There are many different approaches to nightlife dating. Sneaking up behind a group of dancing friends and beginning to grind against anonymous behinds is not one commonly recommended, despite its frequent usage by college students. Establishment of eye contact before beginning to thrust is a basic precept of human relations that all should embrace.

With this common approach scenario removed, how does one go about maneuvering the dating scene?

Aside from being cordial and not overtly drunk, some basic knowledge of the scene is required. This knowledge can come from a variety of sources, including your momma, your buddies and yourself. The knowledge examined in this article, however, comes from a very particular and specialized observant strain of dating maven: the bartender.

Bartenders observe various forms of human relations on a nightly basis. Some subjects of observation, such as the suave person who manages to make friends with the bartender, buy several drinks for people and not get wasted her or himself, are impressive.

Others, namely, the person who loudly requests drinks, waves his or her arms and credit card, literally knocking other people out of his or her way, are disheartening. 

Grudgingly admired by bar staff worldwide are the women (occasionally men) who manage to never pay for a single drink without making it obvious. Universally abhorred are those that never pay for a drink and make it glaringly obvious to everyone. The realization-stricken purchasers of those ‘free drinks' included. 

Someone who doesn't have money ready, questions drink prices, ignores the bartender when their order is ready, doesn't tip, and/or pukes on or near the bar, is quite frankly a must to avoid.Idolized are the men and women who pay for their own drinks and are genuinely surprised when someone else offers to pay.

A lot can be told about a person by the way they treat others. If someone is looking for a mate at the bar, he or she is going to need a lot more than luck on their side. 

He or she is going to need a barstool and 10 minutes of observation time. Those stools provide more than a cushion for your tush; they also provide a prime people-watching location.

When scanning the crowd for prospects, pay attention to how people order their drinks. It is a safe bet that anyone who treats those in a serving capacity (i.e. the bartender) with the respect that they expect in return, will be, at the very least, a decent human being.

These people, worthy of one's time, will wait patiently when the bar is busy, say "please" and "thank you," and leave a form of gratuity.

It is also safe to assume that anyone screaming and waving their arms for attention, only to order "Ummm... can I get, like, a water? Actually like five?" is, at the very least, an occasionally rude, self-centered pig. 

Someone who doesn't have money ready, questions drink prices, ignores the bartender when their order is ready, doesn't tip, and/or pukes on or near the bar, is quite frankly a must to avoid.

People who pay with $100 bills comprise a category all their own. They do not do this because they "don't have any small change" (cue wink to the bartender). They pay with large bills so that everyone at the bar sees them pay with large bills. 

This doesn't mean they are rich and generous, though they may be. This means they want you to think they are. Anyone with such aims is certainly suspicious--do they have no other desirable characteristics to present?

One would be surprised how many sociopaths become visible when one takes 10 minutes to sit down and watch. The dating pool will rapidly shrink, which makes one's choice of prospects considerably easier.

Alternatively, after witnessing the mess of dating prospects at the bar, one may choose to disregard the bar scene altogether and look elsewhere, which is a damn good idea.