Hi all, this is a pretty rookie question but it's something I still have problems with. Last night I was talking to a three set (blonde HB9, fat taken friend, Asian HB8), one of them having some personal drama (the HB8) so she was outside calling on the phone the whole time, so it was a two set pretty much.

I opened with the Sweater Opener, they love the question as they keep babbling for 30 minutes even without me saying a word. I FTC, then "how do you all know each others." "Best friends since middle school." Cold reading: "You're the smart one, you're the good one, and you're the... (pointing at my HB9 target)." One of the girls interjects "the slutty one!" We all laugh, I crack a joke "well, then her and I will get along fine!"

The HB8 leaves to call, and I rapport with Mystery's "all of our best friends started off as strangers" DHV story. They agree and all their attention is to me. The HB8 comes back in, and while I"m talking to them, she's stuck on her phone. Feeling that she feels left out in our conversation, I try to open her up a neg "your friend doesn't talk much does she?" They agree, I then say "that's the great thing about best friends. They don't necessarily have to be similar."

The HB8 looks like she really wants to leave. At this point, I'm not sure if it's some external interrupt (someone she's texting with) that makes her want to leave, but eventually she takes the whole group out. The HB9 is giving tons of IOIs, and I felt it was too early to number close. But, on the way out she was looking like she didn't want to leave yet.

ARGH, I felt I really messed this up and that I had it. I had a friend (PUA in training, I guess you can call him that) listen with his back turned to them and he thinks I couldn't do anything about it as the HB8 was just in a too negative mood to stick around at the bar. But, I'm wondering if I didn't do enough to hit the hook point. Any thoughts?

If your PUA in training buddy was there he should have gone up to the HB8 randomly and said "Smile" and tried to distract her from her problem(s).

It's bound to happen getting sets like that. Shouldn't have negged her if she was already in a negative mood and about to drag her friends with her. Should have tried to distract her like give her a hug and say she should cheer up then break rapport with your target with a funny trick/test that everyone can laugh with. Gets the HB8 involved, makes her forget her crap and if she laughs(Which she should) she'll feel much better and comfortable in the set.

Infact there was a video of someone on these forums using a "hand-eye co-ordination test" on some chick. You could have whispered to the HB8 that you were going to try something funny and for her to pay attention while you did the test on your target. Boom, she's invested until the test is done and she'll find it funny. If she finds it funny she'll want to hang around and be happier.

Damn, you're right. I have a lot of bar games/magic I learned from a Style DVD. I should've let her play some games to cheer her up and get her invested.

My PUA in training friend is REALLY new. He's one of the few ppl who knows I do this, and he hasn't read anything and hasn't done an approach yet. The only knowledge he has is watching VH1s Pickup Artist back in the day.

Doesn't matter. Just tell your buddy to use one line and smile as he says it "Smile! *Touch shoulder gently*"

If he's really new and shy get him to practice on you. With the whole "Smile" line you've noticed she's upset or just not really happy. When you bring it to her attention she'll feel compelled to acknowledge it in some form. After you say "Smile" just shoot the shit and say a pretty girl like her shouldn't look so upset. There, she's got a compliment. It's only going to do good for her mood. He could probably even deliver the line terribly and get something out of it.

Say "So whats your story".

WHat she says isnt her story. But a collection of her interests, her desires, her dreams. She will only tell you positive stuff as well not negative.

Basically she starts vomitting topics that can be used as hooks.