Post: #26

Very informative posts from MikeCF and G, I look forward to using some of those tips when I finally settle in a city on a long term basis. Do you guys do this in cities that you`re only in for a short time, say a couple of days or a couple of weeks max, or do you just do this in the cities you live in or travel to often?

Post: #27

When locking down a bar don't be surprised if tipping heavy doesn't work on female bartenders and staff they are entitled.

Post: #28

(04-12-2013 03:34 AM)scotian Wrote:  Very informative posts from MikeCF and G, I look forward to using some of those tips when I finally settle in a city on a long term basis. Do you guys do this in cities that you`re only in for a short time, say a couple of days or a couple of weeks max, or do you just do this in the cities you live in or travel to often?

I think I should do a definitive guide to locking places down.

It is kind of hard to verbalize this stuff, cause so much is "vibe" driven, but still, I think guys would benefit immensely. I have been doing this stuff for years so I know a lot of the nuances. It really is an art.

It will be kind of a pain in the *ss to get my thoughts out, but if enough guys say they want it, I will really put some thought into it.

Post: #29

Please do, G.

Post: #30

(04-11-2013 12:02 PM)rakishness Wrote:  Every year there's always some poster claiming DC isn't that bad.

Then we find out the majority of his notches come from social circle game.

Couldn't u run the same game in any city? And I bet those 7s and 8s would turn into 9s.

When guys on this forum complain about DC they're are complaining about COLD pickup. Not meeting girls through social connections and local cred.

You know whats funny? I have lived here for 20 years but the last girl I ever fucked from social circle game was in high school.

My social circle includes CEO's, partner lawyers, commercial real estate developers, lobbyists, leaders. It does not involve a single girl that I want to fuck. I don't socialize with girls who are in their 20's. thats for guys in their 20's who aren't fucking those girls.

I'm about 40. I like girls who are in their 20's. But I won't be spending any social time with them or their friends. And no one I socialize with knows girls in their 20's unless they work for them. And I won't fuck them.

I meet girls by going and doing fun stuff and being a cool guy in cool places.

I got divorced about 4 years ago. I had to completely rebuild my social life from scratch. By 6 months I was living in the best place in town, hanging out at fun places, and banging a series of girls whenever I wanted. But I might as well have just landed in a foreign town. I was amazed by the fact that there was this entire other world out there that had escaped me while I was married. Different bars, different clubs, different places to eat. Different places to live. It was brand new. And now I'm the king of my little place in this city.

It can be done in anywhere

Post: #31

I would love to hear more on locking a place down.

One of the biggest concerns has to be venue selection. And this is where DC is tough. A place like New York has a long history of bar culture and of hospitality in general. Most of DC was hood fifteen years ago, so almost all of what exists now is part of a new service industry.

The new hospitality paradigm seems to be much more about riding trends and patron turn over than anything else. People go to bars and restaurants more to tweet pictures of their meals and blog about where they've been than to actually enjoy the experience. As a result a lot of places are more about being a destination than about providing a quality experience.

Take bartenders for example. Good bartenders can do two things: make you a good drink and make you feel welcome. Today's mixologists are all about the former and fuck the latter. You walk up to the bar and the dude with the handlebar mustache and the tweed vest is more concerned about impressing you with his housemade chocolate gingersnap bitters than with making you feel welcome. It's almost the opposite, like you should be happy just to have him pour you drink. The whole hipster mentality is a big obstacle to finding places that you actually want to be as opposed to places that you tolerate cause that's where the most women are.

Post: #32

(04-11-2013 12:24 PM)slothpiece Wrote:  Well to be accurate, and from what I read in the OP, he is from the area and has friends and family from the area. Not sure how that is close to moving to a city as an outsider and giving it two years to make himself a mini celebrity by establishing a social circle. Not slamming OP, but that was my observation.

It is easy to assume that but as I mentioned before, I got divorced a few years ago. I had lived in the neighborhood where all the old families lived. I went to all the old family restaurants. I went to the old guy gym. I dressed like the old guy.

When I got separated I was completely reborn and moved into a new neighborhood where I didn't know anyone. It was just as good as moving to a new city altogether.

My social circle in DC moves my professional career. It has old dudes in it. It does not have 20 something bitches to bang. Thats a completely separate universe.

Post: #33

(04-11-2013 08:11 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  Bouncers always deep down wish they were professional fighters

Yes, they are always talking about their boxing/mma training. Which is usually hitting a heavy bag for 1 round and lifting upper body.



But, some bouncers can do some damage.

(04-11-2013 08:11 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  For instance: A bouncer is from Panama. I will ask him if he likes Roberto Duran (always a yes).

