The solution is in your thread title.

Find a theatre group, preferably an improv group, and start practising. You'll start to do so much random shit in front of people that saying hi will be the easiest thing in the world. Plus, it seems that many people seem to be fascinated by improv. I haven't figured out why yet, but it's certainly a nice hobby, also as an outlet of everyday stress.

Find other newbies to go with you, that way you can take turns and give each other feedback. This will also force you to approach and the competitive instinct in you will force you to take action.

Do you get nervous when you speak to the cashier in the bank? Or when you order a drink? If not, then why not improv and make conversation with the shop assistant? Crack a shit joke, doesn't matter what you say, the purpose is to be stupid, so that you get used to the feeling of stupidity. Once you get used to feeling awkward and being ok with it, those moments won't feel awkward anymore. Being awkward can lead to tension. Once you master tension and you can cope with it, you can turn it into awkward sexual tension, which girls will want to break by kissing you.

Force yourself into situations which make you feel uncomfortable. Stand much closer to people when in conversation. Look people directly in the eyes when you're talking and don't look away until they look away. Turn it into a game.

What you are referring too is pretty normal. I've been in the game 15 years and I don't always want people hearing what I say. Honestly, I don't like people hearing it, b/c they don't have any business getting entertained by me for free. But it depends on the crowd too. Most people won't really care and won't think anything of it. Some people will find it entertaining to some level. If you get good at it, some people will hear it and admire you.

What you would do is think of indirect conversation starters you could use on anyone. A girl you like, or a homeless bum on the street would be no different. Don't over think it, and don't let anyone get the impression you are talking to her b/c you like her.

In a case like that, usually there are fashion questions you can ask out of curiosity. Women almost always will talk about fashion or something to do with the situation, ie the music. "do you know if the dj has played x song yet"

Well it is comforting to know i'm not the only one who doesn't like opening in front of audiences... At the moment i'm still concentrating on this newbie challenge, doing ok with the be social thing too! making checkout girls etc. laugh... Just still finding saying hi to random girls a little hard... i want to get myself to the point that i will say hi to any chick, even if she is a hb10 and in front of her hb10 friends... When i can do that i think i'd like to progress and do some direct openers... also going to try for an insta date or two when situational openers turn into conversations... I'm a complete day-dame newbie and this is my game plan! Ye it's good advice to talk about fashion, if she is hot maybe a little neg about how her ear-rings don't match her rings or something like that.

Any advice for a guy who struggles to open in front of people?... whether they are random or friends of the HB?

yea the neg isn't a bad Idea but be a little creative on how you do it. If I neg on fashion, I sort of do it with my eyes and facial movements. I give that look like, I want her to wonder if I like it or not. For instance, I met a girl last week who was wearing a fedora hat. Every mother fucker in the place was coming up saying "I like your hat" I just said "is that called a fedora hat" she said yes. I looked at it in such a puzzled way and said "oh I thought so" and she'd asked my opinion on it. I said "i'm not sure what to think, I don't have an opinion on it" then looked in another direction like I wasn't interested in her

I like your idea of approaching everyone.

Maybe try that for the first 5 approaches, it will get you into the right state of mind, and then focus on approaching girls.