Donde son las chicas?

A little over a week ago, Gee and I decided to escape the Seattle gloom and take off to Mexico for a week. Coincidentally, we were both starting new jobs this week, and thus had some time off. We bought 2 tickets for Puerto Vallarta and left the following day.

BEACH GAME

One of the reasons I wanted to go to PV was to surf. It also happens to be a major party-town right on the beach, although not of overblown proportions like Cancun. Our first full day there we rented a car and drove an hour north to a beach called Sayulita. It’s rather unique as a surf spot because even though there are some excellent surfers who live in the area, there’s also a ‘mellow’ vibe toward beginners. It’s also got tons of girls and a restaurant right on the beach. You can't really ask for more!

Unfortunately it was high tide and the only good break was in the rocky area. I was out for an hour and when I returned to hand the board off to Gee, I saw him chatting up some girl in a bikini a few feet away. He came over, took he board, and told me it was my turn to entertain her. He also mentioned she spoke some Japanese, so I went over her and said to her in Japanese “Hey, I hear you speak some Japanese”. She laughed and I sat down and we chatted for about 20 minutes. My game was pretty weak, mostly ‘question train’ stuff like where she was from etc. HBFreckles, as I’ll call her, turned out to be a bartender from Hawaii who works for a few months then takes off and travels for weeks on end. Even though my game was off, she was giving IOIs and at some point mentioned that her and her friend might take a boat to a remote island with a good surf break, and invited us with them! Wow. Unfortunately she didn’t know what day, and Gee and I were staying at a hotel 40km south, and leaving Friday. I gave her our contact info, but nothing came of it. It didn’t take me long to realize that I probably had a shot at closing her that afternoon, but the logistics woulda been a bit challenging (plus Gee was out at sea on his longboard and I had to watch our wallets and shit). My biggest screw-up was not kino-ing her (I have trouble kino-ing girls in bikinis…I MUST get over this!!).

TUESDAY NIGHT ON THE MACELON

Most of the clubs in downtown PV are on the “Macelon”, a cobblestone street that runs along the beach. It’s awesome. The clubs have dance floors on open-air patios overlooking the ocean. There were a lot of American girls, about half of whom seemed to be accompanied by their parents! (remnants of spring break perhaps) I opened a 5-set walking out of one club, stopping them, pointing to Gee and saying “Hey guys, I want to introduce you to my friend…this is the guy, behind the guy, behind the guy” (from ‘Swingers’). It actually opened well and I immediately segued into talking about one girl’s bracelet, when her MOM (!) interrupted me. I had know idea they were so young, my guess is 19? I tried to befriend the Mom but they walked off. Pretty hysterical.

Meanwhile, Gee had run into a Mexican guy, Rafael, he met earlier. Rafael was handing out tickets to a nearby strip club, but he was actually a cool guy and we ended up hanging out with him the rest of the night. It was already about midnight, and we walked over to the old quarter to hit a more mellow club with live music. I opened 2 sets there, one HB6 with her Mom (again, I didn’t realize at first), then a 2-set near the bar. I wasn’t really into the girl but Rafael liked the blonde so I opened for him and then winged while he chatted up his target (he came in, I introduced him, and his first action was to do the European-style double-cheek kiss on his target…nice!). Gee meanwhile had found a cute French girl and was doing great with her. We ended up bouncing her to another bar, but didn’t bother with the 2-set. About 3am, we hit up a street vendor for some tacos, hung out in the 70-degree night for a while, then said our good byes and headed back to the hotel.

We had only been there 24 hours and had already put in a good days’ worth of surfing and befriended two locals. This isn't all about 'game' or fucking HBs to me...it's about having a good time, making new friends, and getting the most out of life. I want to make every day as fun and interesting as this last 24 hours I described here...to me that's what this is really all about.

Part II coming soon...

SV

Post LMR text-message game

Short background. Girl I met last Tuesday from match. She is early 30s, about a HB6. I could take her or leave her, but she's good enough to fuck so naturally that was my goal. Kiss-closed on Tuesday night.

