EDGE Boston

Figuring out what your date is thinking is a difficult task. It becomes a game of sending and reading signals, and then questioning whether or not you’re reading the right signals. I’ve found one test to be particularly effective in getting that desired response from a hot date. I call it the Elbow Test.
As silly as it sounds, the elbow can be a stimulating body part. Because few expect to be stimulated by their elbow, you can test out your date’s interest without much risk of embarrassing yourself. (Do note that the Elbow Test is normally limited to movies and dancing. Though it is possible to apply in a restaurant, it’s difficult and requires you to be sitting right next to your date. For reasons of clarity, I will explain how to administer the Elbow Test during a movie or dancing scenario.

WHILE AT THE MOVIES
First things first- if you don’t have an armrest between you and your date, then you don’t need this test. Things are already looking up. An armrest is required for this version of the Elbow Test. During the beginning of the movie, leave your arm off of the middle armrest, allowing your date to use it. After about twenty minutes, rest your elbow toward the back of the armrest, lightly touching your date’s elbow. If your date rips his elbow off the armrest, be wary (check your breath, maybe). If he leaves his arm there, you’re clear to proceed.
Progressively, add more and more of your arm to the rest. It’s subtler to move upwardly, as in letting your bicep slowly lean against his. This process is slow and light so it can be written off as an accident, if need be. If your date wants to be touching you, then he won’t move regardless of the accident. He might help the process along, which would be a good sign. It’s not bad if he doesn’t reciprocate, it just means you have to keep working.
If all is going well, after the hour mark your shoulders should be lightly touching. By this time, if your date was uncomfortable with this, he would have pulled away and made movements to knock your arm off the armrest. If he does the latter, dump him.

If you are still touching, you can proceed one of two ways. You can perform further tests or make a real move (a.k.a. k-i-s-s-i-n-g). Further testing would involve applying more pressure between shoulders and elbows, eventually turning the ‘touching’ into ‘leaning against.’ Alternatively (and more obvious and sexual), you could perform the same test using your knee against his.

WHILE DANCING
Perfect for a date or a club hook-up, this elbow test is much more elbow-centric. This works when you are in the midst of dancing with your beau and while you are touching, you’re not bumpin’ and grindin’ yet (or making-out either).

Quite simply, you start with your hand on your partner’s shoulder. Slowly move your hand down his tricep using the tips of your fingers. When you reach his elbow, simply tickle his elbow ever so subtly, still using the tips of your fingers. This works best if he is wearing short sleeves (or has rolled up the sleeves of his button oh-so-fashionably) because you can, if he permits, slip your fingers under his sleeve to better fondle his elbow. Sweaters and other thick shirts make the elbow test impossible (and oh-so-unfashionable in a dance club).
Touching the elbow is similar to running your fingers over someone’s knee and thigh. For variation, alternate grazing your fingernails and tips. This is much more stimulating on the legs, but there is a seductive quality to tickling your man’s elbow.
And that is the intended affect.