9 DAM! The of ART the PICKUP Story and photos by Emily K. Rabasto

Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?

I seem to have lost my phone number. Can I have yours?

Did you sit in a pile of sugar? ’Cause you have a pretty sweet…

DAM! 10 ickup lines are bullshit. It’s not you, it’s just a line.” Matthew Burks bristles ‘Pwhen he hears men ap- proach women this way. The 25-year-old photography assistant from Sacramento recently took lessons on approaching women from a self-pro- claimed pickup artist. Pickup artists, commonly known as PUAs, consider themselves masters of the to attract or pick up the interest of any woman.art of “the pickup.” Specifically, being able The term gained great popularity with

“The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society ofthe Pickup 2005 releaseArtists” of by the author non-fiction and journal book- ist Neil Strauss. The book chronicles the author’s real-life experience entering the Sacramento pickup artist Bryan Barton, right, talks with a woman after a free observation subculture of seduction. class he offered to his students during a speed dating event on Feb. 11, 2015 in Sacramento. The television network VH1 also helped During the event, Barton and his students critiqued men on their interactions with women. make the term mainstream through its reality TV show, The Pickup Artist hosted by Erik von Markovik, more commonly “I want to be who I really am...I have interesting known by his stage name, “Mystery.” During the show, contestants would be stories. I have depth. This anxiety, this insecurity, given challenges in which they would have this self-doubt all make me question myself.” to test their women-wooing skills. After Burks had broken up with a girl —Matthew Burks, Pickup artist student­ he had been with for nine months, he was worried that his diagnosed anxiety would three-hour mini classes that have up to a could go on and on.” get the better of him in the dating depart- dozen people attend them at a time and Burks says he was surprised how recep- ment. $225 for a one-on-one personalized six- - So, Burks decided to research his op- hour session. ized lesson with Barton while walking the tions on how he could overcome his fears In his mini classes, clients can learn campustive people of Sac were State. during his first personal certain pickup tactics and methods like “I really want to just get out there and First, he read “The Game,” and soon peacocking: placing an item on yourself learn how to talk to people even without and learn how to find a companion. to attract a woman’s attention and get a the intention of going out with someone,” book or actually go out and try it. conversation going. Burks said. figuredEnter that Bryan he Barton:could either The Sacramento just read the Kino, making physical contact with the Burks was diagnosed with an anxiety Pickup Artist. disorder at the age of 22 and says he Barton, who sometimes goes by his an insult, are two common things learned has always had issues with maintaining alternate name “Double B,” is a 34-year- woman, and negging, a flirt wrapped in conversation with strangers, and not just old owner of a tech startup in Sacramento students. women. by day and a self-proclaimed pickup artist in Duringthe first a lessonspersonalized Barton session, teaches Barton his “It’s embarrassing to admit. I get shaky advisor by night. often walks with and observes his client and am at a loss for words. I’m just glad “I never had a date in high school,” Bar- around a college campus like Sacramento I’m taking the steps in trying to overcome ton said. “I always struggled talking with State University and American River Col- my anxiety with this,” Burks said. lege as he demonstrates his approaches. “I want to be who I really am. I’m a cool, when I was attending American River However, Barton says what he’s teach- good person. I have interesting stories. College,girls and I figuringdidn’t quite out howget it.” to flirt. Even ing isn’t anything new. I have depth. This anxiety, this insecuri- Barton founded his website Sacpickup. “There’s nothing in my class that you ty, this self-doubt all make me question com in 2013 and considers himself qual- myself.” is very personalized,” Barton said. Barton says he can help students make can’t“I really find somewhere drill down asking,online, ‘Whatbut my does class connections with women but every girl Sacramentoified to teach because other men of his the personal proper way expe - this guy need to work on? Does he need has what he calls a “bitch shield.” He riencesto talk to, and flirt because with and of hispick understanding up women in to work on body language? Does he need works with his clients to help them break of the art of pickup from reading books — to work on kino? Does he need to work down this supposed invisible barrier in an including the one that helped him realize on his negging? Does he need to work on attempt to connect with or pick up a girl. why he was struggling, “How to Succeed One of Barton’s former students doesn’t with Women” by David Copeland. reading girls body language? Does he need entirely agree with all of the methods Barton charges his clients $40 for his tohis work confidence? on putting Does out he a needsexual to vibe?’ work Ion pick-up artists usually use to attract 11 DAM! women. Above: Pickup artist student Kevin Brewer demonstrates a technique of peacocking Stephan Sanders, a 22-year-old origi- by revealing a red velvet bag filled with pyrite hanging around his neck. nally from Dayton, Ohio, says a lot of what pickup is, is too gimmicky for his taste. “What (Bryan) teaches is pretty good, KEY TERMS OF A PICKUP ARTIST honestly. It’s just his personality that not KINO everyone might like,” Sanders said. Short for kinesthetics, meaning physical touch. Many pickup artists come off as crude or a little too much for “Bryan is confident, but he can also see kino as a milestone that can lead to recognition of IOI’s or indi- some people. In my favorite book, “Mode cations of interest from women. aOne” woman’s by Alan leg. Roger His methods Currie, he are never less gimtalks- mickyabout neggingand more or straight peacocking up unapologetic or touching honesty. Jest tell the woman directly what your intentions are and go from there.” Sanders, who was a high school track athlete and is currently working toward NEGGING A controversial practice of wrap- comparesbeing a personal it to working trainer, out believes a muscle: the key“It ping a compliment in an insult. takesto success practice with to women make it is good.” confidence and Sometimes used to catch a woman - off guard and peaque her interest trayed as a culture of deceitful men who in the man. Examples include, “I like useThe cheap PUA tricks culture to hastry tooften lure been women por into women with weak/strong chins,” and, “You don’t have to wear so much makeup.” approachgetting into women, bed with unlike them, those but whoSanders are seekingdisagrees, to sayingsleep with he wanted them as to soon be able as to

“These guys all have similar character- istics.possible. They don’t really have respect for PEACOCKING women. They can hide their disrespect Dressing for the sake of attracting enough to get a girl to sleep with them … attention. Some wear fuzzy hats or It’s just disrespectful toward women. You t-shirts with slogans that may catch need to have a genuine love for women. the eye of and start a conversation with a woman. their passions. Care“The about ‘men their are pigs’emotions, mentality their can love, make said. men“If moremen aren’t ashamed allowed to be to men,” express Sanders their sexuality and they have to mask their feel- DHV and that’s not healthy.” ings, they could be forced to bury them Meaning “Demonstration of Higher Value.” Talking about one’s volun- smartsSanders and says developing he’s figured some out kind the of key skill. teer trip to Peru to build a school to “Somepick up: guys Humour, think they’reconfidence, not enough. street for blind orphans can build up the perception of importance in a with themselves. How is a girl supposed potential romantic companion. toThey like just you need if you to don’t learn like to be yourself?” comfortable “If you don’t love life and take risks, no one’s going to appreciate you for you.” DAM! 12