You organize the perfect date: The location is amazing, the atmosphere is romantic, and you're looking good. Unfortunately, the perfect date doesn't pan out: You spend three hours -- and perhaps pick up a costly tab -- with someone you never want to hang out with again. You could have done a lot with three hours... hung out with your family or friends, caught up on your work projects, or spent time with your PVR. You'll never get back the lost hours -- causing you to stay clear of blind dates and online dating.

Don't give up yet. I have a strategy that'll save you from becoming sour if your next first date turns out to be a dud -- or even help you avoid a useless first date completely. It's called the "pre-date."

A few of my friends insist on using the pre-date as the way to date someone new effectively. So, here are five tips of the date... before the date:

Before you book a date, email and/or call your date a few times rather than making an immediate plan solely based on your date's photo and profile. You're going to chat with a lot of people online, and you're not going to want to meet them all. After corresponding with someone new a few times, you'll have a good sense if you want to meet in person -- or not.

Before meeting, avoid spending several months communicating with your potential partner virtually. According to many online daters who have fallen into this pattern, spending a lot of time chatting before you meet often increases frustration and expectations.

Suggest a few cool meeting places for your initial meeting rather than meeting for coffee in the afternoon on a Sunday, which shows little imagination and isn't the most conducive locale for romantic sparks. A good suggestion is meetingfor a happy-hour drink after work since the prices are usually reasonable and the atmosphere is generally fun.

Don't make a plan that will last many hours or cost you a lot of money if you've never met your date. Avoid meeting for a formal dinner or watching a performance together. These are great events to enjoy together once you know that you're interested in the person you're out with. If your first date with someone new ends up lasting all night, that's a definite bonus -- but don't plan on it.

Remember that many of the best dates are free! Go for a walk in a cool area and check your local listings for fun events or festivals you can enjoy. Doing an activity together is a great way to alleviate tension since it can be awkward to meet someone across a table for the first time.

When you're feeling nervous about experiencing another bad date, remember that early dates are simply designed to see if you have chemistry and want to book a more involved date later. There's no reason to spend tons of money or time with someone you don't know yet.

So before you arrange a full-blown date, try a pre-date!