The key to a successful first date is to relax and just be the real you. If you try to act in a way that you think the other person will like, then they may start liking someone who you are not. And in the end you will wind up breaking up and getting hurt. So honest truly is the best policy. And in the end if you are just being you and it does not work you. You know they were not the one for you.
Dating is like gambling
Dating is like gambling at poker. Sure a good bluff may win you a hand or two but you are not going to win the World Series of Poker by bluffing, only by playing the best you can. This is no different from dating if you make things up to try and impress this person they are not liking you. But are liking the fake you and eventually they will see the two are no the same.
Try to think back to the things you talked about when the both of you spoke on the phone. And see if you learned anything that may help you decide where to go for your date. But if you do not have enough information about them to know what they may like you sometimes have to gamble and throw the dice, and hope you don't crap out.
The most important thing to do on a first date is to have a good time. The bigger a deal you make of it the harder it is going to be and the higher the chances of you making a jerk of yourself. If you are nervous before the date, take a few minutes, then take a few deep breaths. If that does not help, then I recommend you do what I like to do in the casinos. When my nerves are bothering me, I simply have a drink. The alcohol in one drink will usually calm me down enough to concentrate.
The key to having a nice first date is simple:
Nice place
Take her/ him to a nice place. Quite but not too quiet. You should be able to hear each other but other distractions are also good for those uncomfortable moments.
Do not take her/ him to a place where your friends hang out. This will make her/ him feel as if they are being ganged up on or they may feel out of place and resent you for making them feel that way.
It is very important to have the whole night planned out already before the date and have a backup idea just incase. The tricky part is making it look like it was not all planned.
Let's say you decide that you are going to take her for dinner. Then after you want to take a walk on the beach. Do not just say hey after dinner let's take a walk on the beach. I would recommend you wait till after dinner and ask her if she wants to take a walk to burn off dinner and then take her to the beach.
Take her/his hand
Then when you are on the beach, take her/his hand while walking. This makes a physical connection between you and makes it easier later on when you go for your first kiss.
Just remember, that dating is a gambling. Sometimes you are going to get a bad hand. And eventually if you play your cards right, you will find the right person and win the jackpot.