| Primer: Zip and I decided to hit up the Meatpacking District of NYC. My main goal for the night was to finally get ahold of my AA and be able to move on.
Our first stop was Honey, a really chill lounge / bar / restaurant that was a nice departure from the deafening music that you find in many other venues. While here, we started by Zip pointing out every damn detail about my wretched body posture. After BSing for about 1 drink, she left me to fend for myself with the object of opening one set. In the past, I have experienced debilitating AA, but for some reason, I felt bulletproof. I knew that she was there to wing me and I wasn't even worried about getting blown out. I approached a 2 set with little to no AA and opened. "Hey, guys, quick, before my friend gets back. She and I have been talking about this all night. Would you ever date a guy you met off myspace?" I spoke with them for about 2 minutes when Zip entered the set and flawlessly cut in with an embarrassed look and "you're not telling them about the myspace thing, are you." At that moment, we found our scheme for the night. The three women spoke for a while, Zip DHVing the shit out of me, giving me more than ample opportunity to join the conversation. I remained mostly silent, feeling unable to contribute to the conversation. I interjected small commentary, but still the feeling of inability to maintain a decent part of the conversation remained. Zip then informed the two HBs that we were going to hit up another bar and that they should come. The two said that they planned on staying at Honey. At this time, what happened is what I like to refer to as a F#Close (facilitated number close). Zip said that we would call them later to hang out more. In my phone, I now have my target's number. After a graceful exit, Zip worked her magic with the doorman to ensure that the next time she showed up at the door, she won't be forgotten.
After circumnavigating the block and taking a slight detour, Zip's cross-hairs landed on Gaslight. Gaslight is a significantly different scene than Honey. Much busier, much louder, and a LOT more Hip Hop. After standing in front of the doorman and being cut by someone who, obviously, was more important than us, we entered and made our way to the bar to not only enjoy a tasty adult beverage, but to also observe the social dynamics of the room. There was a lot going on...many, many sets, mostly mixed. As I stand there, at the bar, poised, awaiting bartender attention, I feel a tug on my collar. "She's looking at you, open her." Standing behind me, at the bar is, what I assumed, was a 1 set, just standing there, looking bored. After slight hesitation, I spun 180° and opened. "I need to ask you a question." (Now looking at Zip) "Sorry, but I have to ask." (Zip with shocked/embarrassed look) I looked back at the target and ran the myspace opener. She had no clue what myspace was. Maybe I'm just ignorant, but apparently Facebook is a lot bigger than I thought...more on this later. In similar Zip fashion, she stood there and DHVd me for a couple of minutes while we spoke, but this time she split, taking off and leaving me for the sharks. My anxiety grew as my crutch faded off into the crowd. I made small talk with the HB and felt her boredom exponentially increase. Between one worded answers, her eyes darted about the room. I failed to properly receive that signal and roll off. After a few minutes, the HB's friend, who was sitting behind me, grabbed the target's attention. I was left there, like a stunned idiot. Zip's reassuring face appeared from the crowd and gave me the signal to eject. As any good student, I did as I was told. We stood in the middle of the bar, she gave me some further direction and pointed out the 2 set that was standing right next to us. They were already on my radar. I asked her about the alpha-looking guy that was about 3 feet away, looking at the blonde HB. I was told that he was a "classic AFC." Again, I opened and Zip fell right into character. Off to my periphery, I saw the AFC scurry away while I ran the opener. Fascinating. Anyways...this time, I was determined to work on my conversation skills. The blonde HB leaned in to speak to me, I was overcome with marijuana breath. (I hope that I don't get tested soon, at work. I might pop positive LOL) Zip began to have a dialogue with the cute brunette. The blonde tells me that online is a better place to meet someone than a bar because either way, people can lie. I tell her that I'm good at telling when people lie. She tests me my telling me about herself. I caught about half the lies, mainly because she leaned in farther than she needed to speak to me, not allowing me to see her eyes and facial expressions. We laughed about my ability to catch her in a lie. Just as we were laughing I hear an explosive "OH MY GOD! I LOVE HER!" In the middle of the bar, the brunette is proclaiming and reproclaiming her undying love for Zip. I could do nothing but stand in awe mixed with the occasional chuckle while I watched Zip number close a chick. Onto the next venue.
