Starting a conversation can be difficult. How does one suddenly
start talking to someone that they have never officially met
before? What can you say to start the dialogue without the other
person thinking that you have totally lost your marbles and
are the strangest person on earth? The following are some suggestions. 
Try them. The worst that could happen is that you could get
rejected and then you are no worse off than you already are.
The two of you are not friends. In fact, the two of you are
total strangers so what does it matter if nothing ever comes
of it? Whereas, if you are able to start a conversation, then
you have a fair chance of making things work and before you
know it the two of you could become friends, or even lovers.
**If you are worried that you will be making a fool out of yourself,
find some random people that you are not invested in, and practice
on them. This way, if nothing works out, it is no skin off you
back. You had nothing besides a five minute conversation
invested in them.
Pick-up lines that work
1. My friend and I were having a debate. We were trying
to determine what your profession was or what you were studying
in school. Make sure that whatever you say is something that
you personally have respect for. You work on Wall Street, for
NBC, you are a cop, journalist, educator, therapist, lead hiking
trips, medical student. If the person is not interested in a
conversation, they will be very curt. If the person has interest,
this initial question lends itself to a whole discussion of
what a medical student looks like, and how bright they look
to you. Or even what profession they are really involved in,
which leads to a whole different set of questions. Where you
can find out all about them.
2. At a party, you can always ask, how they got to be
invited to this even that you are both at. How did they meet
the host / hostess?
3. If it is at a lecture, you can ask someone what their
impression was of the speech, or how they heard of this even,
or what there expectations are.
4. In any situation, you can always go up to a perfectly
random stranger and ask them if their name is Janet, Bob or
Craig. Of course they are going to say no, but then you can
just say that it so weird because they look exactly like an
old friend of yours. Then, if they seem intrigued, you can continue
by saying, you know them somehow, and you can start asking them
if they have ever lived in such a such state, or attended such
and such school, or summer camp. If you name off enough things,
often a person will say yes, or they may volunteer information
about themselves, from which you can continue a conversation
with. This route seems rather casual. The person will have no
idea that you went out of your way to initiate a conversation
specifically with them. It seems perfectly casual. Please feel
free to write in with pick-up lines that have worked for you
or your friends.
5. You can always start talking to the person sitting
next to you on the plane or on a bus. They are a captive audience.
Ask them where they are coming from, where they are going? How
long they have been waiting at the bus stop? Etc.
6. Find something in common that the two of you have
and begin a conversation around it. At a Jazz festival you could
say to the person that you are standing next to, that the music
is really good. Or at a crowded bar, while waiting for drinks
you could start talking to the person next to you about how
slow the service is. Or how overwhelmed the waitresses/waiters
looked. You could ask them what they think the best technique
is for getting their attention. Remember, if a person is interested
in you, they will continue this conversation with you to the
next subject. Whatever is said, all you have to do is add onto
the dialogue.
7. At a gym, you could ask the person next to you, how
to use a certain machine, or ask them about their form that
they are using to lift some weights. Always make sure that in
the process of asking the question, that you are complimenting
them on their abilities and that is why you are opting to ask
them the question and not someone else.
