How To Prepare For PU

All PUs have a format; a beginning, a middle and an end.  If you don't know what the next routine is going to be then you may end up with an unfortunate pregnant pause which fucks up your pacing.  You may end up filling the silence with the deadly, "So ... um ... what do you do?"  Preparation saves face.  Afterall, with your particular close, she could have pulled away from your trying to kiss her.  Then what?!! Instead, consider engaging her in enthusiastic conversation, then go directly into the close.  In other words, stop her in mid-sentence and with a curious tone, kiss close.

Alpha: In what way can you be prepared?  If we're talking about story-telling in front of a random girl we just met seconds ago in a random place ...

Mystery: Like a good comedian, have your material prepared yet when onstage be prepared to dynamically omit certain routines and to add others on the fly.  Sometimes certain routines fit the situation better than others.  Have 3 to 5 alternative openers (as a comedian would) and enjoy performing the one you think best fits the situation will get the best reaction for the group you are in front of

Alpha: Gotcha now.  Can you give me a brief example of how you go about preparing?

Mystery: Sure.  First, find 3 openers and memorize them.  Write down a list of openers (just the headings of each opener to remind you). Next, write down some routines (the question game, the music game, the photo routine, the bear in the woods story, etc - all on dejanews) and then also memorize the kiss close and the # close.  Memorize 3 NEGs too and you are good to go.  With the material in your mind, you are prepared to work it in the field until you have the timing of the material down (again, just like a comedian.)

Wakeboarder: So what you're saying is have a routine set up and modify it to each situation? Kind of like having a PU template?

Mystery: It's ALL about format.  Know the format and stick to it.  If you now what the next step is in the PU, you wont feel scared.  It gets fun and you begin to appreciate the strategy behind it all.

Wakeboarder: Yeah like FMAC? That's a simple format.

Mystery: Yes, FMAC.  Each letter in FMAC is an abrupt phase shift. "FIND" means having to abruptly disturb your complacency by getting out of the house.  It takes effort for many people to do bother getting THIS FAR.  "MEET" is a HUGE abrupt change.  "There she is!  3, 2, 1, GO!"  In the "ATTRACT" phase, you need to go from the walk up to the TALKATIVE performer entertaining story-teller.  You will need A LOT of energy for this (enthusiasm is contagious afterall) and for many to go from slumping around to being in performer mode is ABRUPT.  Finally you must then "CLOSE"; to phase shift from humour to serious is also abrupt.  Each phase may FEEL awkward but it looks normal.  When a comedian finishes one topic and just goes into an entirely new unrelated topic, the audience doesn't care as long as the next topic is entertaining.

Wakeboarder: Very true.

By Mystery