Do you guys know of any resources that will teach me how to handle the bar scene? I have no friends to go to the bar with, and I get too stressed out to go by myself, but I have to get over it somehow.

Bluemoon,

I found myself in the same situation as you when I was in college. What I did was go to the bars that you'd like to go to EARLY, like around 6-9pm, to get to know the bartenders, and even the managers. Shoot the shit with them, tell them that you're new to the bar scene, just make small talk with them. If you go to the bars earlier, you are in a much less threatening environment than an overcrowded loud club/bar. You can make conversation with the people at a relaxed, chill bar easier, get to know them, and this will pay off huge dividends later on, as the people that are there earlier are usually the bouncers, security, other bartenders, DJ's, and affiliates thereof. If you get in with the people that operate the joint, you'll have much more confidence. Eventually, you may even feel comfortable enough gaming the hired guns (bartenders, shot girls) If you're in with the people that run the most popular bar in town, everyone who visits the bar will want to know who the guy is that is connected. It'll give you a ton of confidence, and that bar will become your territory.

Hope this helps,

Marlow


Hope this helps,

Marlow

_________________
"Who the f**k is Fanning?"

That's a great idea, Marlow! But doesn't that put pressure on you to spend a lot of money?

On the other hand, I really want to learn to deal with the threatening environment. It's a challenge I want to overcome. I think my problem is with opening guys without boring the crap out of them. Does anyone have any advice on talking to guys? I want to learn how to mingle with everyone in the bar.

You dont necessarily have to spend a lot of money, even if you did want to order a drink, you'll probably get "Happy Hour" rates, and itll be a helluva lot cheaper than if you showed up at night. I've done this a bunch of times, showed up to a few bars where young people/college aged people hang out, and my bar tab, if I even chose to drink, would be around the 5 dollar range.

And to answer your second question, this is just how I approached getting more comfortable around the bar scene, theres many ways to do it. If you go at late afternoon-early evening times, you can talk to the guys at the bar in a much less stressful manner, and when you're comfortable with that, you can go to the bar when it's crazier. I've made plenty of good contacts, whether it be party connections, people who offered me jobs, and some really cool people who are naturally good at talking to girls, just by showing up at the bar earlier, and running into them later on at the same bar.

Like I said, theres plenty of ways to go about being comfortable when you choose to play the night game, this was just the solution for me.

Good luck mate,

Marlow

_________________
"Who the f**k is Fanning?"

Thanks, man. That really is great advice.