I have no problems approaching, opening, kino, closing or DHV...within a short time period. I'm in, I'm out, it's all a routine that I'm managed to stumbled my way through these past few months. However, my big question is, how do you keep yourself from falling apart in long conversations?

As mentioned above, I can swoop in and swoop out of a set (whether it be successful or not is another thing, but it's an accomplishment just to be able to do a cold approach). But then, there are these sets that happen (normally when I'm with a wing) that tend to last longer than what I've gotten used too. I'm not talking about minutes, I'm talking hours. I start falling apart when I've run out of lines or stories. Then, everything just goes to crap and the girl(s) loses interests and I end up pathetically trying to DHV my way out of the set. I've tried isolating the HB away from the set to do a quick close, but they seem to always be a step ahead. Either refusing to let me go (by grabbing my arm) or calling over her set of friends that I just managed to get her away from.

After awhile, I just get quiet and start making uninteresting small talks and even start to ask the same questions over again (IE "Where are you from?" "What're you doing here?"). It gets horribly awkward and I feel like I'm letting my wing do all the work while I just sit back like an AFC trying to find a way to jump into the conversation or DHV my way out and hope that I can bedazzle the later when I re-enter the set. However, I don't want to leave and come back into a failed set, since it's never really worked out in my favor. At the sametime, I don't want to abandon my wing just because I can't keep up with the pace!

Is there anyway I can overcome this handicap?

Try this exercise:

Write down a thought on a piece of paper. From that though make up another thought, then make up another thought from that one. So just keep writing down whatever pops into your head. Usually what your thinking before will lead into the next thought.

For example im thinking about oreo's, which reminds me i am a sucker for sweets i make this bad ass dessert involving a gaint cookie ice cream and caramel. How i stay in shape is beyond is me, well i guess i work out everyday and play basketball almost everyday and keep up with martial arts. Etc, etc.

See how this can relate to conversation? you can branch off anything.

Another great conversational tool is to ask open ended questions. So instead of where are you from say tell me about where your from. It will force her to give details in which you can branch more conversation off of.

Heres and example:
You: tell me about where your from.
Her: blah blah blah I lived on the beach
You: So you must keep a good tan for most of the year. I really wanna learn how to surf give me some tips.
Her: I didnt surf but i did lifeguard over the summer
You: Cool you must swim really well then. I'll make a confession I actually learned how to swim from watching penguins.
Her: No way!!
You: Haha your right but did you know that there are actually penguins on the equator?
Her: No there isnt they only live in cold weather
You: I swear!! On the galapagos islands there are penguins because the cold currents run there.
Her: Wow thats pretty cool id love to see that
You: yeah we should make a trip there its only a few hundred miles off shore, your a good swimmer though im sure you can make it and carry me on your back at the same time.

LOL ok so i rambled a bit but hopefully that helps

Agreed with Sp1ctacular! That's a great exercise. I think the trick to having a long conversation with someone is just being able to take their responses and reworking them into another open ended question or a response that lets them follow up with an open ended question. If you have no problem approaching and opening you'll be fine. Personally, if I find myself getting into a long conversation with someone I'm interested in, I treat the person like I'd treat a close friend as far as my mindframe is concerned. Don't over think the situation. "OMG! What will I say next!" Just focus on what they're actually saying and respond.

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I wasn't kissing her, I was whispering into her mouth!

I appreciate the advice!

I'll certainly put this to use to the best of my abilities.