There you are one Saturday night, bored stiff and watching Friends reruns on your DVD player. You scroll through your phone book eager to know what your friends are up to. Apparently, the love bug is in the air and all your friends have been infested. You get tired of hearing “i have other plans with my new boyfriend” and being forced to say “have fun, you guys” (because what else is there to say?).

Taking a deep breath, you decide to strike out alone. They can all go cuddle and be warm with their boyfriends for all you care, but you refuse to sulk alone in your apartment just because your friends have deserted you. Before you go, however, heed the following tips that the evil Woobie compiled after years of being occasionally ditched by girl friends who remorselessly show symptoms of “chronic B.F.F. amnesia” when they’re in love.

1. Set Your Objectives for the Night. - You are out to socialize and you are definitely not on the prowl. Boy watching may be something you like to do with your friends, but when solo clubbing, this habit could backfire and plunge you into a sticky situation you don’t want to be in. Keep your thoughts friendly, and your actions non-committal. Remember, when you think it, they will sense it. (Also, see Newbie tip to Clubbing for Fun)

2. Imaginary friends - If you play your solo flight adventure right, this could be the only white lie you tell people the whole night. Practice answering the “are-you-alone” question in front of the mirror and say the “my-friends-will-be-right-over-in-a-few-minutes” response like you mean it. This could throw off the more malicious ones and encourage the friendlier ones to keep you company until your friends arrive.

3. Get Your Drink From the Waitress - People may offer to buy you a drink, but you must be the first one to touch the drink when it arrives. Also, never leave your drink unattended. When you really need to the ladies’ room, you must bring the drink with you. Or, buy a new one.

4. Gut feelings and Nursing a drink - Meeting new people and socializing could make anyone giddy with fun! However, there is nothing tackier than a drunk solo clubber who gets in the way of others’ fun. Nurse a drink… hold it in your hand and sip a bit at a time until the glass feels warm. Keeping a clear head throughout the night will make you confident enough to trust your gut instincts about the overall intentions of the people you interact with.

5. Stay Positive and Friendly - In club situations, people are always watching and observing other people. Sometimes, the aloof ones can be detected at a glance. The more friendly and open you are to conversation, the more people will gravitate towards you to chat. Keep everything light and don’t mind the corny ice breakers. Circulate around the party, and navigate your way to finding new friends.

There you go. Browse these tips, digest them a bit and you’re all set! Then tomorrow, when your friends call to tell you about their wonderful dates, you can excitedly tell them about the party you attended with some new friends.

If you’re not on the prowl and are merely going to the clubs to socialize, striking a balance between being too forward and being a wall flower is a challenge.

How does someone who isn’t used to the club scene exude that “I’m-not-for-hooking-but-am-willing-to-just-talk” vibe? I personally had this dilemma when I was asked to tag along with some girl friends to a club where no one knows anybody, but everyone seemed to be so eager to meet everyone else at the same time.

As soon as we entered the scene, my other girl pals split to meet some new friends and I was left alone to my musings. I figured that I could either sit it out with my margarita and sulk, or do get some fun out of meeting some new people (without leaving my table by the bar where my friends left their personal possessions for me to attend to, bless them).

The real trick is the “how-to”. Here are my tips to sitting it out gracefully and/or getting at least a small amount of substantial conversation:

• hold your head up and keep a half-smile pasted on your face at all times
• nurse your one bottle of beer or glass of wine for an hour or so (read: don’t get drunk and do something stupid)
• move your head to the beat of the music blasting from the speakers
• when someone smiles at you, widen the half-smile to a genuine one. If he/she doesn’t move closer to start conversation, revert back to the half smile.
• never say that you’re there alone and always be sure to know the exact location of your friends across the room so you can point at them for reference

Have fun! :D