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