by Ian Campbell

Created on: June 25, 2008

What do writers and pickup artists have in common? An opening which does not fail to leave an impression. The difference between an opening and a pickup line is anything but subtle. The pickup line will be spotted a mile away like a bad haircut; the opening takes the form of a clever icebreaker. Many people have problems breaking the ice or starting a conversation. A great opening is a premade conversation starter. It is simple and non-threatening-anything but a line. Successful openings will never appear to be anything more than a plea for help or advice.

The basic format for a great opening is as follows: you see the subject(s) and approach. Ask a simple open-ended question, such as, "Can you tell me where the closest pet store is?" Almost everyone loves animals. This question opens up a conversation that could lead you to talk about your new puppy (real or imagined). It also gives you the opportunity to ask the other person if they have a pet, something that they will surely enjoy talking about. The key here is to get the other person(s) talking, so you may also want to consider thinking about a couple more questions ahead of time, something subtle.

A Bar Opening

While many people go to bars and nightclubs to pickup others, a bad opening will have as positive a reaction as a pickup line. Be careful. Many women expect men to try to pick them up at the bar; their guard will be up. Some men will make the mistake of incorporating a drink into their routine. Do not ask what she is drinking, or if she wants a drink within the first 15 minutes of the initial introduction. Even if she asks, especially if she asks, do not do it. Chances are she is trolling free drinks, so you will not get anywhere anyway. Play hardball. If she asks you to buy her a drink, tell her you will gladly buy the second if she buys the first. This way you can evaluate how interested she is.

Start with this: Can I ask you a question?

Almost every time she will respond with yes. There are a couple of different ways to go about asking. The first scenario goes like this, "I was just talking to my buddy and we need a girls opinion on something, would you mind? She will probably answer a curious yes. "Well, my friend is crazy about this girl he works with. He has been nuts about her forever and wont approach her because they work together. From a woman's point of view, what do you think about dating someone that you work with?" If she is interested, you have got her because this leaves the door open

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