I've been in a relationship since about October now and before then my techniques were coming along really nicely. I was super confident, making out with new chicks and getting numbers regularly, but just shy of closing (until I snagged the current girl). And though I've tried to stay confident and tap into the same techniques (not for cheating purposes - just to stay nimble), I know I've taken quite a hit, and some of my anxiety has come right back. I can't help but feel afc when I come up with excuses not to talk to a girl - I mean, even though I'm in a relationship there is no reason I can't chat them up and tease them right? After all the last thing I want to do is turn into a whipped boyfriend, that's not good for either of us.

But my old self still comes through in thinking about approach material all the time, normally in context to the surroundings. I've been trying more lately and slowly starting to get more comfortable with the approach again. I just thought I'd share and maybe get some feedback:

The grocery store checkout line: I came up behind a gorgeous blond in some nice business attire after work, she picks up the divider and puts it down behind her stuff. It's now or never. "What, you don't want to pay for my stuff?". She laughs and says no thanks, but I've gotten her a little comfortable. I then tell her how I usually end up with free groceries sometimes because if it. She laughs again but that's it. I let it fizzle. I need to improve this one because the situation comes up often enough.

The "what do you do" answer: this stuff has worked for me really well. Whenever a chick gets to the interview stage in a conversation asking what you do for a living, I try to spice it up by coming up with random non-sensical replies, like pirate, bank robber, retired texting champion, leap frog expert etc. The immediate reaction (if they're somewhat comfortable at this point) is usually a laugh. But I never leave it at that. I talk about it some more and keep teasing them about how little they know about the profession. They usually play along and drop a few stereotypes, which is the perfect opportunity to neg. If you read up on some of the material of that random job it helps sell it even more. Example for pirates, it's speculated they wore eye patches to keep one eye in the dark so that when they went below ship they could swap the patch to the other eye and improve their seeing conditions in poor light. It's not because they lost an eye. Also they didn't say "arrgh", that's largely due to a British pirate actor who rolled his r's (Robert Newton - I'm not kidding about this one, look his wikipedia entry up). At this point they're usually hooked simply because it's just not the typical "what do you do?" "<real job>, and you?" exchange that really sucks most of the time.

"This is my favorite * ": this one works nicely at opening multiple people, and surprisingly well with groups. For example, I was in line for a coat check and it was pretty long and packed. Meanwhile the event behind us had the music going and people were getting restless at having to wait. So I turned to a group of pretty attractive ladies and said "waiting in line is my favorite part of the night!". They loved it and we had a chat, but my afc tendencies stepped up and I let it fizzle out too. Getting stamps for venues is another place I use this, especially with hot female stampers "getting the stamp is my favorite!" if you sell the enthusiasm you'll get smiles and I've gotten bouncers laughing at it too. Earning favor with bouncers is always wise, btw. Actually, I told a friend of mine to try this at the grocery store and he pulled it out while waiting for checkout. He sold the favorite checkout line by claiming how fast, friendly and not too far from the exits or the aisles it was. The chick was digging it.

That's it for now maybe I'll think of more later. Comments? Suggestions? I need to peruse seddit like I used to to get more comfortable in knowing these things work. Thanks for reading.