So, after reading "The Game" it kind of leaves the impression that successful pick up is largely based on repetition of a small amount of canned material, and following a set process. After checking out this forum and some other sites it seems theres a big following of the natural method - not using canned stuff and just improvising.

I absolutely agree and my ultimate goal is to be able to pick up without using lines and routines. It seems going from a beginner to being Socially Awesome will probably need a few stepping stones. Can some of you more experienced guys shed some light on what stepping stones you used?

If I had to guess I'd say 'always try to be environmental/natural by default but learn a bit of material to fall back on if/when the conversation dries up or nothing comes to mind' (as it does a lot with me at the moment!) - any improvements on this guess?

Cheers!

Check out the blueprint decoded by real social dynamics. I've just sorta finished it and would recommend it if your looking at natural game. 20 + hours of information that'll make your face melt!

Thanks, will try it. Thats a lot of video! Looks like stuff on how to achieve consistent inner state right, or is it more?

I can say, in all honesty, that canned material is a complete waste of time. I tried to learn canned material once - I read The Cube, and actually at a house party at New Year, I tried to run it (whilst drunk, admittedly) on a HB8. She was engrossed for 30 seconds - and then it all fell apart as the gaps appeared, as I had to make bits of it up, and as it became clear there were motives to what I was doing. She probably thinks I'm a weirdo now - and she's probably got good reason too.

On the other hand, I've recently had some notable success using almost complete natural game.

The only canned stuff I use now is a canned opener - usually 'Do you prefer your custard hot or cold?', and after a 30 second custard based debate, I'll pick up on something she's said to roll into next, and take it from there.

The reason I use a canned opener is the same reason a golfer uses a tee. Its unnatural, its primed, its designed to generate certain effects. But after that tee shot, the rest of it is all your own work, without any help from anything unnatural, hitting balls from wherever they land.

A canned opener gives you something fun to talk about, so that your first impression on someone is that you're fun. It gives you some energy and pace into a set. That's why I use one. In time, I aim to do away with even that, and to begin to open girls naturally. But since I'm still learning, I'm allowing myself to use just this little aid to help me tee up some nice sets.

I shouldn't have used a golf analogy though - I play off a 21 handicap, and therefore can't claim to have anything authoritative to say about golf!

Sort out the inner and the outer takes care of itself, sort out the outer and you won't sort out the inner.

Learn the Cube properly then buddy. I've only ever run it twice, but both times the interaction has been solid. Like awesomely solid, ya dig?

No 'can' do.

Take up Kowalski's advice and get out with the Manc boys. It took me one night with him and Jynxy to realise that 'it's not what you say'.

My next step was checking out The Blueprint.

I've just read this in Juggler's book:

'Picking up women will remain in good part an art that cannot be quantified. The funny thing about art is that you cannot create it entirely on purpose. Art always needs a dose of the inexact and lumpy. Perfection can sometimes happen but it can not be achieved entirely on purpose. As you bring out the pick up artist in yourself leave room for the imperfect and unexpected in your dealings with women. Have fun.'

Sums it up for me!

haha ok, sounds like I deffo need to get out with you lot then, should be fun Will post on the wing forum sometime.