This article was co-authored by Joshua Pompey
and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman
. Joshua Pompey is a Relationship Expert and Founder of Next Evolution Matchmaking (NEM) based in New York City, NY. With over 15 years in the industry, Joshua helps his clients navigate online dating and has a success rate of over 99%. His work has been featured in CNBC, Good Morning America, Wired, and Refinery29 and he has been referred to as the best online dater in the world.
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cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Approaching a girl who catches your eye at a bar can be intimidating, especially if she looks busy having a great night with a bunch of friends. Of course, you don’t want to let that make you miss an opportunity to meet someone who might end up becoming someone special in your life. Anytime you approach a woman, be polite and respectful if she doesn’t seem interested in talking to you. More importantly, don’t listen to any of the “pickup” advice online—it can steer you in the wrong direction. This list will give you some ideas for how to approach a girl in a group in a healthy, respectful way.
Steps
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This lets her know you might be interested in talking to her. Glance over at the girl and try to make eye contact before you approach her. [1] X Research source [v160969_b01]. 10 February 2021. Don’t stare or hold eye contact for too long or it can come across as creepy. Just glance over, make eye contact, maybe flash a little smile, and go back to talking to your friends. [2] X Research source
- If you make eye contact and the girl looks uncomfortable or turns her back to you, those are probably signs that she’s not interested in talking to you.
- If she also makes eye contact and smiles, chances are that she is interested. [3]
X
Expert Source
Joshua Pompey
Dating Coach Expert Interview. 27 November 2019.
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A simple hello is much better than cheesy lines or superficial compliments. Walk up to the group, say “hi,” and introduce yourself. Make sure you’re saying hello to the whole group and not just zeroing in on the girl you’re interested in. Saying hi to everyone may help you make a good impression. [4] X Research source
- For example, say something like “Hi ladies, my name is Josh, how’s your night going?”
- Always approach a girl from the front so she can see you coming. Coming up from behind is creepy and threatening.
- Reader Poll: We asked 564 wikiHow readers, and 62% said that when you're striking up a conversation with a girl in public, it's best to open with a comment or question about the place that you're both in . [Take Poll]
- So when approaching a group of girls at a bar, you could comment on the music or the vibe of the venue. You have tons of options!
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You want to win the favor of the whole group, not just the girl you’re into. Make sure to keep talking to different people in the group or the group as a whole. If you hyper-focus on just the one girl, her friends might not approve and won’t accept you into the group. [5] X Research source
- For instance, you could ask everyone to introduce themselves instead of focusing on 1 person.
- Reader Poll: We asked 842 wikiHow readers who've approached a shy girl, and 74% of them agreed that the best way to show her you're interested is by getting to know her as a friend first. [Take Poll]
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Show that you’re interested without being aggressive. Stand close enough to the group so you look interested and open to a conversation, but not so close that you’re violating their personal space. Keep your palms open and your head raised so you look relaxed and approachable, too. [6] X Research source
- Try not to cross your arms when you approach—this can make you look closed off.
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There’s a fine line between being confident and coming across as a you-know-what. If you’re feeling it, you can work an appropriate joke or a nice, non-superficial compliment into the conversation. [7] X Research source [v160969_b01]. 10 February 2021. Just be you and try your best to let your normal personality shine without trying too hard to impress the girl. [8] X Research source
- There’s no “rule” for how to show confidence. If you’re normally a pretty funny person, you might try to make the girl and her friends laugh. Just stay away from topics like politics, religion, etc.
- If you’re a naturally more reserved person, you can show confidence simply by carrying on a conversation with the girl. [9] X Research source [v160969_b01]. 10 February 2021.
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Having a friend there can take some of the pressure off you. They can talk with the girl’s friends while you focus on having a conversation with the girl who caught your eye. If your approach seems to be going well, as in the girls aren’t ignoring you and seem interested in talking, wave at one of your friends and motion them over to join you and the gang. [10] X Research source
- Say something to the group when you do this, like: “Hey you guys should really meet my friend Ben, he’s right over there.” Then give Ben the signal to come on over!
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Try to flirt with her in subtle, charming ways. Flash her a smile and continue maintaining eye contact as you talk. Also, try taking up a little more space throughout the conversation—according to some researchers, this is an effective, nonverbal way to flirt. [11] X Research source Offering a compliment is another classic option you can try. [12] X Research source
- You might say, “You look absolutely stunning tonight” or “I feel so lucky that I was able to bump into you tonight.”
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That way, it’s clear which girl you’re interested in. Politely ask if you can buy her next drink. If she says no, leave it at that and don’t push the matter. It’s normal for girls to be apprehensive of receiving drinks from strangers because, unfortunately, there are a lot of dirt-bags out there who might slip something in their drinks at a bar. [13] X Research source
- Try saying something like: “Hey, what are you drinking, a margarita? Can I buy your next round?”
- You can also offer to buy her friends some drinks, too. If they say yes, ask what they want to drink. If they say no, well, you saved some money! [14] X Research source
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If the conversation is going well, break away with the girl to talk 1-on-1. If the bar has activities, like a pool table, darts, or another bar game, ask her if she wants to play with you. Or, if the bar is too loud and you’re having a hard time hearing each other, ask if she wants to go to a quieter part of the bar with you and talk. [15] X Research source
- For example, you might say something like: “Hey, do you like pool? I just noticed there’s a table over there, want to play a match with me?”
- Or, you could say something like: “Hey I really want to keep talking to you but it’s hard to hear you right here by the bar, want to go sit at that table over there with me for a bit?”
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It’s hard interacting with a group of girls, and sometimes an exit is the best option. If the conversation turns awkward or, even worse, there’s just awkward silence, wish the group of girls a good night and leave. If the girl is interested in you, she’ll probably look for a way to come talk to you later. [16] X Research source
- Remember that not everyone goes out to a bar to meet potential love interests. They might be having a reunion between close friends, celebrating something special, or consoling a friend over a breakup, for example.
- If at any point during the interaction the girl says “no” to something, respect that. If someone says “no,” it means “no,” plain and simple.
Expert Q&A
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References
- ↑ [v160969_b01]. 10 February 2021.
- ↑ https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/how-to-flirt-with-women-dating-tips
- ↑ Joshua Pompey. Dating Coach. Expert Interview. 27 November 2019.
- ↑ https://www.foodrepublic.com/2012/08/16/the-heart-attack-guide-to-talking-to-women-in-bars/
- ↑ https://www.dmarge.com/2018/07/approach-women-groups.html
- ↑ http://changingminds.org/techniques/body/trustworthy_body_language.htm
- ↑ [v160969_b01]. 10 February 2021.
- ↑ https://www.foodrepublic.com/2012/08/16/the-heart-attack-guide-to-talking-to-women-in-bars/
- ↑ [v160969_b01]. 10 February 2021.
- ↑ https://www.dmarge.com/2018/07/approach-women-groups.html
- ↑ https://time.com/59786/how-to-flirt-backed-by-scientific-research/
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/flirting
- ↑ https://www.foodrepublic.com/2012/08/16/the-heart-attack-guide-to-talking-to-women-in-bars/
- ↑ https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/how-to-flirt-with-women-dating-tips
- ↑ https://www.dmarge.com/2018/07/approach-women-groups.html
- ↑ https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/how-to-flirt-with-women-dating-tips