Meet her late Friday for drinks. In a bar. Walk her home, ask for glass of water at her building, get into her apartment, making out, LMR. She hints it's time for me to leave so I go. Damnit!

She texted me Saturday about meeting that night but I said I was busy. :)

Tonight (Sunday), she text me and the following hilarious conversation ensues:

[9:07pm] HB-J: Do you think we should go out again?

[10:09pm] SV: No. But no hard feelings.

[10:10pm] HB-J: Can I ask why?

[10:14pm] SV: Hmm, since you asked I thought u feel the same. Dunno do u feel a spark? I'd like to hang out again, just no rush into anything.

[10:20pm] HB-J: The truth is that I am attracted to you, yes. I apologize if I come off differently- I tend to be a little guarded until I get to know and trust someone-and a little shy too. I was actually out of my comfort zone on Friday night, but didn't want you to know it.

[10:21pm] HB-J: I am sorry you don't feel the same, but do wish you the best.

[10:34pm] HB-J: But wait. If you didn't feel anything.- why did you kiss me? Or is that just what guys do?

[10:47pm] SV: Sweetheart, I am attracted to you. We just seemed 2 be lacking chemistry. I'd like 2 meet you again, but no pressure. You should meet more guys.

Too bad I wasted this on a 6. :)

SV

Day Game Failure Leads to Night Game Success

After some months of trying to get serious about practicing and upping my game, I may have finally turned a corner. About two weeks ago I started day gaming regularly, and inspired by the “Day Game Challenge” initiated by Priest (of Mystery’s Lounge fame), I went head-on direct to several girls last week. To be honest it was pretty nervewracking…it seems easy to me when I think about it, but once I spot a HB in Nordstroms or wherever and I have to actually walk up to her and say the words, it is anything but. That’s probably one reason why doing it had such a positive effect on my game in the last week.

FRIDAY -- A NIGHT AT THE OZZIE’S

The turning point started late Friday night in Ozzie’s, of all places. Comfort and I were getting on a good buzz at the bar. I had left to open one set indirect but got blown out pretty much. We were thinking of just heading home when Mike befriends a Brazilian guy who is getting a drink at the bar. He’s pretty cool so we talk soccer for a while. Two somewhat chunky tan girls then come up…they are Brazilian and friends of his. Maybe B5 rating or slightly more (bonus points for being from Brazil I suppose?). They aren’t really friendly so we don't waste time. I’m noticing, however, that a crowd is beginning to form around us. Not looking at us or anything, just like somehow we are a gravitational pull and drawing people toward us, including a 2-set standing right next to us…an obvious AI so I open.

They are also only about B5, so this is pure practice. Seattle being Seattle and given the M:F ratio in Ozzie’s, they have more attitude than their looks warrant. I’m doing Juggler method but after about three minutes I stall out, and sensing the blow out I just blurt out the first thought in my mind: “Well, I guess that’s the end of our interaction, because as you can see I have NO GAME.” They burst out laughing and I proceed to drag this DQ on for a while. They are basically telling me how I should game them and I’m following their instructions and questioning their tactics…it was quite fun and hysterical. As this is going on, two more Brazilian girls come in, HB8s at least. I hit another stall with the B5 2-set, and without saying a word, simply turn my back on them, toward the HB8, and say “Hi. I’m Sid.” She responds well and off we go.

I kino’d a lot, but them being foreign, techniques in the JM or MM don’t work as well. I figured this out too late but I really need to go more caveman on foreign girls in bars, they are much more receptive to it then your run-of-the-mill Seattle chick. I had her going for 5 minutes then stalled out. She went off to sing karaoke saying she’d be back but that was pretty much it. Overall it was a good night however.

SATURDAY -- PART 1

SALSA 101

I’m eating a late lunch at Whole Foods around 4pm when Gee calls me and we decide it’s going to be a salsa night. Minutes later I run into Comfort who is doing grocery shopping and he is in. He’s never danced but they have a lesson at 9 so that should be enough to get him into trouble.

