Quote:
You mentioned recognising correlations between pickup and musical performance. I'd love to hear a little more about that if you have time.
I'm a semi-professional musician, and have given this some thought before. For example the learning of theory, internalised by repetition (practicing scales, modes), then going "on automatic" when on stage and not consciously thinking too much about the theory behind what you're doing.
Personally I play a lot of Jazz, where one of the core beliefs (for playing bop and related styles) if you want to play it well is that you must internalise the theory through study and practice, then go onstage and just play what you feel. Again this has some similiarity with how I think of pickup.
Excellent thread, many thanks for this.
Jazz? I'm jealous! I'm not advanced enough for it, but I have played in bands before. Now, before we continue, let's shift our perspective to the rock/metal world in which I can explain things better...
Before you even think about performing, you sit down and study at home or go to your music teacher's place to learn the ropes. You lean music theory, the hows and the whys for what sounds good and what sounds bad. You practice your scales and you learn your favorite songs.
There you are, backstage, about to step onto the stage to grace the venue with your art. The less experienced musical performer will be full of doubt and worry. "How will the audience respond? How do I know that they'll even like what I'll play? Maybe they'll boo me off stage!" he shall think to himself. You, on the other hand, are prepared. You know exactly what you're going to play. Even if you mess up somewhere, you're not worried. You know your shit; you're practically a natural musician. You know your scales so you can make ANYTHING sound good.
You gather your courage and step onto the stage with a glowing sense of confidence, a smile, and your opening song. You KNOW that you're about to rock the audience's world, and you KNOW that you're about to have a shitload of fun.
There you are, rocking out, expressing your authentic self by communicating raw emotion and having the audience feel what you are feeling. You are essentially leading the crowd, offering them a chance to see the world through your eyes, to experience your creative power and to really feel you on a deeper level.
You can see the audience reacting favorably to your expressions. They are cheering when you address them on the mic. While you play your favorite songs, you can see possibilities in the future. Perhaps the audience shall all clap at the end. Perhaps they will chant your name. Maybe you'll even get complete silence... followed by a standing ovation. Whatever the future holds, though, you don't let it screw up the fun you are having RIGHT NOW in the moment as you are fully enjoying the 20 seconds the audience is singing along with your music in the chorus of a heartfelt song.
The singer has stopped singing and the rhythm guitar is playing the same chord progression you've heard countless times before. You warm up into a solo that you've never played before (it's different every time and you know it), but you gracefully find that melody that you've been looking for during the entire show. In that moment when you're heart is crying with joy as you find the perfect combination of notes that tells your story and expresses the depth of what you feel, you feel enlightened and fulfilled. You're a real musician. You've become a real artist.
***Now, how does all that relate to pickup?***
Before you even think about sarging, you sit down and study at home or attend a workshop to learn the ropes. You learn psychological theories, the hows and the whys for what women respond well to and what repels them. You practice your positive affirmations and memorize your favorite canned routines.
There you are, at the club, about to approach your first set to grace the venue with your art. The less experienced rAFC will be full of doubt and worry. "How will the girls respond? How do I know that they'll even like what I have to say? Maybe they'll blow me out and reject me!" he shall think to himself. You, on the other hand, are prepared. You know exactly what you're going to open with. Even if you mess up somewhere, you're not worried. You know your shit; you're practically a natural PUA. Your Inner Game is so tight that anything you say expresses your irresistibly attractive personality.
You gather your courage and break open the tightly-knit set with kino, a smile, and an opener with a warm delivery. You KNOW that you're about to rock the girls' worlds - especially your target's - and you KNOW that you're about to have a shitload of fun.
There you are, spiking BT and demonstrating value, expressing your authentic self by communicating your state of positivity and attraction and having the girl(s) feel what you are feeling. You are essentially leading the girl(s), offering her/them a chance to see the world through your frame, to experience your creative power and to really feel you on a deeper level.
You can see the girl(s) giving IOIs in response to your expressions. Your target is passing your kino compliance tests. While you run your favorite routines, you can see possibilities in the future. Perhaps you'll number-close. Perhaps you'll kiss-close. Maybe you'll even get some LMR... followed by a passionate full-close. Whatever the future holds, though, you don't let it screw up the fun you are having RIGHT NOW in the moment as you are fully enjoying the presence of a pretty girl playfully hitting your arm as she's laughing in response to the neg you just threw at her.
You've isolated and it's just you and her sitting in such a way you are all too familiar with. Let's say you're about to wing it with Natural Game. Fuck canned material at this point; it's time to get really real. You warm up to her by exposing a little vulnerability to build trust and comfort. Then you just start saying whatevers on your mind (even though you know what you say is different every time), but you confidently explore your own mind and her's with her to find that click, where her yin compliments your yang. In that moment of true expression and ecstatic connection, you feel enlightened and fulfilled. You're a real PUA. You've become a real artist.
As Mystery once said, pickup is a performing art.
What many people forget, though, is that pickup is an
art.
Rock on and sarge on.
CHAT
(only in the Game 6 months or so), thanks for the reply!
