You've done the bar scene. Over and over again. Hopped dance clubs till you dropped. Been set up in more painful blind dates that you care to remember. And you're still single, which would be fine if you wanted to be single, but you long for a meaningful relationship.

In the fast-paced life of the 21st century, how do you go about meeting somebody? You'd be surprised to know that opportunity is always knocking.

Speed Dating

Also known as "the seven-minute date," speed dating has been around since the late 1990's. The premises are very simple: Women sit at cute little tables nursing a drink while men walk around and introduce themselves. You have seven minutes to talk to the other person, gather basic information, see if sparks fly. A bell rings to signal time's up, and the men move on to the next table. At the end of the event, you can select those people you'd like to see again, and the host will provide you with some type of contact information (usually an email) for you to get in touch with them. Are seven minutes enough to get to know somebody? Of course not. However, you know during the first minute of meeting somebody is there is enough chemistry to guarantee a second date. Speed dating saves you the pain of having to get through a whole meal with a blind date you can't stand.

Volunteer

Where there's a worthy cause, there are worthy men, goes the saying. Even in the dating world, this proves true. Now, let's get something out of the way first --You shouldn't volunteer if your heart is not in it. The people (or animals) on the receiving end deserve better. If you truly care for the cause, then go for it. Pick a position that would allow you to interact with other volunteers or even with the public. Many non-profit organizations also put together marathons and other public events that attract hundreds (sometimes thousands) of potential mates.

Take Up A Manly Sport

No, we're not talking about football or anything else that may leave you with permanent injuries. Try golf. It's a gentle, straightforward sport that allows for a lot of talking while you're walking from hole to hole. Or join a local softball league. If you're not the sporty type, then heading to a local sports bar to watch a game may be a worthy substitute.