A bouncer is from Philadelphia. I will ask him if he likes Bernard Hopkins. etc.

Just like with the chicks, you got to find some "common ground" to build upon.

How bout Hopkins winning that fight last month at 48 years old! Amazing athlete!

P.S. How to hijack the mind of anyone from Panama?

Answer: Say you like Roberto Duran.

I wish it was that easy with Russian girls and Ivan Drago!!!

Post: #34

I don't go out at night but this concept of "locking down" helps me during the day..

Locking a Place Down During the Day.


I always game at grocery stores, farmers markets, health clubs, public transportation, the park, the beach, etc.

Basically, the whole point of "locking a place down" is that you get better treatment, you get social status and acceptance, you get the best of everything, YOU GET RESPECT.

What's the best way to get respect?

Give respect.

I started with my local grocery stores. I was friendly, I asked questions, I got on a first name basis with the produce guys, the butchers, the cheese girl, the bakers, and the managers.

How?

I asked them questions about themselves..

"Your spanish sounds Colombian"

"What is your personal favorite"

"How would you do it"

Get a conversation going.

I also call them by their first name. They all wear name tags.

"Porfirio" (yes that is my grocers name)

"That is one of my favorite names, have you ever heard of Porfirio Rubirosa?"

Establish rapport. Using first names helps with this.

"Laura"

"I have a question about cheese, which type is best for making pesto?"

Get a dialogue going. Identify the things that they are passionate about. Ask them about themselves and their passions.

These are basic social skills.

I have a few markets locked down. I get the freshest produce, the freshest meats and fish, inside information on products, sales, and specials, free stuff, and social status.

Just last week, my fish guy gave me about a 1/2 pound of smoked salmon. My butcher gave me my bacon for free and I even scored a great deal on some weed from my bread guy.

They take great care of me. When I come in with girls they show us major respect. They come over and call me by name and help me with whatever I need. The girls always say -- "Oh my god, you know everybody"

I do the same at farmers markets. I bullshit with the old Italian guy who grows almonds.

"I just read that Italians are the happiest people on earth", I told him.

"Of course we are, wine, women, and football is our secret", he said.

We talk about why the pasta is better in Italy. We talk about the pretty girls.

When he sees me talking to girls he says..

"Gio, bring your girlfriend over to try some of these special almonds"

He knows its not my girlfriend. He is just trying to help me out. He gives her some free almonds. He winks at me.

Last night, I was at my newest health club. I asked the manager a question. He noticed my shorts.

"You like Sevilla"

"Yes", I said. "I like Sevilla, Valencia, and those mid level Spanish teams. Who do you like?"

"Dynamo Kiev", he said.

He is Ukrainian. We talked about Ukrainian sports and athletes. I reminded him that the Utah Jazz have a Ukrainian player on their team. He didn't know that. He thanked me and said -- "Great chatting with you"

Next time I go in, I will tell him the players name (Kyrylo Fesenko). He will love it. We will become buddies.

If I ever want to bring a girl in without a guest pass, he will allow it.

It's all about being a friendly, likable, positive person. These people are at work. They deal with alot assholes, they are bored, they want to pass the time quickly. They appreciate someone making them laugh and making them feel good about themselves. I always ask about their life and their family.

Make a connection!!!

I get social credibility, I get free stuff, I get treated very well. GIRLS SEE THIS AND MY VALUE GOES UP

Just wanted to share my thoughts on Day Time Lock Downs.

At night, its the same thing except you also should give them a nice tip.

Post: #35

(04-11-2013 02:27 PM)MikeCF Wrote:  It's easy. Here is a script.

Go to a new spot.

Talk to the bartender. Don't even "run game" on girls. Just say it's been a hectic day and you are unwinding.

"I'm new to the neighborhood, checking out places, do you live around here?"

Actually get to know the guy. Find out why he moved to the area. Find out what his hustle is. Find out what he really wants to be doing with his life.

Ask him his name and more importantly - remember it. Before you leave, "Thanks, Andy, for all the info. It was cool meeting you."

Have 2 drinks. Then leave a 50% tip.

Go back to the same spot.

Repeat.

Within 2 weeks you will have it on lockdown.

Yes, this is exactly what I do, except in the day time.

And, no drinking or tips.

Fuck, maybe I will start tipping during the day???

Nah, its looks tacky, except at a bar.

Post: #36

How did I miss this thread!!! One of the most helpful this year. MikeCF, Gio and Gmanifesto spit pure gold.

Gmanifesto writes "(well, doormen in big cities dress fly) and can appreciate good ones."---- this times a million

As a corollary, I posted a while back in the LA thread how I got busted sneaking into an art gallery in Beverly Hills because my friends had crappy threads on.