I get home, and text about 7 girls who I know dance. None of them, not one bird, is free. They all have parties of some sort to go to. So, my plan of getting a big mixed group to go salsa dancing is looking more like a guy’s night out, but we will persevere. After waking from a nap I have a text message from a friend who fills me in at a private house party happening at a huge downtown condo that night. Actually it’s more like one floor of a condo building…they have live DJs and drinks all night so the night is looking up.

We hit Century Ballroom about 9pm. Comfort is doing the lesson and talking up the newbie girls. I’m sitting with Cooldude, drinking Corona, watching and waiting for the dance to begin. I spot a girl from one of my classes, receive a warm greeting and she asks me if I’ll teach her newbie guy friends the basic moves. Once the dancing starts, I dance with a few girls, and then I spot a train of about 6 Korean girls walking in like they own the place. Most of them are ugs, but there is one real hottie, I would say a true HB8 or close. When they come down from the coat check I grab her arm and ask her to dance…and she refuses and runs off! Girls rarely refuse dance invitations at CB, that’s kind of the whole point of being there. I’m a bit distraught and take a few minutes to gain my composure back, and then I decide I’m going to go straight in to her set and make something happen, not exactly knowing what. ☺

I walk over to HBJazzie and tell her this is her 2nd chance to dance with me. She is no less bitchy. I proceed into standard sarge mode and just begin to plow. We get into a conversation…turns out she doesn’t know any salsa and is just here to observe. In the next sentence she tells me she’s a semi-professional jazz dancer and I’m like “WTF girl you can pick this stuff up in minutes!” The conversation is steadily improving when I decide just to go for it:

SV: “Hey, I should get back to my friends soon, but I gotta tell you, I like you and I’d want to see you again. Would you give me your number?”

HBJazzie: “I don’t know, you’re probably just not going to call me, right?”

SV: “The truth is, I find you attractive, but I would like to know if there is more to you than meets the eye. I mean, we’ve talked for a few minutes and you seem interesting, even though you were quite rude at first”

HBJazzie: [starts laughing and gives me a big smile and pushes me away playfully]

Apparently I had delivered a killer line. I think I was trying to push/pull though it sounds more like a pull/push…whatever the hell it is it worked! I get her # and felt it was rather solid. I danced with one of her ugly friends just to give myself a little insurance.

THE PARTY THAT WAS ON FIRE -- LITERALLY

We decide to head to the house party about midnight. As we are walking up the stairs in this 1930s-something building, we hear the din of voices and…an accordion?? There is a guy playing an accordion in the hallway and we make our way past him to the bar. Lithuanian folklore says that spying an accordion player upon entry to a festival is a good omen, turns out that was pretty much on-the-mark.

We begin to open some sets. Nothing big. I realize soon indirect openers here are a waste of time…people are here to drink, mix and mingle, and actually much more. I spy a blonde in a retro red miniskirt and white furry hat, and the first thing that comes into my mind soon makes its way to my mouth:

SV: “Has anyone ever told you that you resemble a Swedish flight attendant circa 1960?? And, I mean that in the best possible way”

HB-retroSAS: [laughing] “Well, sir, how can I serve you on this flight.”

It is ON…more ON than I was prepared for. We continue with the flight attendant banter for a while, and I realize it’s getting old but I’m not able to smoothly transition. I do some Juggler but I’m still really bad at the whole Appreciate and Relate stage (I make it too formula-like and thus it doesn’t have the effect it should). I basically eject and tell her I’ll find her later. I’m sure she was disappointed as much as I was that I didn’t have the game to follow-through after my strong opening. Doh!


Gee and I are in the midst of the dance floor crowd, swaying away, when we notice something weird about the music. There is some kind of beeping that has been going on for a few songs now…it could be part of the music but it just…doesn’t…sound…right. Eventually someone comes in and tells the DJ to turn the music down, yet the beeping is still present. We realize it’s a fire alarm. A minute later someone announces that there is a fire in the building and we need to evacuate. I could smell the smoke. Being on the third floor of a burning building with a bunch of drugged up and drunk hipsters did give me a moment of serious reflection…was this going to end badly?? . I started to exit but turned around to look for my friends. I didn’t see them but I did spy HB-retroSAS, who for some reason was just standing on the dance floor. I'm not really sure why, but faster than you can say "Towering Inferno" I went up to her and said:

SV: “Hey, so assuming this is the big one, I figure it’s as good a time as any to ask for your number.”

