This popped up on my Facebook newsfeed:

https://www.facebook.com/gordonramsay/videos/997683873588210/

Being a successful television chef obviously gives him lots of social proof and confidence right off the bat. But obviously, there are many other ways of achieving this. Notice how he talks to people, left and right, even before he makes it past the door, asking people how are they or how's their food.

Strangers and friends alike are treated and communicated with equally. He brings energy into the venue, and yet isn't annoying or needy, nor is he overly smiley or flattering. Confidence is shown through his body language (helps to have a big build as he does) and solid, calm eye contact (doesn't dart around).

I found it particularly interesting seeing him interact with the waitress's dad. He shows interest and respect, asking for his name and shaking his hand almost immediately after he is aware he is in the room. Without lingering on, he turns and sarges through the room (willingness to walk away - DHV).

After a while, he returns to the dad, remembers his name, and gives way to the music even though he clearly had the attention of the room in his hands, then shows more interest by talking to him (asking him "are you ready" almost as if from a leadership position, and "what's the first number"). At this point onwards, the dad is pretty much disarmed. If the daughter was the target and he wanted to proceed, isolate etc., he would have had much fewer obstacles in his way!

He dominates the room's attention and leads conversation, but this does not come off as irritating because he does so in such a calm, positive and supportive manner, and this is supported by his confidence and social proof from being a celebrity.

I try to adopt a somewhat similar frame of mind whenever I enter a venue, especially if it's one I'm not familiar with - I frame myself as someone involved in the management of the venue, or I'm the manager of the event of the night, or even the owner of the place.

Once I am in that state of mind, to myself, it is very natural for me to ask absolute strangers as I walk through the room "how are you guys?" or "you guys having a good time?", and because I feel so natural about it, I pull this off naturally and in turn others will see my confidence, congruence and social proof from previous sets or quick "how you doing"s, and thus react accordingly. This mindset also makes it easier to return to previous sets that I have cut short if I really wanted to, because it is congruent with this character that I am framing myself around (just like how Ramsay returns to the room after inspecting the kitchen). I forget where or whom I got this from (might have been Tyler), but it works wonders for me.

A quick look at the comments will tell you just how powerful his presence was. I fully believe you don't have to be a master celebrity chef to generate such response. Chances are, some of those sitting on the tables outside didn't even realize he was Gordon Ramsay, considering how fast he skipped past them, and yet they opened up to him when he asked them how they were doing. It's all in how you present yourself, and perhaps more importantly, what kind of state you have put yourself in, and whether your conduct is congruent with this state.

If I missed anything or made any mistakes, please do tell me. Hope you guys found the video interesting from a PUA's perspective. I certainly did!