Open

To begin a conversation with a person or a group of people.

The word “open”, as it is used in the community, stems from Mystery, who borrowed the term from magicians who use it to refer to starting a performance (“opening a set”).

Opening is one of the first steps in pickup, beyond making eye contact. Opening is usually accomplished by an opener, which is a piece of conversation the PUA uses to get into set. This can be as simple as saying “hi” or reciting a memorized set of canned routines.

In pickup, as in life, first impressions are important, so it is a good idea to set the proper frame when first opening a set or a target.

Usage:

I opened three sets in the venue, before one of them hooked.