Five Ways to Be a Hit When Attending a Singles Event Alone

Going to a singles event such as a meetup alone can cause apprehension. What should I wear to a singles event? I don't know anyone. Will I feel welcome? How will I break the ice and start a conversation? Unlock the door to success with these five keys to attending your first singles event alone.

Dress Appropriately

Make a great first impression by looking the part and dressing appropriately. For some ideas, look at pictures of past events on the internet so you can see the clothing style suitable for party. If it is an after work happy hour, ladies, wear an outfit that offers versatility by changing your accessories. You can remove a blazer, change your shoes from flats to heels, and intensify your make-up. Men, you may want change your shirt or remove your tie and roll up your sleeves.

Whatever you decide to wear, make sure that your clothes are fresh, free from wrinkles and fit well. Wear something that you feel good in and that you don't have to think about. There is nothing more distracting for you than worrying about a torn hem, too much cleavage, or feeling constrained by a pair of pants that are too tight.

Plan Ahead

With social networking groups such as Meetup, once you join, you can look at the guest roster and see who is planning to attend. Scan the guest list and look for people that you are interested in meeting. You can find out more about most guests by reading their profile or through a Google search. The caution here is to make the conversation natural and avoid looking as though you have done "research." For example, if you find out the person is a golfer, you could say, "So do you golf?" not "I searched you on Google and see you are a golfer." You want to use the information as a bridge to start the conversation, not scare the person off.

Seek out the Host

Find out who the host or organizer is in advance and find him or her at the party. If you can, look up the person on Google and get their photo if available. Bonus: This will give you a reason to walk up to someone you don't know and ask if they have seen "Joe or Jane Smith?" and start a conversation.

Once you find the host, introduce yourself to him or her. Share how much you are enjoying the party and offer a sincere compliment. Ask if there is any help needed to organize the next event and volunteer for a committee.

Use Ice Breakers

So Mr. or Ms. wonderful is across the room alone and you want to meet him or her. How do you do it? It is easy to start a conversation at a party when you have a few aces up your sleeve! Not only are you feeling confident because you look great, you also have some clever conversation starters to get the ball rolling. Here are some simple opening lines to break the ice and build rapport:

Introduction:

"Hi, I'm __________. You caught my eye and I wanted to meet you.

"Hi, you have the friendliest face (most beautiful smile) in the room and I wanted to meet you. I'm _________.

Ask an Open-ended Question

"Have you been to one of these events before?"

"How did you hear about the group?"

"Are you originally from the area?"

Sense the Temperature

When you start a conversation, how do you know if the person is initially interested in you or not? Make some simple observations as you are having light conversation to sense if the person is interested in you and talking further.

Eye Contact: Is he/she giving eye contact or looking away?

Body Stance: Is their body facing yours or is it turned in an outward angle?

Information Sharing: When speaking, does the person offer more information or is their communication short with few words?

Facial Expression: Is the other persons facial expression relaxed and smiling or do they look tense?

Trust your gut instinct and if you feel that they are not that into you, do not take it personally. Wish the other party a great evening, politely excuse yourself and move on. On the other hand, if you get the feeling that there is potential to learn more, find a safe common ground, such as hobbies, sports or movies and let the conversation continue.