Gossip & Advice from The Water Boys & Girls behind the
bar @ TD Sports!
Bartenders’ best pickup advice
By Maggie Kim Few people have such a front-row seat to the dating and mating game as a bartender. Every night, these drink slingers watch would-be studs crash and burn, unlikely couples happily hook up, and more. Thanks to this experience, they’ve compiled a wealth of knowledge on the moves that work—not to mention those that bomb. Here, their best advice.Try this easy opener
“I think the easiest way for a guy to start talking to a girl is to get next to her while she’s ordering her own drink and say, “That one’s on me.” Every girl will at least say thank you and if she’s interested, she’ll stick around and start a conversation.”
—Gia Favia, Rino, Chicago
Stand out with a signature drink
“For both guys and girls, the meeting and hooking-up game is all about making an impression. I think finding a signature drink helps you stand out from the pack of gin and tonics and vodka sodas. Women who are sipping a bourbon definitely have a lot more mystique than one with a standard pink drink, just like a guy with a Manhattan seems more interesting than one with a beer. Find the drink that suits your style and personality and have a fun, cute story to go with it. Like ‘I drink Manhattans because my grandfather did.’ Anything that helps you stand out from the pack and start a conversation is a plus.”
—Josh Wojcik, Chocolat Michel Cluizel, New York
Stick to the three-minute rule
“From what I’ve seen, a woman’s usually made up her mind about a guy in
the first three minutes—and I’ve never seen anyone’s mind change after
that. So guys should go in for the pickup, but if three minutes go by and
she’s not warming up, they should cut their losses and move on.”
—David Cerequas, Craftbar, New York
Be sincere
“From what I’ve seen, it’s the Year of the Geeks and Good Guys: It’s not
about being suave or sexy, but about being genuine and attentive. Women are
tired of being hit on by jerks whose heads swivel every time another pretty girl
walks by. Give a woman your undivided attention, and you’ll stand out from the
crowd.”
—Terril Johnson, Shortstop, Los Angeles
Look out for the Lemon Drop
“You can definitely spot the girls who are looking for a good time and want to
flirt: They usually come in groups and line up at the bar versus at a table to
make it easier for guys to talk to them. And if you see them drinking Lemon
Drops — a yellowish liquid in a shot glass garnished with a lemon that’s
been dipped in sugar — it’s a sure sign that these girls just wanna have
fun! It’s replaced the Cosmo as the drink of choice for the Sex and the
City-type girls.”
—Erica Jobe, Moda, New York
Try talking about your troubles
“There was one guy who got a call on his cell phone about his dog being
injured by a car—it felt like every woman in the bar was trying to help him
and comfort him. Now, I’m not recommending guys lie and say their pet was
hurt, but the lesson here is don’t be afraid to tell a girl about a dilemma or
problem you’re struggling with. Women like to help.”
—Chris Lower, Gator’s, Minnesota
Be a big spender
“Splurge on a nice glass of champagne (think Cristal) and send it over to the
woman you’re interested in. This works better than anything I’ve ever seen.
It shows a guy’s not cheap and that he’s interested enough in the girl to
spend some money on her. It’s smooth, impressive—and works almost every
time!”