I went out alone tonight. I don't have a huge crew yet, since I just moved to the area recently, but I got to see a DJ I really like so I was happy to fly solo.

I showed up early, got my wristband, had a glass of water, and left. I'd never been to this venue before, so I wanted to scope it out a bit. I walked into the alley behind the club and smoked a joint with some homeless people.

I decided to walk around town instead, Since it's a new city. I walked back to my car for gum, bummed a lighter and shot the shit with some drunk people outside a bar (apparently it's St Patty's already). I actually had 2 lighters on me but it's such an innocuous open I can't help but use it.

Walked back to my club, DJ was getting it in so I didn't have to make an effort to dance. I did however make an effort to smile while I was dancing on my own. A chick in her 30s came up to me and grabbed my Boombox pendant.

"What is this? When were you born?"

"90." Confident smirk.

"You're not even old enough to know what this is."

I pulled her close and spoke into her ear, "But if you don't have a boom box how do you make mixtapes for cute girls?"

"When was the last time you made a mixtape?"

"Today. I made it for you actually. But it's in my car, I'm too embarassed to give it to you."

"Whats the first song?"

"Uhh...I don't remember." I almost lost it here. I looked away and had to force myself to reorient my body toward her. Progress! "Oh I remember now. It's World's Greatest by R Kelly." I have no idea where this came from, don't ask me.

We talked briefly a couple more times through the night, but I didn't show any intent. I don't think I was actually interested, so maybe that's why.

There were people dressed up in dope 1920s outfits dancing next to me. I stepped in between the two closest girls, motioned them close, and said "Y'all make me feel extremely underdressed." One responded "Yeah but you're still cute." We laughed and danced some more. I left to get some water and decided to try my luck at some smoking section chatter. Smokers are notoriously social, but I've been trying to make an effort to approach people with non smoking related things so I won't lose that when I quit.

I ended up running into the Roarin' 20s chicks outside, one 40 one 30. They told me they're celebrating 30 y/o's birthday, and they're sisters. I said dryly "Yeah, I totally see how you look just alike." They look completely different, no similarities whatsoever. They didn't get the joke. Lol.

I went back in and got right back into my dance groove. I made no attempt to approach any girl on the dance floor because I'm still not entirely sure how to approach that strange ritual. One girl came right up to me, started dancing with me, but she was clearly fucked up on something. I just smiled and danced with her, and when she inevitably went off I just kept doing my thing and appreciated the social proof.

I danced for a while, got some nice validation from girls in the club, but still I feel sort of passive. After an hour or so of that I went out for some air. I walked up to a 3 set with one cute girl, stumbled over "my friends didn't come out, so can I hang out with you guys for 5 minutes?" I had intent in my mind and I let the cute girl feel it with every ounce of my stare. "Do you guys know this place well? This is my first time here." This gave me instant rapport with the group, but the girl said "My boyfriend DJs here so I'm here all the time."Heartbroken. But it didn't show. I think. I laughed and said "That'll do it."

I ended up having to leave due to an unrelated thing, hollered nonsense at drunk girls who hollered nonsense at me on my walk back. I also "danced" with a girl in the car next to me at a stoplight. I felt pretty loose.

All in all, I had a night that showed mild progress. I talked to a few girls fearlessly, showed some intent (and didn't die), and still have miles to go.