true i guess what it comes down to is i'm just not good at talking to random guys. when i started this i wasn't good at talking to random people, but i've learned game designed for girls and practiced it mostly on them.
i have heard the idea of telling a DHV story to the guys but loud enough so the girls hear it too, i will try that perhaps.
another thing i realized is usually if the guys are with the group it's not worth trying to blow them out, just isolate and # close.
if they just met that night though game on!! - particularly like discreetly telling a girl "this guy is kinda creepy" regardless of whether i think he is
so find out how they know each other and move accordingly.