HB-retroSAS: “Um…haha…I guess you’re right.”

I hand her my phone and she types in her #. She then looks at it and says, “area code is 206”. At that moment a girl announces that the SFD has arrived, the fire is OUT and the party is ON. It’s about 1am, they crank up the music and people start dancing again. Apparently this sort of thing happens frequently at these parties.

Stay tuned for Part 2…it’s late and I got a dentist appt. tomorrow morning.

SV

ps—I was kidding about that Lithuanian folklore shit…you didn’t really believe me, did you??

FR -- Dance Floor Game @ Noc Noc

After a week off, Comfort and I hit Noc-Noc last night for their weekly Tuesday 80s-night. We arrived a bit early, 10:30-ish, and I rather expected it to be on the empty side...but it was already packed to the hilt! Upon first glance, there were tons of HBs as well (at least by "Tuesday night in Seattle" standards). We proceeded to the dance floor as a Prince song blared from the soundsystem. I like this club because, obviously, there is a dance floor where I can do “dance game”, as well as the bar area where it’s loud but not so much that conversation is difficult. I noticed a 3-set with one HB8 seated near the entrance, but I wasn’t in a talkative mood tonight and felt like focusing on non-verbal approaches on the dance floor. Honestly, I’m noticing it still scares me to open really attractive girls, ie, pushing past the “7” barrier. It sucks, but I’m exposing this SP and getting very aware of it, which I hope will motivate me to work on this and get over it.

We got a beer, chatting up some people in line, including HBRedHead whom we met two weeks earlier. Returning to the dance floor, I notice and AI and walk over to her. Nothing great, not fat, but old and not really cute, but I dance with her and do some kino for practice. Her friend is hotter, and she introduces me (not many words were exchanged, pretty much just ‘hi my name is..’ sort of thing). I dance a bit with her friend, but don’t really kino. It’s like when I switch from a 5 to an 8 I automatically revert to AFC-ness. I thought about this, how I could really push it with the hotter girl to get some result, either good or bad. But at least a result, instead of inaction. I think basically I need to “go caveman”.

There aren’t many qualities of my current personality that would make “going caveman” easy for me, so it’s something I need to really work at and push myself. Some things that come to mind : kino early and often, maybe even borderline things that might get me slapped ☺ -- it’s a matter of calibrating, and sometimes I have to go too far, cross the line, and then pull back, in order to figure out where I need to be. Also, not just dancing with one girl, but dancing with many of the girls, bouncing from one to the next like a madman. Done right, they will enjoy this and smile, having a fun time. Other girls will notice this and see that I am warm and friendly, basically this will act as a DHV as well as building social-proof.

I opened a few sets in the bar, nothing groundbreaking. I’ve got pretty bad AA right now for having been dormant for a while. More serious, is that even once I open, I am having the worst time transitioning out of the opener. I will elaborate on this in a future post (hopefully reporting some progress on this SP as well). On a positive note, I seem to be surprisingly comfortable approaching chicks on the dance floor at Noc Noc...it's got a friendly vibe. I should try Venom sometime.

PS – time for a rant…

[Begin rant]
Thoughts on "Community Terms": I tend to use them a lot, and yeah I realize it’s kind of geeky. The thing is, it’s also very useful. I view pickup as a skill and an art, in the same vein as a martial art like Tae Kwon Do, or salsa dancing. In any of these areas, having a vocabulary to describe concepts and techniques allows for more effective communication between teacher and student or among fellow students. I’m not just throwing them into my posts to sound cool and profound. Imagine teaching TKD and instead of saying “use a roundhouse kick”, you have to say “now swing your leg around in a semicircular motion, striking with the front of the foot”. So, instead of "perform an action or tell story which increases your perceived value and builds attraction”, it’s easier just to say DHV. We can debate what is and isn’t a DHV and whether the whole concept itself is BS or not, but that will have to wait for another day.
[End rant]