When bar hopping, online dating, and matchmaking no longer work for you, it's all too easy to throw in the towel and doom yourself to a life of loneliness. You aren't the only one who feels this way though. Herds of singles in Los Angeles are getting fed up with the dating scene. This, no doubt, has largely to do with the general perception that L.A. is practically the most superficial city in the country to date.
But au contraire, many singles flocking to Los Angeles do so for new experiences, a change in scene, or even a job opportunity. Many of these singles come from places far and wide not nearly as superficial as the Hollywood glitz and glam scene that can be found here. Imagine how lonely some of these single L.A. transplants must feel moving to a completely new place where they often times don't know a soul.
Whether you're completely new in town or you grew up here in Los Angeles, there is a way to expand your social circle so you can meet an ever wider range of people you'd never thought you'd meet--off line and in person. Forget how many bars you have to visit before landing a prince. Forget how many messages it takes before asking for a number. Forget blinds dates from matchmakers who think they have your best interest at heart. Just remember one word: Meetup.
Meetup is one of the biggest social networking sites on the web that makes it as easy for like-minded people to find each other and take their online friendships offline. In a society now dominated by technology, it has become so apparent that some people forget how to be social. Just go to your local speed dating event and witness it for yourself.
If being social isn't part of your dating strategy, then you might as well give up right now because the only way to meet new people is to socialize with people, both online and off. Here are a few tips for leveraging this amazing social network so you can finally start attracting the kind of people you want to be attracting in your life.
Meetup Dating Tip #1: Join a singles group.
Go to Meetup.com and search for “singles” within a 25 mile radius of where you live. Look for a group that resonates with you. There are singles groups for socializing, hiking, wine tasting, or dancing. There are even singles groups exclusively for single parents who have their own set of unique challenges when it comes to dating. The best way to meet singles is to hang out with other singles. Keep in mind that not all singles groups are dating groups. Many singles join a singles group just to hang with other liked-minded people whose priorities may be more in tune with their own than their joint-at-the-hips friends.
Meetup Dating Tip #2: Go to dating events.
If you want more than just a group of single friends to hang out with and you’re intent on meeting someone to date, then a dating group would be more of an ideal group for you to join where you can meet other singles with the same intentions. Search for “dating” in your area and find a group that hosts fun dating events. You can find a lot of speed dating events, lock and key singles parties and group dating events, which helps take the pressure off of one-on-one dating through a more comfortable social atmosphere. You can even find workshops and seminars about dating and relationships to help you maximize your dating life and attract your ideal partner.
Meetup Dating Tip #3: Start networking.
If you are a busy professional single who doesn’t have a lot of time for dating, you may want to consider joining a networking group in an attempt to kill two birds with one stone. Just search for “networking” in your area. On one hand, you are putting yourself in a position to possibly meet someone special who shares your values and work ethics. On the other hand, you’re also putting yourself in a position to generate new business and share referrals that will help you grow and excel professionally. It’s really a win-win situation no matter how you look at it, especially if you are more willing to make time for networking rather than dating.
Meetup Dating Tip #4: Get a hobby.
If you don’t already have a hobby, then you should probably get one. It is often said that when you stop search for love, love will find you. So if the singles groups and dating events aren’t really working for you, or seem like too much of an effort, then the best thing to do is start doing the things you would be doing anyway with or without a partner in crime. You can join a sports league from softball and flag football to kickball and even dodgeball. You can find a choir to join. You can start going to personal development workshops. There are even movie and book clubs if that’s your thing or even religious groups. Sometimes, the best way to meet someone when you least expect it is to do the things you enjoy doing with others who enjoy doing them with you too. After all, most daters can agree that common interests is the most important factor in finding a potential partner. Sure, looks are important for attraction too, but common interests is the icing on the cake that helps create that physical appeal we all see as just as important.
There you have it, folks. Four really simple tips for using Meetup as part of your dating strategy. Now go out and start meeting people.
Comments