So, I'm bran new to this (literally been "gaming" for about a week). I've developed a routine, that's far from perfect mind-you, but a routine non-the-less which has gotten me some success (a few phone numbers), already from my experiences though I've come to realise how wildly different each set can be. First couple of times I tried it, it was great, built rapport, I was getting IOI's, kept them entertained and ended up with a phone number. I thought I'd hit gold. So full of confidence I rocked up to another similar looking set and tried repeating the trick...and it fell flat on it's face. It's not that they were bitchy or having a bad night, they just didn't "get" it. They were polite in fairness but you could tell they were thinking "when is this guy going to leave?", it didn't help that I didn't have a backup plan so I probably just came off a bit creepy or weird.

So I guess what I'm asking is there a "key" number of different routines I should learn so if one doesn't work I can fall back on another one, or maybe even try to calibrate which one to use before I even introduce myself to the set? Is it better to learn a fewer number of wildly different routines but have them practiced to a T or have a big a library as possible?

my advice is enough to have confidence, problem with routines is there will more than often be something that happens routines cannot account for, meaning you will have to think on your feet, its these situations that help us improve by analysing what we did wrong.

Can have 20 routines in your back pocket but they don't mean anything if you don't go use them and learn how to deliver them.

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Journal

Everything Tony King has said is gold.

No matter how good you are at this game, not every set is going to be a success. So if you come across a group and they weren't receptive, move on. You should have enough self respect that if they weren't receptive of you, then they don't deserve anymore of your time.

Your goal should be to open as many sets as you can, until you do find one that's receptive. And when that happens, as long as you have strong inner game, nature has built laws for you to succeed lol.

But with all this said, you need to work on your game some more. Check out 60 Years of Challenge's materials and read "The Way of the Superior Man" by David Deida. And you'll find out this whole game is quite simple... Good luck!

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What makes an average looking guy instantly become “hot”?

I'd say a maximum of 3, so that you will use the same and can tests them well. With around 20 routines, you will every conversation a different one, and everyone knows that 1 success doesn't mean that the routine is field test approved.

When you find out that the routines worked, then you can choose to find some new ones.

With all due respect, you don't get it. No amount of routines will guarantee 100% success.

One thing you can do to improve your chances is study the complexities of this type of interpersonal communication and look for signs (it's called calibration, which you can use to choose the best routine): what type of woman am I talking to and what is she interested in which will build attraction/rapport/etc? What feedback is she giving you? If a routine works but she still flakes later on, what does that mean?

The main problem I have with routines is that you have to know the routine before the approach, and there's no routine that could be better than a situational opener at any given time, or other styles of approach for that matter. What about a silent/body language/gesture opener? In the right setting, it can blow the doors off any routine.

Plus, with a routine you are usually using someone else's material, either partly or entirely. There's certainly times when routines work great, but a master isn't going to rely on them completely. Eventually their own talent, skills, and experience leads they way.