Leave work early, get trendy new haircut and head to bar early to avoid the line and cover charge. I sit solo at the bar and order dinner, there’s a king’s game on and I try to engage the bartender but he’s not too friendly. Luckily, my somewhat natural friend is in the area and joins me for some stimulating conversation that puts me in a good mood.

My friend leaves and I assume my position at a high traffic section of the bar as the place starts filling up. My goal is to open everyone who comes to get drinks and with a dollar drink special there are a lot.

Set 1 - Two girls chatting near me, may have been lurking hoping for me to open. I play dumb and ask “Is there a band playing tonight?” “yes” “who?” “band name” “never heard of them” “it’s a guy, he’s a rapper” “so you guys are like groupies?” “haha” “what’s he like?” “he’s like a skinny tatted up white dude.” “so you guys are into skinny tatted up white dudes?” big laugh... “cool....” I get uncomfortable and eject from the conversation

Set 2 - Guy across the bar is wearing a “looking for groupies” t-shirt. Two set next to me. Me “Do you think that shirt works for him?” Girl half looks over and then pretends she didn’t hear me or I wasn’t talking to her. To be fair, I didn’t feel like I fully committed to the open either, it probably showed in my tone.

Set 3 - Girl orders a drink that requires muddling and shaking Me “You’re really making him work!” “Well, I’m tipping 100%”

Set 4 - Girl opens me “What is that?” “ vodka soda” i ask something else, don’t remember what “here on business” “oh, per diems are awesome!” she mishears me and then “oh yeah, it’s on his card anyways”

Set 5 - I drank too much and don’t remember my notes say “If there's a button he can press instead of shaking - older Hispanic“ idk what the hell that means.

Set 6 Bartender tells two girls there’s a $15 minimum Me “It’s cool, you can buy me a drink to get there” Them “hahahaa” We BS for a bit... I don’t remember about what

I leave the bar to feed my meter and meet up with my friend again. He opens some girls with with great personalities and FB friends them.

We walk around outside the bars and I see a two set of HB6’s. I ask my friend what to say and then I open with “Are you actually taller than me or just using performance enhancements (aka heels)” We bullshit for a second and another girl (non-HB) sort of throws herself at me. She mentions a bachelorette party and I assume they’re all together. However, as soon as I start talking to her the original girls go off on their own.

I go into the new bar with non-HB and my friend. I go to the bathroom and when I come back I start sort of scanning the place. My friend has the right idea as he is engaging dudes instead of looking around. I lose my state and then we spend entirely too long looking at a group of girls on the dance floor.

This time my friend gives bad advice and tells me to just be real and say “I don’t know you but I find you intriguing. Let’s go outside and talk.” I tell my friend that I know it’s not going to work but I am going to do it anyways just to get blown out and reduce my AA. The energy is all wrong between that line and a group of girls dancing. I go in and halfway through the first line she’s looking at her phone and just shakes her head. When I call her on it she mentions that she has a BF which I’m sure is total BS, it was just a weak open.

Regardless, I try to keep good body language so it isn’t clear to any onlookers the extent of my rejection. I notice that her friends are not giving me bad body language. Normally when girls are on the same page their friends will physically help close you out of their dance circle. These girls are anticipating my next move but I don’t know how to act on it and slowly leave their group.

Later my witty friend suggested saying “Are any of you less rude than your friend?” in response to that situation. The classic Mystery “you can dress her up but can’t take her out” might also work but I think a lot of his lines sound too Canadian for me. Anyways, I think I could have said anything to those girls and built a jealousy plotline or at least raised social proof. NEXT TIME.

The last set was opened by my friend just waving to two girls sitting down from twenty feet away. They waved back thinking they might know him. We walked over and chatted and then he played them some ukulele. I wasn’t really invested in this set.

Lessons

  1. If you think you’ve been blown out by the target, still try to engage the obstacles. According to MM you’re supposed to open the obstacles first anyways.

  2. Getting to a bar early can be great for state by making you the most comfortable person there.

  3. Having a spot staked out a bar when a really good drink special is on gives you a ton of opportunities for opening in really low risk ways because they’re going to leave as soon as they get their drink anyways

  4. Going out with a sociable friend who is in a committed relationship and DGAF about approaching is a great mood lifter even if you occasionally get some bad advice.

  5. Buy a tape recorder a la Hunter S. Thompson for reviewing game.