Hey all,

I am a new member here and will make an introductory post later. Firstly I want to share my last nights expierence with you.

I have been reading and studying the game for the past 1,5 month and decided to do my first real approaches yesterday evening. My goal was basically to bring an opener as good as possible, and see if the conversations goes anywhere, otherwise just thank and leave. The hard part was that the music in the clubs was quite loud, but did not want to leave home after breaking my AA at least once.

So, I walked to the other side of the bar and went into the first set, which was a 4-set of girls (2 x HB 8,5's; 2 x HB 7,5's). I threw in a FTC that I need to go back to my friends, opened with the G-string opener and asked their female opinions. Because of the noise level I had to lean in to enable all four girls to hear what I was saying.
I think they received the story pretty well, they all looked interested. They told me that if he was not interested in her anymore, he should just tell her instead of keeping up the story. A newbie as I am, I just took that as a proper answer to this opener.
My plan before the approach was to initiate the best friends test immediately after the opener. I should ask them how they all know each other, but then cut them off with: "oh no wait, don't tell me, lets do the best friends test". At the moment I asked, my mr nice guy took over and just listened. At the moment one of the girls started explaining that they are sisters, and the other 2 are friends of them, I realised I forgot to interrupt.
Then the target asked me if "this friend of mine" I was talking about, was actually about myself. I remember reading this (and the following) line in one of the books/ forums, but did not know any proper way to respond. My intuition took over and I just replied with a big smile: 'nononono'. The other girls thought the question was really funny and laughed. Then she asked: "Where are those friends of yours"? Which I honestly replied: "At the other side of the bar".
At this point I thanked for their opinions, turned away, and the target said something which I could not hear. I turned around, asked them sorry, I did not hear you, and they said good luck to your friend. I thanked again and left.

All in all I was in the set for about 3 minutes. I was really excited I managed to approach quite an overwhelming set. I was a little bit disappointed that I could not take the conversation any further. I just don't want to talk about study etc. to not sound as the AFC.

My questions:
1. I leaned in, I know you should not do this, but what goes first: actually approaching, and adapt to the situation to make yourself hearable (where some DLV is acceptable), or am I just looking for an excuse and should you never, ever, ever lean in?

2. Should I have carried the opener further after the reply?

3. How should you reply to the question: "Is that friend, actually yourself?" and "Where are those friends of yours?" (I have read in Mysteries book that this is about social awareness, and women trying to seek your social ranking; but, how to deal with it?)

4. Could the best friends test work at this point, if I had interrupted them?

5. What could I have carried on the conversation with? I know you should be storytelling, but that is really one big blur for me at the moment.

6. Is it a good goal to practice this routine, continue with AFC (study/ work talk) and just see how far you can get?

Over and out.