A b-line was made across the street and about a block south to a hotel with funky Miami style lighting on the outside of the top floor. We stood in the cold for a minute, plotting. Zip approaches the door, cuts the line and speaks to the doorman. After a few quick words, we were standing in the lobby, no lines necessary. We waited for the next available elevator, when it was available, we entered and I watched the PH button light up. We were headed for the penthouse, where all the cool kids hang out. As we exited the elevator, I realized that this was unlike any bar or nightclub that I've ever been to. We had a sweet view of Manhattan, lots of beautiful people, kick ass music, and to top it all off, this place now had Zip and Medic in the house! Coat check, done. Cocktail, done. There was work to be done. I approached a 5 set and opened, almost unassisted. Well, the three that spoke English had no clue what myspace was and I don't speak Greek so after we spoke for literally 2 minutes, I ejected. I didn't get blown out, I just left and started laughing. What are the odds? Zip and I changed locations in the bar and spoke about technique and frame and body language for a minute. While we were standing there, a 4 set walked by us in single line fashion. She looks at me and says "open them." I was caught so off guard that I took it as a challenge. We made a small bet of sorts and I kept it in the back of my mind for the rest of the night. Again, we changed locale in the bar and I spotted a couple of cute country looking girls. I approached and opened. That feeling of being bulletproof, that I had at Honey, still hasn't faded. Though I've only had one #close, I still feel like I'm on fire. I am rapidly attaining my goal of blowing through my AA. I digress. Zip and I ran the myspace skit on the 2 set, which turn out to be a couple of friends from Ireland who decided to live it up in Manhattan for the weekend and do some shopping. Again, no myspace was shadowed by facebok. Zip, similar to Gaslight, vanished into the sea of people, music, and cocktails. Again, my anxiety grew as I was forced to entertain both lovely ladies. We spoke about travel and learning different languages. They taught me several lines in Irish, which I can't remember now, but that's okay. I lasted a lot longer in that set than I did with the HB at Gaslight. Eventually, they decided that it was time to leave and asked me where Zip went. I told them that she was probably off getting some guy's facebook or something. I pulled the rip cord and rolled off. Zip, F-ing Zip tracks me down and informs me that she had been watching the entire interaction. I appreciate the opportunity to fend for myself, but it was a real challenge. Just like before, we walked around and found a place to chat about this set. We observed a HB, who obviously didn't get enough attention as a child. She was dancing around, acting like a total attention whore, getting people to take photos of her. If she actually calmed down a bit and put a smile across her mug, she's probably rate somewhere around a high 9. So, Zip and I were chatting. From my periphery, I observed a 2 set of moving targets rapidly approaching. I stopped them in their tracks and opened them. (I could see that I kind of impressed Zip...that felt awesome) We spoke to them for a minute and cut out, it was getting late. As we headed for the door, I saw another set of moving targets, they stopped but blew me off. It doesn't matter, they were drunk and not very pretty. No big deal, first set all night to not hook (except for the chicks who didn't speak English, but that's a little different). Down the elevator we went and into the cold night. I would rate the night as a success.
Lessons learned:
1- Zip's alter ego is a chameleon, she can view anything from anywhere, without being seen.
2- I need to work on my body posture. A wise women once told me: "Outer game effects your inner game."
3- I need to not be worried about making conversation. Just have a bit of quality material to talk about and the thread will naturally develop.
4- As recently as 2 months ago, I would go out and look at a set and see an impenetrable circle. Now, when I enter a set, the circle forms to include me.
5- Zip friggin rocks.
6- Smile, it projects that you're having a good time.
7- Relax, this is fun, it's a sport.
8- I need to not be afraid to kino, I tried very hard to use it, but I am still not sure how comfortable people are with strangers touching them. I guess that I need to man-up and just reach out and touch someone.
9- AA is easy to deal with, all you have to do is talk. People WILL listen, even if you have little to talk about (which you shouldn't).
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Life is a game. Win.
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CHAT
