April boot camp report

[Krazian]

It has been a long time coming, but here it is.  Forgive any spelling/grammar errors, it was late when I finished this.  Thanks guys.

On Friday, I met with Redpoleq, Monolith and another member of the lair (the name escapes me right now) and discussed strategy at a restaurant and Coffee Bean. After shooting the shit and getting a grasp on opening and hooking sets it was time to go to Ellui(sp?). I opened the first set when I was told to ask a girl to help us with the lockers. After that, its kind of blurry but there were some memorable sets.
-I opened a couple of sets on the top floor balcony and they went hooked but eventually popped.
-There was a good set that I winged for Monolith in the area under the stairs. My girl spoke decent English but I don't think his did, so that ended.
-The funniest set of mine was opened on Redpoleq's reccomendation that I give a girl an empty water bottle as an opener.  There was a hot 2 set at a table near the dance floor that I approached. I basically thrusted the bottle in front of them and stood there smiling. After staring at me for about five seconds they laughed hard. I talked to them for a second, but before I could bring in my wing the girls literally ran away from me. We all got a good laugh out of that one.
-I opened a MILF-ish set at the bar and after Monolith came in to wing I found out that my girl studied in my home state (awesome). It was going really well until she insisted on me buying her a drink which I would not do and she left, oh well.
-The best set of the night was a cute 2 set which I didn't think would hook but suprised me. My girl had a unique style and spoke English really well. It was a great end to the night.

On Saturday afternoon we met for lunch in COEX and went over theory again. I finally started taking notes, which I should have been doing from the beginning. I was MUCH more nervous in day game compared to the previous night. In my first set I asked a hot girl who was seated if it was still raining outside. She was polite but not too keen and I saw her later on walking with her boyfriend. The next few sets were a bummer because my opening, voice, and game were all off focus due to my nerves and the unfamiliar territory. 

-A very funny failed set was with a girl holding a cake. Redpoleq told me to ask her if it was her birthday. When I opened her she jumped back about two feet and let out a "AHHH!" I kept my composure and talked to her more but she just said "boyfriend" and walked away. I still laugh thinking about it.  Awesome.
-I opened my first walking set by asking directions and it went alright. She seemed nervous until I successfully guessed that she was from Busan (just dumb luck).
-I saw a seated two set and after opening them I lost my train of thought quickly and ejected. Redpoleq told me to go back in the set and (after some hesitation) I did. The conversation went okay until she told me that they were in high school
(looked about 21). Doh!
-My last set went the best (seems to be a pattern). I opened her while walking and she didn't jump back or scream, so it was a great start. She was receptive but I got stuck and confused on where to go from a certain point so I left.

I realized how nervous I really was when I found my shirt to be damp from all my sweat even though it was hardly hot at all in the mall. I think this explains why I was drinking so much water that weekend.

That night we met back up and headed to Octagon. It was, of course, very intense but also very fun (after I got in my groove). Most of my sets seemed to hook and I was kino'ing girls left and right. Hot girls to boot. I managed to get a TB which (at the time) was really solid. I mostly learned the importance of non-verbals and creating the right energy that I need to bring into my day game more often. I don't have any specific sets to speak of because they all went basically the same way. I opened and if they didn't reject me then I would BT spike and bring in my wing. After that it was just kino and working through the steps for a TB. I learned a great deal that day.

On the last day, we did street sets and a few coffee shop sets in Gangnam. My nerves were still getting the best of me sometimes but the sets went mostly okay with two exceptions. One good and the other bad.
-Good set: I opened a girl the Redpoleq pointed out in the bookstore. I asked her if she was taking the TOEIC(?) test since she was looking at books on it. We had some good conversation and I bounced her to the English section for a TB.
-Bad set: In a coffee shop, I opened a cute two set who were seated behind us. I leaned back and asked them about the menu. At first they seemed very happy that I opened them as they were English majors. I froze at one point and there was a long uncomfortable silence. The set "had to go" shortly afterward. It was embarassing but Redpoleq discussed it with me afterward and came up with some good solutions for it. In retrospect i'm still embarassed by it but I learned a lot from it as well.

After a couple of more sets, we called it a day and debrieftd at a BBQ and coffee shop. Although it was difficult (as I expected) I am glad I did it. I learned more about game in a weekend then I would have thought. Now its just a matter of keeping the momentum going. Great to meet you all.

[Goodfella]

Well done Krazian and a nice report! Seems like you got alot out of the experience!

You mentioned above that:

I opened and if they didn't reject me then I would BT spike....

I think you should be trying to BT spike especially when initially reject you (particularly somewhere like Octagon). At best it turns a set that initially wasn't interested into potential TBs etc. At worst (and this is usually what is happening to me now) it makes the set look good to anyone watching and let's you leave in a much better way after you've BT spiked / teased them a bit. It's something I'm practicing now too and it's helping my skills and my sets alot!

Well done and keep at it!

[Krazian]

That's a really good point, i'll keep that in mind. Thanks.

[RedpoleQ]

Good to have you on board!