Fast forward this weekend, I dressed in a navy jacket, tan slacks, v-neck, w a vibrant pocket square. Bouncer complimented me on my attire. Bartender serves you quickly.

As for locking places down, I have limited know-how, but smoking joints/cigarettes w/the staff helps. Nothing but positive interactions have happened from that. Valets, staff, bartenders, bouncers. Light one up and chat a little.

Post: #37

I've been preaching this for years the importance of getting a city on lock.

It will elevate the Quantity and Quality of tail you pull times a 1,000.

Just posted 1 of a 2 part series on Clubs/Locking it Down on ROK. Link is below.

Post: #38

Last night I was at one of the newer bars in a part of town (near my place) that hasn't really taken off yet. My lady and I were sitting at the bar chatting it up with some locals about the night/bar/restaurant scene and how it really needed a new spot. Just when we were about to leave I got pulled back into the conversation. Felt like we were founding fathers or something... even the bartender was doing shots of whiskey with us after close.

Little did I know one of the older guys was actually looking to spend some capital on a good idea. He handed me a business card with "President" of some random company on it before heading home for the night.

You should always be building relationships with people, you just never know when a new quality connection will come along. I got some good vibes, made three new acquaintances and locked down a new bartender in about two hours. This is the way to live.

Post: #39

Got this studio apartment inner city I'll be moving into next week. Will be trying ALL of the above. Unreal advice MikeCF

Post: #40

(04-12-2013 02:11 PM)Giovonny Wrote:  It's all about being a friendly, likable, positive person. These people are at work. They deal with alot assholes, they are bored, they want to pass the time quickly. They appreciate someone making them laugh and making them feel good about themselves. I always ask about their life and their family.

Make a connection!!!

Guys there is absolute gold being posted here by Giovonny, The G Manifesto, reaper23, and others. Those people hating are the same types that are described by the saying, "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink it."

McQueen'sPlayboyRules article on RoK is another great piece of reading on the topic. I simply can't say enough about the power of networking (of which this is a large subset of) and I've only experienced relatively small scale benefits of networking.

Here's an excerpt from my blog post (which is an extension of the comment I made on the above RoK article):

Quote:“The guys who are hating on the money spent are the same guys who would step over dollars to pick up pennies.

They don’t understand that the money spent is an INVESTMENT in their future.

You cannot even BEGIN to imagine the looks you get from 3 pretty girls who have been waiting in line for a while as you walk right past them after vouching for friends of yours and you all walk in, no cover, no wait, no ID check. The look of shock coupled with the wetness between their legs is a stunning sight to behold.

The squeal of delight from the really hot female bartender when she recognizes you’re the asshole (giving her shit from the other side of the bar as she drops her credit card holders in a clumsy moment) is music to your ears as you see the cute girls nearby wonder what your name is.

The normally small cocktails poured into pint glasses with overwhelming amounts of liquor in them are just a bonus as is the $20 check at the end of the night for no less than seven of those cocktails (normally $10 each).

But it’s not just the money, you have to show them that you’re a great customer, that you are a cool guy, that you aren’t just trying to take advantage of them like so many other losers.

When you have a place on lockdown it’s easier and way cheaper than building your own club or throwing your own party when it comes to money/effort spent versus the number of women you can meet. By FAR.”

It’s all networking. Networking is one of the top tools for success. You can get unimaginable value with the power of networking. I cannot buy at any price the attractive male manager of my local bar coming over and telling a story about how I once didn’t give him the parking spot in front of my place (I was holding it for a friend) one busy summer afternoon while I’m on a date with a girl. Girls swoon over this guy and guys WISH he would acknowledge them. I literally couldn’t do it because the guy wouldn’t remember me from Joe Schmoe if it weren’t for the fact that I networked and got to know him BEFORE he ever had that situation happen where he came to park in the open spot and I was standing in his way.

The people who fail are the ones looking at how a situation can benefit them only. The people that succeed are the ones that figure out how to make a situation benefit the OTHER person (giving respect) so that the other person can then benefit them (getting respect).

If you haven't worked in a customer service type position you may not understand that these people are INUNDATED with ungrateful people who think that their sole job is to attend to their every needs and that somehow they all deserve to be "hooked up," the same people that are jealous when a semi-celebrity walks in and they get everything they want, and who are super annoyed by long lines and cover charges. They feel that once they get in the door they are owed something.

Reality check, you are owed nothing. You know the best way to not get something? Expect it and be unappreciative of it.

