Agreed that if the canned stuff you have is meaningless to you then it will not come off right. 99% of the canned stuff I have (and it's not a whole load tbh!) is definitely self-amusing, else I wouldn't say it / do it.

Also totally agree about canned stuff being a 'safety net'. Certainly at the stage I'm at it helps to have a few little things if you feel you're not getting attraction.

Anyway, addressing the original post, the 'Magic Bullets' ebook has a pretty good section on transitioning from your opener to other threads of conversation + it doesn't have to be canned.