Do first dates leave you tongue-tied? Here are 30 things to talk about on a first date that will charm your date and have them asking for seconds.

While dating is lots of fun, it also requires your time, effort, and energy. If you are like most people, you feel a little nervous every time you go on a date. You spend time getting ready, picking your outfit, and so on, but no doubt you start to panic a little about whether or not it will go well. It’s important to also think about things to talk about on a first date to calm your nerves.

One of the worst things that happens on a first date is completely running out of things to say. It is a very common fear for those new to dating, and even those who are dab hands at the dating game.

You might be the nervous, shyer sort or brim full of confidence, but either way sometimes you just don’t click, or you both fancy each other too much and get really nervous. Sometimes for some inexplicable, horrifying reason, you mind goes completely blank and you can’t think of anything to say.

30 things to talk about on a first date

Awkward silences occur pretty often when you don’t know someone well, so dating becomes all about the art of making small talk.

Luckily, there are ways to go into a first date feeling more confident and prepared. Essentially arming yourself with lots of questions and emergency backup topics of conversation if things stop flowing naturally.

First dates are all about getting to know someone, so with that in mind, these great conversation starters and questions give you lots of things to talk about on a first date.

#1 How was your day? A simple question but it shows you are friendly and that you care. It’s an easy one for them to answer and breaks the ice. [Read: How to not be boring and make your dates exciting]

#2 Where are you from originally? Finding out where they are from as well as the different places they lived throughout their life is great for getting to know someone. You might find you lived in some of the same places. If not, remember to ask, ‘what was that like?’ to keep the conversation flowing. [Read: 8 ways to avoid the awkward silences during a date]

#3 How big is your family? Find out what their family life is like, whether they have any brothers or sisters, and if they like having a big/small family.

#4 What were you like as a kid? Were they naughty and rebellious or super sweet? Finding out what they were like as a kid and their school days brings up fun memories and stories.

#5 What do you do for a living? People talk about their jobs for hours. Find out what they do now as well as jobs they had in the past.

#6 Do you like it? Finding out whether they like their role and why/why not can be the start of an interesting conversation.

#6 What would your dream job be? Find out what they are most passionate about, what they’d love to do, and whether they are working towards actually achieving it. [Read: 10 signs of compatibility with the person you’re dating]

#8 What did you study at school/college/university? Talking about your school and university days is always interesting. Talk about what you studied as well as friends, silly nights out, clubs you joined and the experience overall.

#9 Do you have any pets? People love to talk about their pets if they have them. Their answer might also be a deal breaker for you!

#10 Do you like animals? If you are an animal lover and they are not, it’s best to find this out ASAP!

#11 What kind of music are you into? For people that know their music, this can be a particularly fruitful topic of conversation to bring up. You can talk about your favorite bands and artists, gigs you’ve been to, festivals attended, and so on. It gives you a good idea as to whether your tastes are compatible. Plus, ideas for future dates!

#12 What would your perfect date be? Find out what they like and don’t like about the dating game. Funny stories of previous dates are also a bonus.

#13 Where have you traveled? Sharing travel stories is another juicy topic of conversation. You can talk about the places you’ve both visited, what you loved, and where you’d like to explore next. [Read: 15 reasons why you should travel at least once a year]

#14 Where would your dream holiday be? Are they a sun and beach worshipper or do they love something more active? Talk about your best and worst holidays and where you’d like to go in the future.

#15 What hobbies do you have? Finding out about their interests is so important. They might have some pretty cool hobbies which could lead to all sorts of weird and wonderful conversations.

#16 What’s your favorite book? Are they much of a reader? If you love literature, talking about books is a great conversation topic.

#17 What’s your favorite movie? Finding out what movies they love is also fun. If you like the same sort of thing you can suggest a future movie date together. [Read: 10 second date rules that will tell you if you’re a match]

#18 What’s your death row meal? This is an interesting question and weeds out whether they are an adventurous foodie or not!

#19 What three things would you take with you on a desert island? Find out what’s most important to them with this classic date question!

#20 If you would have one wish what would it be? This is always an interesting question to ask. People give wildly different answers. Some want fame and fortune, others are more philanthropic and selfless. What are you and your date thinking?

#21 if you won the lottery, what would you do with it? This is another good question. It is fun to fantasize together what you would do with all that cash. [Read: How to flirt with your crush and make them fall hard for you]

#22 If you had 24 hours to live what would you do? Again, another hypothetical question that’s a lively conversation starter. Maybe tonight you should make all your wildest dreams come true!

#23 Do you have any nicknames? Finding out their cute or embarrassing nicknames is a good way to break the ice.

#24 Did you enjoy school? School can be a tricky time for many and a conversation starter that goes for hours!

#25 If you could swap bodies with any person for a day who would it be? Who do they most respect and admire? Or who do they find most glamorous and exciting? Finding out who they’d swap with and their reasons why can be quite fascinating.

#26 Who would you invite to your dream dinner party? This question is great for discovering the type of people they admire. [Read: 60 get to know you questions for a new romance]

#27 Do you have a type? This flirty question is a cheeky way of finding out if they like you.

#28 What are your life goals? Do you have the same sort of idea about what you want from the future? Best to find out early on!

#29 What are you up to for the rest of the week? If the date goes well, subtly try to find out when you might be able to see them again. [Read: 18 signs your date really likes you on your first date]

#30 Do you want to do this again? At the end of the date, don’t forget to take their number or arrange another date. If you want to, of course!

Let’s face it, first dates are kind of like interviews, except you are both the interviewer and the interviewee! As in any job interview you want to impress, and come armed with knowledge, confidence, and having done you research, and it is far more likely to make it go well.

[Read: 40 first date questions for a great conversation]

Just use these 30 questions as great things to talk about on a first date that help you get to know your date, have fun, and hopefully make the date one to remember!