How to Survive the Bar Scene

You agreed to go out with your friends to a bar or club. Instead of dwelling on how you allowed this to happen, enjoy yourself with these simple tips.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Breath Fresheners

1. Enjoy yourself, first and foremost. Would you rather be home alone washing dishes? If the answer is yes, keep thinking of mundane chores until you find the one you would not want to be doing at the moment.

2. You see someone you think you'd like to know better. He or she blows you off. So? Pat yourself on the back for knowing that your soul mate is not necessarily hanging out in a meat market. Let it go and find someone else with better manners.

3. Be someone you're not - try on a new hat. Play the part of the rich spoiled girl, the alpha wolf guy, the dumb blond.

4. Be careful not to drink too much, in case you are approached by someone with a bad pickup line. "May I end this sentence with a proposition?" might work on you if you have tipped a few too many.

5. Remember, though, that as lame as pickup lines might be, the person is making an effort to show interest in you. If you are even remotely interested, laugh, say hello and begin a normal conversation.

6. Be polite if someone wants to talk to you and you aren't interested. If they persist, tell them you have a boyfriend or girlfriend, or that you're pregnant.

7. Save your flirting for when you really want to use it.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure you know how you're getting home before you go out.

• Interestingly enough, 71 percent of men report success when they use the pickup line, "Hi."

• Don't put yourself into a dangerous situation, such as alone in an alley with a strange man - or woman.