Field report # 2

Location: Street, Larkin at Sutter, San Francisco, CA
Date: November 29th, 2007, AM
Target: HB9
Outcome: Wasted opportunity, no open, no close

8:30am, walking to my parking garage to pick up my car and go to work. Approachable-looking brunette HB9 approaches from the left and proceeds to cross the street at the same time as me. I was wearing iPod headphones and listening to stuff at the time, saw HB9 wrapped up warm in a nice short jacket and gloved hands holding a cup of coffee. I thought of an opener "Oh that looks nice and warm, I'd love a drink of that." (I've used a similar line when out cycling on a hot day and see a HB with a cold drink.) I didn't bother taking the headphones off and didn't open, thinking in terms of "let's just think of the lines until I get into the swing of this and build confidence."

Remarks: Kicked myself afterwards, I should have gone ahead and opened. Still, at least I've reached the stage where I don't just let an opportunity like that pass and think nothing of it.

What to do different in future: Don't hesitate, as soon as the line comes to you, use it. Could have kept a conversation going and offered her a ride to work since my car was just around the corner at this stage. Don't listen to the distracting iPod in the street, you never know when a HB9 is going to approach and present a golden opportunity.

Caution: This is in a part of town that's notorious for beggars, hookers, pimps and wierdos. A line like that might be misinterpreted as another homeless 'gimme' if she didn't look closely and see how well dressed I was. Not everyone is in the mood for a chat in the morning, I know I'm not.

I'm setting out on my first proper sarging session tonight. Wish me luck!

Good luck man !