Advice for Women or Caution for Men

(from Women's Wall Street Newsletter)
Ten Ways to Score a Free Drink

Some women think getting a free drink is beneath them, and that’s ok. Others think it’s ok to let a guy treat here and there. And others are just are flat broke and need someone else to pick up the tab or they’ll end up washing dishes at closing time. While we encourage all women to strive for financial freedom, we don’t mind extending a helping tip to those women out there struggling to get by. Here are a few ideas for scoring a free drink (and you didn’t hear them from us)…

1. Make a bet with a guy on the game that’s playing on the bar’s TV – that the Lakers will win or Piazza will hit a home run. If you lose, he won’t let you pay. If he tries, his friends will shame him for making a woman pay for drinks. If he really insists and his friends are silent, pay up.
2. Walk into the bar like you have the weight of the world on you shoulders. Rest your face in your hands, only looking up to sigh deeply and look like you’re going to cry. There’s always a Sir Galahad who thinks he can make it all better.
3. Pick a sports bar near a place where lots of men are employed – an engineering firm is perfect. Go on Friday at 6 p.m. when they’re cutting loose after the work week. You’ll get drinks aplenty, just don’t fixate on the pocket protectors.
4. Sometimes it’s as simple as sitting one stool away from a man at the bar (don’t sit right next to him), looking up, smiling, saying “hi,” and looking away. Chances are he’ll spring for the drink.
5. If you’re young, sit next to an old guy. Unless he’s blind and deaf, just the thought of being with someone younger will motivate him to buy you a drink.
6. Karaoke works. Sing well and people will buy you a drink for entertaining them; sing poorly and people will buy you a drink to stop you.
7. When the bartender asks what you want, act unsure and ask the guy sitting next to you something like, “uh, are martinis made with rum?” He’ll probably not only suggest a drink, but order one for you.
8. In the summers, go to an outdoor bar with your dog. They’ll offer to buy you a drink just to talk about your dog.
9. Eavesdrop on a conversation a man is having with the bartender or a friend at the bar. Throw in an intelligent comment or two. If he has any brains, he’ll buy you a drink.
10. When all else fails, go to a gay bar. Unless it’s a serious leather bar, the men there love to talk to women – and buy them drinks.