My first hook up in my local scene was after I stupidly gave my ID to someone else (first time I ever did this and the person was close to me, wasn't going to drink at all, just hang out with us). The bouncer was pissed, took the ID away and was going to wait to give it to the cops.

I approached the door guy/promoter that worked with the bouncer, he was reasonable when he talked to me and I gave him a lot of respect, letting him know I knew that he dealt with shitheads trying stuff all the time and that I was local, I just wanted to hang out with my friends, I realized it was really stupid, that I hadn't done it before, and apologized for fucking with their livelyhood (because that's what you're doing every time you try to get past a bouncer with a fake/not your ID). I owned up immediately to it being my ID and that I'd fucked up and was majorly in the wrong.

In between his work he'd talk to me a little more and eventually told me that if I gave him $20 for the bouncer (a small amount in comparison to having to get my ID from the cops and explain how this occurred) that he'd convince him to give me back the ID. I was relieved to have my ID back and not have been blacklisted (as I liked this place). What I got as well was the door guy/promoter's insistence that the next time I come by to come up to the front and say hi to him.

I thanked him and from that point onwards anytime I'd walk up to the front of the line, no matter how long the wait, I'd get in. This guy introduced me to all the bouncers, gave me recognition enough to get "in" with the major bartenders in the spot, then when he moved to a brand new even more popular bar, I'd get in right away and free there too. No need to grease ANYONE (although occasionally I'd still slip him a $5 spot if I felt it was warranted, such as letting me in with friends).

My return on investment is through the roof on this guy. All from what could've been a really shitty night for me, all depending on how I handled myself.

Bartenders are the same way. Everyone wants to get "hooked up" but rare are the people that are genuinely cool, are willing to tip well for good service, and make it EASIER on the barstaff, not harder. I'm not going to say that it's easy, but it's almost always worth the effort to gain a good hook up, people just aren't willing to put in the effort and be patient.

(04-12-2013 08:14 AM)el mechanico Wrote:  When locking down a bar don't be surprised if tipping heavy doesn't work on female bartenders and staff they are entitled.

This is true. Female bartenders and employees are harder to get on lockdown with money alone. However, if you can get in with the male bartenders this can help as can just gaming them as being a cool guy. Danny504 has some great advice on the topic of gaming hired guns and not fucking with their ability to make money while providing them some entertainment/fun.

Locking down a female bartender, especially if she's one of the more attractive ones can be well worth how much harder it is. They also seem to have more leeway with getting away with pouring free drinks and heavy-handed, pretty big bonus in my mind. The hookup I talk about above for 7 ridiculously heavy pint-glass cocktails for the price of 2 was from the hottest female bartender in my local while I was out with a girl I'm dating. Girl's jaw was on the floor when she saw my check at the end of the night.

So were her panties later.

Post: #41

(05-15-2013 05:25 PM)Gmac Wrote:  Last night I was at one of the newer bars in a part of town (near my place) that hasn't really taken off yet. My lady and I were sitting at the bar chatting it up with some locals about the night/bar/restaurant scene and how it really needed a new spot. Just when we were about to leave I got pulled back into the conversation. Felt like we were founding fathers or something... even the bartender was doing shots of whiskey with us after close.

Little did I know one of the older guys was actually looking to spend some capital on a good idea. He handed me a business card with "President" of some random company on it before heading home for the night.

You should always be building relationships with people, you just never know when a new quality connection will come along. I got some good vibes, made three new acquaintances and locked down a new bartender in about two hours. This is the way to live.

Nice work.

That is how it is done.

Post: #42

(04-12-2013 02:49 AM)bojangles Wrote:  

(04-11-2013 06:57 PM)dotbiz Wrote:  @MikeCF: Great post regarding the bartender.

Do you have a script for locking down bouncers? I'm in Europe and I have no idea how I'd go about this, especially since I simply don't hit the same clubs very often.

Also at most clubs there are usually 2-3 bouncers standing at the door and I have yet to see somebody grease/tip a bouncer in Europe. The bouncers me or my friends know, it's all through social circle.

Must be where you are going out, but you're right in that there's a general anti tipping culture in europe, it's why me and my boys do the opposite, therefore we are treated like Kings when we return.

One more thing that can help with the bouncers: language.

I've found that many bouncers throughout Europe (I'm talking outside the FSU) are Russian-speakers, and if you speak any Russian, now is the time to break it out. Nothing establishes rapport faster than speaking a common language outside of someone's home country.

I've rolled with Russian speakers in Bulgaria, Switzerland, Germany, even New York, and they always seem to find a Russian speaking bouncer at any club. Hell, 90% of bouncers in Tel Aviv are Russians.

This gets you past the line, sometimes past the cover charge, and you don't even have to tip (but tip anyway).