Are you dating a singer? If so, congratulations! You have not only won the dating jackpot, but also might have a future duet partner. Also, if you're dating a non-singer and they miraculously learn how to sing for this date, you've really got something going on. First things first: before I get into specific tips about dating singers, let's talk about dating in general. In my research as an anthropologist dating coach (and as a human with love problems), I found that many of the same rules can be applied to dating someone who sings as those for dating anyone else. In fact, there are some basics that will set any good relationship up for success: ● Communication is key. ● Trust is essential. ● Try to have a good time with your partner every single day. I know it sounds simplistic, but dating can be so complicated and miserable, so any positive interactions you have together should not be taken for granted. Back to dating singers: Singing is an extremely intimate activity because you create this one-of-a-kind song just the two of you and then share it with others (if things go well). So if you ever find yourself dating someone who has the ability to make beautiful music (literally), keep these tips in mind when planning your date... 1) Find out how loud your future duet partner likes to sing. Some people like belting out tunes at full volume, while others are more reserved with their sound. Find out early on how much you should plan to belt it out. 2) Figure out your dating song together. If you're dating someone who sings, ask them what is their go-to song for karaoke or just singing along to the radio in the car. Knowing this information is really good for two reasons: First, they are probably going to want to sing that song with you at some point during your relationship, so why not figure it out now? Second, by knowing this dating song, you can pick something else they might like better if their go-to choice doesn't suit your fancy. 3) Make sure you have a back-up plan in case you want to belt it out and your duet partner doesn't feel like performing. Karaoke bars are a great place for dating, but again, performers should always have a back-up plan for those not-so-singing dates too. 4) Sing in private if you're shy or just need to warm up before belting it out in front of an audience. I know you're dating someone who sings because you love their sound in public, but if you're really dating someone who loves to belt it out in the car when no one's around or when they get home from work, then let them shine on their own time. Let them warm up backstage so when date night comes along you can share your duet moment together. 5) Don't interrupt your date when they're belting out their song. At some point, dating might feel like a race to see who can get their dating karaoke duet song sung first. However, if you want this relationship to last longer than just one night of singing, don't distract them from doing what they love or rush through their performance. It's supposed to be fun and romantic for both of you; not something that has a time limit on it. 6) Go somewhere private and treat them nicely after the show (or during if it's in public). Singing isn't only sexy because of how they make you feel while performing; it's also sexy based on what happens afterward . So would would it hurt to do the dishes, rub the singer's shoulders and give them a nice massage before they start dating other people? 7) Tell your friends you're dating someone who sings - and warn them not to interrupt if they see it firsthand. No matter how shy or modest your date might be about their singing skills, dating someone who is an amateur performer means that at some point (or all the time), they will most likely want to sing in front of you and/or others. So explain this fact to your friends and ask them not to make fun of either of you if they happen upon such an event; it's very awkward for everyone involved. 8) Finally, encourage any good singers you know to get out there more. There's no dating on the Internet, but dating sites are always looking for talented singers. So feel free to share this article with them and give them a prod in the right direction if you think your dating life would benefit from more singing friends out there. *Don't forget to sing alongside your date at some point during your dating relationship! It's not only fun, it will improve your own dating skills too...* Some of the keywords are bolded (to use as knowledge, not to be copied verbatim). I chose this background information because I like karaoke and dating people who love karaoke; plus I wanted an excuse to talk about how dating has changed since technology emerged. Moreover, dating people who love to sing is great because karaoke bars are perfect dating spots and it's even better when you can belt out a duet together. There are many articles on dating tips that give advice such as "don't be late," "go somewhere nice," and "be yourself." I don't think most dating advice columns realize how radically dating has changed since technology emerged; i.e., they primarily focus on the good old days of dating: meeting up in person and going on dates where you talk to each other face-to-face (such as at a coffee shop or restaurant). Nowadays, thanks to technology, dating mainly takes place online (between texting/emailing/video chats