So I'm gonna be blunt - I'm going to a big Anime/Gaming convention and I want to pickup girls, flirt, have fun, and hook up. To clarify I'm not going here for the sole purpose of meeting nerd girls - I'm a big geek for anime and gaming, but I'm no neckbeard, either.

So the big ask here is how do I leverage this event and use it to practice and bolster my flirting/seduction game in person? I want to meet exciting, interesting, and cute nerd girls. I generally do pretty well online but in person my game is nearly non-existent, and I could really use some advice.

A bit of background on me. When I was younger, I never bothered to try approaching girls because I was fat, felt ugly, and had such poor confidence. Once I got older, more accomplished, and lost a fuckton of weight I could get away with not approaching because they'd on occasion (still rare) approach me, or I'd just do the online thing. I'm actually pretty experienced sexually (been with nearly a dozen partners, three long term GF's in the past) but all of these were either from online or through working at a bar (i.e. THEY approached ME, or I was doing the online game). I'm not an otaku and I'm honestly pretty damn happy and accomplished in my life right now. I've graduated college, I'm well travelled, I work a job that I love (in the video game industry) and make good money. Have a cool apartment, a nice car, and I'm honestly very attractive - very tall, I lift weights and am in shape, great facial features - I even did some modeling for a little bit.

I don't want to come across as cocky but I'd like to think that I won't have a hard time competing against other guys there (and I've worked damn hard in regards to education, career, and fitness to get here). But I JUST CAN'T APPROACH. JUST CAN'T ASK. JUST CAN'T get the ball rolling or a conversation going. I freeze up like the scared, acne ridden butterball I used to be 10 years ago, even when they're checking me out. If I'm in the flow of conversation, have been introduced, have the ball rolling I'm quite talkative and have a bit of charm as well - but I just never go after what I want and start conversations with cute girls - I just freeze up!

I've never really honed my in-person approaching/pickup skills, and as a result I've 'settled' on girls before and haven't really gone for what I want.

Tips? Tricks? Stories? Encouragement?