Where are all the quality singles?

Beside the bar, Internet dating sites, overpriced video dating services or matchmakers, where do you turn to meet single men or women?

Meeting singles at a bar is rarely a good strategy. True, you might get a few free drinks and possibly a torrid affair out of the deal —until his girlfriend or her husband shows up. Not a good option. Bars tend to be the hangout for career singles and bar flies. Go to the pub to catch up with your friends and enjoy a micro-brew. Just don't expect to find the love of your life at Joe's Bar and Grill. Sure, it's happened; but it's the exception, not the rule.

Dating services and matchmakers aren't much better options. These can cost you anywhere from $40 a month for membership to an Internet dating site to more than $4,000 — on the low end! — for a matchmaker. Yes, these routes offer an instant, and seemingly endless, stock of bodies, but I recommend that you put your Visa card away because these aren't your only options.

It's not easy to find a good, qualified date, but they are out there. You just need to know where to look, and it needn't cost a high price.

I've heard all sorts of advice on where to find the elusive, nice, dateable singles. Someone always suggests going to church to find a decent match. No go — the guys who are there heard the same thing you did. They simply cleaned up after an unsuccessful night at the bar and thought they'd give it another shot. I've also been told to go to coffee houses, but most of the people there are either so strung out on caffeine that they need a shot of vodka to bring them down or they're in AA, so they can't drink. I've also been prompted to join an activities club, but the ones I've encountered were pretty bogus. Maybe you've had different experiences, but I've found much better places to look.

Finding good, qualified singles requires you to have a defined strategy. This may sound like I'm oversimplifying things, but having a plan will work much better than just hoping your dream date will magically show up on your doorstep. In brief, consider where the type of man or woman you're looking for would hang out. What are their interests? If you're looking for a professional, then go to functions that would attract this type of person. If you're looking for someone physically fit, then join a gym or a hiking or biking club.

I've found that having a targeted plan will put you leaps and bounds ahead of all the lonely hearts that are randomly playing the dating lottery.

This is just one of many dating tactics. What creative places or ways have you come up with to find other singles?

Good luck and happy dating!

Cheers! Date Doc

Internet Dating Advice

Internet dating can be a risky venture. I've talked to dozens of women and men who have been scammed by online dates that lied about their age, their relationship status or presented an old (or entirely bogus) photo.

My savvy pals have come up with some simple, high-tech ways to figure out if your potential is a keeper or a chump:

- Ask the potential date if he/she is on Facebook or MySpace, and request he/she to "friend" you. Once you're accepted, you can see the "real" person.

- Google him/her. I know it sounds dirty, but Google the person's name to see if there is info — both good and bad — on the web about him/her.

- Is your prospective date on LinkedIn? There is usually a recent picture, profile and educational background. You can also see if he/she has a community of professionals who are connected to him/her, which means he/she is likely employed. Employed = your date might actually pick up the tab.

If you're really clever, you can also do a search for public records to discover if your date has past criminal charges. If you're not too resourceful, then try a background search company like www.CheckOutADate.com.

Use your brain and your mouse.

Good luck and happy dating!

Cheers! Date Doc

Have you been duped by an Internet date?