I am 44 and recently out of a 24 year marriage. I started dating my wife in High School and we have been together even since so I have zero experience dating. I am a good looking guy, most people guess I am about 30, and I am in good shape.

I have never dated, never had one night stands, and I have never picked up on women, let alone be a PUA.

I went to a local club (women my age) and I froze. I couldn't even ask the women to dance. The place was packed, a good live band, and lots of dance-able Eighties and Nineties music. The place is upscale and this does weed out the clientele.

The place was packed with brothers and my first learning was this: Black men have no problem approaching a woman, they are fearless. If I hesitated a minute someone was cutting me off and approaching the woman before I got out of my seat. I am gonna learn a lot from watching these guys but I was super intimidated.

One woman approached me and we danced a couple of songs. She kept grinding on me (seemed like the only dance move she knew) but then as we were talking later (I sat at her table when she was alone and started a conversation) she kept saying how she was just out for fun and dancing, nothing more. Not sure what that was about. She kept bringing up work conversation so I was thinking she was new to this scene as well. I should have steered the conversation right there with something. "Does talking about work excite you? Tell me something you think is exciting", would have worked well I think). If this woman had not approached me to dance I don't think I would have approached her table afterward.

I tried to approach a few women even some unattractive ones and I balked. I felt totally fake and insincere and I think this held me back. I know I only want to get laid or practice a technique. I don't care about the woman I am approaching and I have no intention to. The "Good Guy" inside me gets in the way. I feel like I am in Jr. High again when it comes to women.

BUT, this sub did give me the inspiration to go out to a club. I had the intent to meet women, and I even danced with one. The first woman I have danced with in a club in my life that was not my wife.

One woman who stopped on her way out told me, "Hun, I been watching you pace this club all night long, just ask any girl to dance and she is gonna say yes. It is what they came here for."

RING! They did come here to dance! They did come here to have a guy pick them up! They EXPECT me to be hitting on them, just like all the other guys are doing, they are just comfortable with doing it.

I have analyzed (not over analyzed I think) the night and I can see all my mistakes and even learned a few things.

Learnings:

Black dudes act fast with the ladies and win so follow suit.

In a club, the ladies expect you to be hitting on them.

I have to be in control of the conversation I am having and be aware of my own behavior and set the tone.

It looks so much easier on paper.

TL/DR - 44 year old guy, first time in my life out trying to meet women and I learned a lot in one night. You gotta be in control and fuck fear and the ladies want you to talk to them.