With Turnabout right around the corner, murmurs of “Who are you asking?” and “What does your dress look like?” can be heard throughout the hallways. Although Turnabout is an extremely exciting night, full of hundreds of sweaty kids crammed in the Main Gym, many people don’t realize the toll it actually takes on the female students of LHS. Hopefully after reading this guide, the ladies of LHS will be able to have a fun, stress-free night.
Step 1: Picking out your date
Choosing who to ask to Turnabout is an extremely hard decision. This is one of the most memorable moments of your high school experience, so why would you spend it with the wrong person? To ensure that you are asking the right person, pick out what type of category he fits into. There are four categories of dates: the boyfriend, the secret crush, the friend and the random kid in your Chemistry class. Once you fit him into his specific category, you should feel a load lift off your shoulders.
If you have a boyfriend, then the answer as to who to ask is a given. You shouldn’t worry about them saying no unless your relationship status recently changed to “It’s Complicated.” If this applies to you, then you have bigger worries than Turnabout.
If instead you’re considering gathering up the courage to ask your secret crush, make sure he knows you exist first. Begin by liking one of his statuses on Facebook or, if you’re brave enough, texting him. Once the conversation starts flowing, you’re set and should feel confident asking him.
If the current state of your love life isn’t at an all time high, then you may want to consider asking a friend. The friend won’t want to make things awkward between you by saying no, so you shouldn't be the least bit worried. Just make sure that you call dibs fast to avoid fighting over him with five of his other girl “friends.” If it comes down to this, just draw straws.
And if you’ve decided last minute to ask the random kid in your Chemistry class, may the flirting begin. Drop hints slowly. You don’t want to scare him. Begin conversation by talking about homework or how your teacher’s fly is open. Once he seems interested, start talking to his friends to find out if he has other options.
Step 2: How to ask your date
Possibly the most stressful part of Turnabout is asking your date. You can’t do something too cliché or simple or he will think you don’t care about him. Spend too much money and time, though, and you’re a freak.
When asking your boyfriend, it’s important that you ask him in a special, unique way. If you can incorporate something from your first date or an inside joke between you two, he’ll know you’re the perfect date.
If you and your beau have become quite an item, then it’s time to kick in the lovey-dovey part of your brain. Cliché actually works fairly well here, but be careful not to overdo it. You can always do the good old Fish Bowl idea. Snatch up a few fish from Butler Lake, fill up a cheap fish bowl with some lukewarm water, and inscribe “Of all the fish in the sea, I hope you’ll go to Turnabout with me” on the outside.
Asking a friend is usually the most entertaining because, given the lack of awkwardness, it allows you to embarrass them. Make sure there are a lot of witnesses and something that will make their cheeks flush red. Posters plastered throughout the school hallways or standing up on a table during lunch popping the question tends to do the trick.
As for the random kid, do something simple yet cute. Ask your teacher to post an extra question at the bottom of his test or slip him a note at the end of class. Avoid doing anything at the beginning of class, though. Remember, you still have to spend 49 minutes with him if for some awful reason he were to decline.
Step 3: Planning
Figuring out your date is finally complete, but you’re still not done. To keep the stress meter low, a great deal of planning and organization must take place to ensure that your night sails smoothly.
Groups:
No matter who your date is, groups are always a large problem. Stick with a few close friends for best results so that pictures and making dinner reservations are a breeze. An ideal group consists of four to six couples, anymore than that is pushing it. WARNING: Avoid the super group. This group consists of 20+ couples, and for them, pictures are near impossible (not to mention finding a place that can fit 40 people at the same table). Try to keep groups as small as possible.
Dress:
When choosing a dress, it's important to keep two key things in mind: Sweatproof and length. You'll be spending hours in a dress and, let's face it, even the best deodorants can't cover up hours of dancing and posing. It's also a good idea to keep in mind the length of your dress. Too long and you'll spend half the night hoisting up a dress, preventing you from thoroughly enjoying your dancing experience. Too short and your date's mother definitely won't want you around their house very often. Find a length you're comfortable with. And unless you want to have the same dress as half of the girls at LHS, I suggest finding your dress sooner than later and at some unique, hidden shop far, far away. If you do end up wearing the same dress as someone else, just fake a smile and compliment them on their great taste.
Flowers:
Don’t forget them. You don’t want to be that girl. And make sure your date orders his. It’s probably a good idea to make sure that your date knows what color your dress is so that he can coordinate the flower /dress match to perfection. Avoid corsages with long ribbons. They fall in your food and are overly obnoxious. And if you’re like 98% of high school girls, you’re probably terrible at putting on a boutonniere. YouTube it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzCaRzGwM4E.
Pictures:
Prepare to smile…a lot. When your jaw starts to tense up, try some tongue twisters to loosen up. In order to take pictures most efficiently, form two lines so that every couple gets their chance to take the cute, Facebook profile picture in front of the fireplace. As for the pictures taken at the school, get those done as soon as you get there. Plan out your pose beforehand and have the form filled out before getting in line. That way you have the rest of the dance to, well, dance.
After Party:
The best part of Turnabout comes after the dance itself, so make sure that you have thoroughly thought this out. Junk food and caffeinated drinks are essential after hours of slam-dancing in a crowded gym. Some people may still want to dance, so make sure that quality music is playing at all times. Or, if you’re extremely tired, pick out a movie, grab a blanket and cuddle up with that special someone, reminiscing about the greatest night of your life: Turnabout 2011.