Started out in Leicester square with markuk (good guy) and a friend of his. Now I've never been in Leicester square before, but to be honest, it was stupidly busy with tourists.
I'm not going to go into any sort of breakdown, but I found myself approaching easily enough, then getting uncomfortable and bailing out. (hey it's a start at least) Oh and I was going with silly openers, personally I love the question "What would win a fight/which is cuter a rhino or a hippo" had a lesbian couple having a great joke argument it, and a cute girl say the rhino was cuter because of the horn (I accused her of being filthy minded) and got a kiss on each cheek before bailing.
So all in all not a succesful evening, but it helped reinforce the message that IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, JUST HAVE FUN.
Now I know some of the experience guys will come and tell me that's obvious, but to me it's an important deep realisation, my main problem had always been being too serious.
Try the rhino/hippo thing, you should get a laugh.

You certainly didn't seem to have any AA, you were approaching loads.
Leicester square is pretty full on and I understand why most people avoid it but it can be good for practice.

I think your hippo question is a great opener (especially if it makes you laugh!) but you want to move off the opener a soon as you can or you'll be left playing dancing monkey and never get to show any intent (hard to do with lesbians I guess).
Likewise don't get stuck in boring interview style conversations (something I do a lot, AHH)

I like a little banter where you can have fun with a girl and wind her up. Not that I did that last night, maybe I had a little AA not sure...

Anyway was a fun night.

Mark

But if I put a fez on, I'd be a great dancing gorilla, lol. Being serious for a second though, you are right on that, and I found myself slipping into afc questions oh so easily as well.
The only reason I didn't have AA is because I didn't care about the outcome.
I see what your saying about leicester square, just found it too crowded.
Maybe AA, maybe not getting into state, either way you'll do better next time, you were far more comfortable in set than me (or looked it anyway)

yeah, you certainly did better than most people tend to do on their first sarge. i think your job in sales is helping you.

you seemed to do quite well at making the girls laugh.
i think if you can just be able to push yourself a little more and go for the number close then i think due to the law of averages you'll get some numbers, and heck ..you'll probably get more "success" than me and mark due to the fact you're opening about 20 sets a night whilst me and mark were doing about two or three.

next time i go out i'm gonna aim to open more sets too.

I like your attitude, good stuff

Cheers Knave.

Thanks, yeah it probably has an influence, I do open conversations with people quite naturally anyway. I didn't really try closing at all last night, other than my very weak attempt to get a kiss from that girl outside O'Neills. Should really have tried to number close, but never mind.
I don't really want to start giving advice on approaching because lets be honest, I'm no expert, and this has already been well covered, but you need to actually approach. I think I saw you do a couple of very nervous hesitant approaches (there may have been others I didn't see), you went in kinda from behind, and very nervously, it's no wonder you got quickly blown out, be confident (or at least appear it) Now you might well be better in a set than me, because as you saw I bail too soon, and was being a pussy as far as closing is concerned.

I did one good approach in oneils where i got talking to the girls for 10 minutes, i'm not sure if you saw when i did the actual approach but it wasn't from behind.

and did 1 approach in camden where i got blown out near enough straight away. this one was from this side, but thier backs were facing me a little bit ..so it sorta might be classed as "from behind"

it's strange though, when i got blown out it didn't effect my state at all. they were quite polite about blowing me out though.


sometimes it effects my state when i get blown out, sometimes it doesn't. I can't seem to control weather or not it effects my state, no matter what mental techniques i use such as "who gives a fuck if they blow me out, it doesn't matter ..etc" ..i can't seem to control weather or not it effects my state, it either does or doesn't. the only way i'll know is when it happens.


i should really try and approach more next time. i guess i wasn't 100% motivated to push myself on Saturday as unknown to you guys i knew i was meeting up with this facebook girl for the second time on the sunday..

A nice place to be yourself in London is round the corner. Adventure Cocktail Bar in Bedford Street, Covent Garden - went there on Friday and the staff just act loud and fun, all high fives, singing and having a good laugh.

Real good people and they WILL make sure their customers are having fun. Probably a nice environment to relax you further. Glad you're doing well!

EDIT: It's a bit loud for conversation sometimes, but we seemed to do okay most of the time...!