Love’s sweet sounds

Dinner With Cupid

He’s a concert promoter, she calls music her “vice.” On their blind date, will they hit the same note?

 | Compiled by Eryn Carlson   June 29, 2014

From left, Michael Flanagin and Joanne Hardin.

MICHAEL FLANAGIN

65 / Entertainment Consultant

HE’S HAPPIEST WHEN . . . 

At the lake, with my kids

HIS HOBBIES

Music, watching HBO and Coen Brothers movies

JOANNE HARDIN

62 / Looking for work

SHE’S HAPPIEST WHEN . . .

Sharing a nice meal and having a great conversation

HER HOBBIES

Going to concerts and listening to music — singer-songwriters, ’80s punk, jazz — watching movies, cooking, traveling

> OPENING ACT

MICHAEL I had a long drive to settle me down.

JOANNE I went for a long walk in the afternoon to ground myself and then enjoyed getting gussied up. Yet, every once in a while, I’d get a shock wave of nerves.

MICHAEL I was a few minutes early. When I got there the hostess asked if my date was there. I told her I had no idea because I didn’t know what she looked like.

JOANNE Michael was there before me. When I got to the restaurant, I didn’t want to identify myself because I wanted to go to the bathroom first. As I went to the ladies room, I got a glimpse of him. He was handsome and distinguished.

MICHAEL [The host] introduced us. [Joanne] seemed a bit nervous at first, but calmed down.

JOANNE We shook hands. He seemed confident and calm.

MICHAEL She wasn’t really my type, but you never know.

> ENJOYING THE SHOW

JOANNE We jumped into conversation.

MICHAEL [We discussed our] jobs and family. The food and service were great.

JOANNE He explained that he [signed up for] Dinner With Cupid on a dare from his son, who had gone on a great Cupid date.

MICHAEL We both came from old New England families and loved growing up on a lake.

JOANNE We both feel fortunate and blessed with our family ties. I admired the good relationship he has with his children. I explained that I didn’t have a cellphone and liked that he didn’t seem shocked at that.

MICHAEL Our music and movie interests [are similar]. She said that she never watched TV, which I love.

JOANNE I learned that his business was booking musical events, and music is my main vice.

MICHAEL She was a great conversationalist. There was little dead air.

JOANNE Toward the end of the meal, I felt I really liked Michael — he was a grown-up!

> ENCORE

JOANNE After finishing dinner and a couple hours of conversation, we were both ready to head out.

MICHAEL The place was closing.

JOANNE We asked [our waiter] to take our picture, and [Michael] moved to sit next to me. I loved that.

MICHAEL I walked her to her car.

JOANNE He asked for a good night hug and I fell into his arms.

> SECOND DATE?

JOANNE I hope so!

MICHAEL Probably not. She was a lovely lady, but she wasn’t really my type.

> POST-MORTEM

JOANNE A

MIKE B

GO ON A BLIND DATE. WE’LL PICK UP THE TAB. Fill out an application at bostonglobe.com/cupid.