basically it's going to be hard to say "my friends and I were just talking about dental floss"

so how do i root it if i am alone, and how to explain the lack of friends. I guess I say that I have to go meet them in a second.

Man, just check the material of the PUA community. It is full of good examples. The one I really like is the one of Styles. His opinion opener goes as follows:

"Hi guys, quick question. My friend has a girlfriend. If she kisses a guy on the lips is that cheating ?" - You

"Of course that is cheating" - the girls

"Well, what if the girls kisses another girl. Would that be cheating or not ?"

You can find a lot of openers on this forum that you can use when you are alone. Just don't be too lazy to dig.

point taken, but did search before asking

I take it you're saying that most openers work solo!

They seem too. And the can still do the FTC on them as well. Just have to make it a business meeting or you're off to another venue to meet friends, etc.

If you are in a place where there is a concentration of bars and pubs keep talking to people - guys and girls and bar staff etc. Ask inoffensive questions that people are always gonna respond to.

felt tip marker loads of silly comments and pictures on your t-shirt - as if you were out on a leavers do or with a sports team - or as if loads of girls had written on you.

Bar hop - spending only a bit of time opening 1-2 sets in each place before rotating to the next - then going back to the first and continuing in rotation. By the time you get back to the first place again - people will assume you have been with your mates elsewhere or were sat with mates out of sight. Either that or the residents will have turned over in each place to reveal completely new sets. Hooray!

When moving about each place keep looking like you are looking for your fiends. If you feel awkward ask people if they have seen your mates - and describe them in elaborate detail, describe someone ridiculous to get engaged responses from people.

If drinking... buy drinks in 2's, making it obvious you are carrying for 2 by carrying with two hands together in front of you (looking cautious not to spill).

if sets ask why you are alone ... others responses are that you lost your mates who were all really drunk - or say your mate went off with a girl or say you just split up with your girlfriend who stormed off in a huff.

sneaky tactics - copyright tickle-ish

Well if you talk to another girl/guy or group and the girl you're after can see, she'll assume you're friends with them anyway - instant social proof.

I've been sarging alone bc my wing is out of town. I use the "Hey can I hang here until my friends arrive" with a smile as an opener+time constraint at the bars and it works on the sand at the beach. You need to have a quick opinion opener or something to follow up with.