Pick-up lines: They’re terrible. And if you’re someone who’s been out in the dating world at all, you’ve either cringed your way through one as it was used on you or (worse) actually used one in a misguided attempt to get someone’s attention — because “hi” never works, right? But are there pick-up lines that actually serve their purpose? Is asking someone if they’re from Tennessee because “you’re the only ten I see” a valid way to meet your life partner (or just a one-night stand)?
A recent post on Reddit suggests that sometimes, just sometimes, a good pick-up line can indeed work. The thread, posted by someone wanting to know the “smoothest move someone’s ever put on the opposite sex” ask for bartenders (who overhear more of our shoddy pick-up lines than any of us would dare admit) to come forward. The answers were actually pretty informative.
Here’s a smooth move from a woman that a guy was trying to pick up:
…as I was bartending I heard one guy say “I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t ask for your number”, and the girl said “sure. Want it now or tomorrow morning?” He looked at me bewildered. I nodded him on. Smoove move girl.
Sometimes, you don’t even need to speak:
I work a pretty nice, tropical mixology bar. One night we had “casual night” so to speak. So instead of my usual button-up shirt i wore sleeveless tank that said “sleeping with the bartender won’t get you free drinks, but it’s worth a shot. ” saw it online and I printed 3 (one for me, two for my fellow bartenders). I did it cus i thought i’d be funny. Well, shit, it worked. Not only did we get a stupidly high amount of tips (like 200 bucks each) but we all went home with a girl that night.
And sometimes it helps to be a knight in shining armor (with a beer):
So there is this beautiful chick, and this dude is trying to talk to her and clearly she is not into it. So my buddy buys two beers and walks right up to her and sits down and says “Hey babe, I got you a beer.” I saw the words come out of his mouth from across the noisy bar…and there was a split second moment of suspense. She immediately grabbed him by the arm and replied “thanks babe”. I was utterly shocked that it worked.
Or use a move from the very classic Hitch:
I wait for someone else to walk up to a girl and if they seem rather uncomfortable talking to them I’ll walk up and say “hey babe sorry I’m late” the guy will walk away and the girls are usually amazed at the confidence. I would like to thank Will Smith in Hitch for that one.
And sometimes some bold honesty will get you everywhere:
Not a bartender but the smoothest move I’ve ever witnessed was a guy we were out with walked up to this stunning girl in a nightclub (the sort that even the most trying of guys didn’t bother with because she had “high-maintenance and WAY out of your league” stamped all over her) and went: “Not looking for a relationship, just casual sex, fancy coming back with me tonight?”. He was confident, and cocky, but certainly not the best looking lad in the world. She looked him up and down, chuckled, and went “alright”. That was the last we saw of him that evening. Group of about twenty guys left speechless after it happened.
It also helps if you can sing and have a good personality:
My buddy has a stupid good voice, plays in a Hawaiian Reggae band. In the town we live in EVERYONE knows who he is. He’s a good guy with a ton of personality. One night he finished a set and a girl walked up and said “jeff, how come you never sing me a song?” She asked this because he had dedicated a song to a friend that night. Anyway, his response was to sing her “kiss the girl” from the little mermaid. She melted. After the chorus he leaned in and kissed her…it belonged in Barney Stinson’s Playbook. To this day I am amazed it worked.
And it helps to be funny:
This one dude was like say hello. She said hello. He said you had me at hello. The end
And here’s a bit of parting advice: Be yourself and don’t bother the bartender while they’re slammed behind the counter. That could be better than any pick-up line you got off the internet:
I myself am a bartender in a college bar at a school often ranked number one party school. Word of advice, seeing as many of you seem to be seeking it. If the bar is busy, and you think the bartender is cute, that is NOT the time to talk to her. She will be simply annoyed and any chance you may have had is now down the drain.
Personally, my favorite customers (and the only customer I’ve ever given my number to) are the ones who come in on weekdays and actually get to know me, not annoy me with their drunk antics.
Overall, don’t be afraid to hit on the bartender, there are often guys that I am checking out just as hard as they are me.
(H/T: Bro Bible)
