What to do in this situation?

I talk to loads of girls and although I'm not awful at it - I'm evidently not great at it either. I can never progress anything and it always seems like I'm coming across as in-confident or trying too hard.

I've had girlfriends in the past and it seemed that they all "came to me" when I stopped trying to chat girls up and just ended up speaking to the ones I met normally and naturally - and it worked.

I'd like to try the same thing now but since college is over and I hardly ever get to go anywhere - I'm never in the situation where I can "naturally" talk to a girl. I always have to be the first to make a move - so then revert to coming over too strong or too desperate or whatever - simply because I had to cross the room and start talking to them for some reason.

Any thoughts?