I wouldn't, but circumstances have dictated it sometimes (i.e. lost my friends during the night, etc)
it can be good if you go to a place where you know the staff/are familiar with. Then you already know people.
For me, i have a tendency (or just random luck) of running into RANDOM ass people i know from somewhere, even in a city like Miami/fort lauderdale.
or if you're really social, it doesn't matter at all. Honestly when i'm abroad or out of state i'll go to places by myself and meet all sorts of cool people/women.
depends on your personality, you gotta be social or it'll suck. that means talk to dudes, girls,bouncers, bartenders...everybody
the times i was solo i ended up meeting real cool people. i'd make a joke or have a conversation with somebody random (usually a guy) and he'd usually end up introducing me to his friends and girls he was hanging out with. you find out who's with who, and who's single. met quite a few girls that way..
that way you're no longer the "desperate douchebag hitting on our friends" but instead the cool, funny, social guy.
do this with a couple of groups, and all of a sudden you have a couple of new sets of friends...bounce back and forth and you're the life of the party.
awesome feeling