Single man wins the internet after putting up a funny billboard ad to find a date for himself

Navigating through the myriad of dating apps out there today can be stressful. People often end up with less-than-ideal dates at the end of the day. This was probably why a 28-year-old man from West Philadelphia has chosen a rather unconventional way to find his perfect date. According to PEOPLE, Dave Cline, who started his Instagram page as @date_dave_philly, decided to rent a billboard for over $1,000 in his neighborhood to advertise his eligibility.

The huge billboard features a picture of Cline smiling and another of his beloved pet cat leisurely lying down. Cline, who works as a data manager, also included a few fun facts about himself that might attract a potential date. The ad reads: "Want to go on a date with Dave?" It then lists his Instagram handle with four fast facts about him. According to the ad, Cline can cook well, has normal hobbies, owns a cat and has "bought a billboard." But if we squint a little harder, there is an additional message at the bottom of the ad that reads "paid for by friends of Dave."

So far, Cline has gained more than 6,000 followers on his Instagram and he even sat down for an interview with 6ABC Philadelphia. "It was just supposed to be funny for the most part but I am not gonna lie that the added benefit is that girls are messaging me now, which is great," he told the outlet. Ever since the billboard went up, Cline has received hundreds of messages on his Instagram and has gone out on a few dates as well. "I have one set up for tomorrow, probably gonna be a little walk or something. People are being very forward if they want a date which I appreciate," he added. The billboard has not only helped him find some nice dates but he has received a lot of messages from strangers who claimed that the colorful ad "made their day."

In another Instagram post that he shared on July 24, 2024, Cline clarified that the billboard was not just a prank and that he was indeed single. "If you’re here, that means you either saw my billboard, or someone told you to message me something very mean! I started this project mostly because I thought it would be really funny and I hope you do too. However, it may shock you to know but the guy who bought a billboard as a funny idea really is 100% single! If you live in Philadelphia (or anywhere with central AC) feel free to send me a message!" Cline wrote in the caption alongside some pictures that summed up his personality.

He also added a request and mentioned that he would appreciate it if people didn't spam, threaten or send anything weird over his inbox. He revealed that he is a straight man and won't be reciprocating any romantic interest from other men. The comment section of his post was flooded with people appreciating Cline's unconventional idea and wishing him success in finding his ideal partner. @dastickle commented, "I think if this is successful you need to update the billboard with a pic of you and your new wife. Best of luck to you but I think you will be successful."

@rivka_lea1001 mentioned, "Very effective billboard. Cute, long hair and has a cat! If I wasn't petrified of going on dates I'd be in. How normal are your hobbies? Are we talking about astronomy or like golf?" @cindy79 remarked, "I’m here for the epic love story that is going to unfold for this! Go, Dave!" @innabellena added, "Good luck buddy! I think there is a healthy amount of women who find this humorous and will want to meet you. I think your kitty is a huge part of the appeal too."