TLDR: For the guys that are successful with night game, what strategy would you take in a mediocre city at 30 years old completely solo? How would you start to cultivate a social circle and options?

Longer version: Alright so I made some posts recently about OLD and I've quickly burnt out on it compared to past years where I had more success. Volume just doesn't feel high enough to get better and the amount of hot girls that aren't bots is limited. The amount of attractive girls I see out during the day is pretty minuscule except for maybe one or two at the gym, and I work primarily from home, so I figure night game is a better idea. I'd rather spend time getting better in person.

Current challenges:

  • We have 1 or 2 popular clubs at most for the 18-35 crowd. Same for bars. More of a family town otherwise and our downtown city area is pretty fucked up since COVID. Lots of homeless and businesses have gone out of business. Big rise in crime rates. It's been offputting for people to go out on top of peoples social skills being rusty

  • My social circle is mostly 25-35 year olds that work full time, are in relationships, and don't go out much at all, so having a consistent group isn't really an option. I have one guy friend I can probably drag out with me but he admittedly doesn't like big social settings and is more of an OLD guy that pulls low hanging fruit straight to his house so I don't know how much of a help he will really be

  • I went out one night to our most popular 18-25 club that is really known as a hookup spot. This was largely a failure though and mostly seemed to be groups of girls twerking on each other and aiming to keep guys away. Approaches quickly fell flat. It almost feels like girls aren't even out to socialize...such a weird vibe. Second club was more of the same and couples. I left feeling down, but also had my brain churning on how to figure this out....

  • Gym is where I'm at a lot otherwise and it has a few hot girls but they typically act defensive like everyone is trying to fuck, no matter how slowly you build up the interaction over weeks and casually / friendly / non-threatening you approach them. So again, figured night life is probably a better idea

Goals:

  • I'd like to start to cultivate a new social circle of people that go out and do things. This city feels very dead since COVID but I'd like to overcome that until I can possibly move in the future

  • My cold approach ability feels mediocre at best and I want to get better. It's easy to spark conversation but difficult to translate it into sexual intent or something more than casual small talk. This has seemed more difficult in loud night settings like clubs and popular bars.