“What’s your bedtime? I wouldn’t want to wake you up.”

When you’re out on a date, shut your phone off or keep it on vibrate. Only wanna-be Macks take calls when they’re with a woman, believing that it makes them look important.

In reality, important people can’t be bothered every time someone calls them to chat.

Plus, if you’re receiving calls and text messages during a date, the first thing your date will assume is that you’re a player who is juggling multiple women. Not good.

If you absolutely must answer your phone (or send a text message) when you’re out on a date, be polite and apologetic: “Do you mind if I answer this? It’s an important call.”

She’ll say yes, go ahead. Keep the call short and businesslike, then focus your full attention back on her. Make her feel like your priority.

Only take phone calls from women when you’re in the right frame of mind to talk. If you’re stressed out or in a bad mood, or in an environment that makes it difficult to converse, don’t answer. Call her back when you’re ready to do so. You will always have the opportunity to speak with her again. It’s always better to ignore the call than to give off negative energy, or make her feel like she’s less important than whatever you’re doing at the moment.

If the date you set up with her is more than three days away, call her once more between now and then. The purpose of this phone call is simply to confirm your plans; women sometimes get flighty and forget.

If you begin dating a woman, it’s perfectly OK to speak with her on the phone on a daily basis. If you enjoy talking to her every day, great. You can increase the length of your phone chats but don’t always be the one calling her. If you call her two days in a row, end the second call by saying “give me a ring tomorrow when you have time,” or “call me tomorrow when you’re done with work.” Make her put forth effort. It’s also a way to gauge her interest level in you.