Being surrounded by the South Florida social scene year 'round is a lot like working for Disney. Everything seems happy and cheerful on the surface, but behind the curtain you're always dealing with a cast of goofy characters. Sure, you can have your good days - making new friends, hanging out and watching other individuals with severe personality disorders fight a losing battle with reality. But then it dawns on you - you're one of them.

At times, we all have to put on a costume and parade around like we know what we're doing.  However, the real trick to this charade is standing out from the crowd and really making a lasting, memorable impression. That doesn't always mean being the most intoxicated either. That will certainly get you noticed in most social circles, but it will also put a hurt on your hip vibe with the same crowd you're desperately trying to fit in with.

Whatever you're into from the charity fund-raiser circuit to the funky, restaurant lounge thing, it's important to make it work for you. It's never enough just to show up, so it's time to get over the old "place to be seen" cliché right now.

Hitting the social scene like a pro is no easy task. With the endless array of "in" places from Palm Beach to Miami, it can be pretty stressful. There's no question that it's much harder for women for the obvious fact that they always need to make the grade with both men and other women at the same time. The competition factor is ruthless and unrelenting. Most men could just show up wearing a decent shirt, a pair of black trousers and a wallet and they're in the mix. That won't be enough for them to stand out from the crowd, but at least the first big step is much easier than what women have to go through. As we all know, the female game begins long before kick-off and usually involves shopping, grooming and all the millions of other things you see screaming from every woman's magazine at the check out line.

When the social game finally begins all the cast of characters are paraded out from the valet directly to center stage. If you fall into the orchestra pit - you've hit the wrong note. If you get past the grueling audition - Disney awaits.