other hand, if the place or places we end up taking her suck, it provides her with a great laugh among her and her friends later on that night. So here’s what I’m proposing…let’s not give her a great laugh. Just a thought.

Though I haven’t experienced a bad date lately, that could all very well change… hey you just never know. Every time we plan out a date with someone, we are literally playing Russian Roulette with our chances or ever going out with that person again. That could get stressful. We make the effort to go on Yelp and Metromix and hope that the review on there will apply to our needs. Maybe it will, maybe it won’t. To be honest, I’m tired of taking that chance, especially if it’s someone I like. I’d rather get suggestions based on what I’m trying to do for that date and who I’m about. Sorry, but I highly doubt Sarah K. from Brooklyn who posted on Yelp about how Milk and Honey in the LES is the best first date spot knows anything about me or what I’m trying to do for my date. I’d rather hear from people who “get it.” Also, I’m tired of going on the same dinner and movie thing (which is why I don’t do it and neither should you…just saying). It’s just horrible. If you go on this type of date, especially as a first date it tells that other person a little about who you are…Namely, you have no sense of creativity, you’re predictable, and you most likely don’t give a shit. But hey, if you’re trying to go home early and hear from you’re date that she has to run because “her mom just had an emergency foot surgery”, then congratulations! This is the type of date for you! There’s too many sites out there that play to those type of dates and that’s sad. I want some way to find new and fun things to do, and frankly going to a wine bar instead of getting coffee isn’t it “new and different”. Somewhere along my date plan search (probably the 12th unhelpful date review site?), I’ve realized I’ve just wasted 20 minutes of my day. And hey, if wasting your time is your thing, that’s cool too? But I’m going to guess that if that is the case, you’re probably unemployed, in which case you need to stop reading this post and find a job ASAP. Believe it or not women don’t seem to find that attractive, from what I’ve heard. But, that’s neither here nor there.

And then, I had enough….

Why I started

So here’s my story that got me to say the cliche’ typical founder story….”There’s got to be a better way”

I was probably on my third date with this girl from New York, living in New Jersey at the time (insert Jersey Shore joke here) and I was tired of hearing her say “Oh, I’ve been here already, but cool.” (Probably also why I decided not to see here since). So, after going on Yelp to get some “ideas” for a casual date, I landed on Spasso. “Great atmosphere for a casual date,” the comment said. I said to myself, FINALLY! After going inside, my date and I walked inside to a darkly dimmed restaurant filled with more candles than a candle factory and a snobby hostess who asked us if we had a reservation. “No, I said…”I thought this was a casual place?” Not surprisingly, the hostess replied “Does it look casual?” If you can’t tell by now, this was my breaking point. I was tired of wasting my time and getting reviews that held no water. After going to a different place for our date, called the Quiet Room…not bad by the way but would’ve been better if my date that night was quieter (you’ve got to meet her to understand) I went right to work to find the “better way.” What I’ve found after talking to both men and women, the three biggest pain points for date planning is…1. Wanting to try something new and mix things up. 2. It takes way to much time to plan out a date and 3. People want a way to cater to their needs and focus on the entire date instead of the places. So, that’s what I’m setting out to do and hopefully we’ll be able to help you guys out as well. Soon, there will be one portal that will allow people to plan out their entire date from beginning to end, all while saving time and making sure it’s fun for both you and your date. Hopefully soon enough I’ll be able to say you’re welcome, but until then I’ll hold off on that.

I hope you guys have enjoyed reading my blog and got to know me and what I’m trying to do. I’d love to hear  your comments (from the men and the women out there) and what you find to be your own pain points for date planning or just write whatever you want to say (this is America, after all).

Until next time, Happy Dating!

Fouad ElAmir 

Founder, Date Mapps

Datemapps.com

info@datemapps.com

P.S. This is what I look like by the way…figure I’d put a face to a name