They say that 93% of communication is nonverbal (combination of BL and tone of voice), and the other 7% is the words you say. I agree with this in general but I think for opening it's more like 99% / 1%.
Tonight El Fenix and I experimented with "I like salad". The idea originally came from Sinn's or Savoy's blog I think, I don't remember exactly.
First we had to think of a grounding story. We decided on a back-story that goes like this: I like salad and my guy friends give me shit about it. But I don't care, and I know there's nothing wrong with liking salad. I do what I want (I wouldn't say this, but this is the attitude I want to subcommunicate).
Vector: Hey. [ tap on shoulder, she turns ] I like salad.
Girl: ...
At this point sometimes they say "cool, me too" or something similar. Sometimes they pause for a while. I can tell they're trying to figure me out. They look at me expressionless, while I maintain eye contact and look friendly-but-serious as if I had asked them a serious question and I expect an answer. And eventually they'll come out with "yeah, i like salad too".
Vector: Okay, see now my guy friends have always given me shit about liking salad, but I keep telling them cool people like salad [ hold up hand for high-five ]
Girl: yeah, totally [ high-five ]
These are not exact words but it's more or less how it went each time. We opened several sets with it, taking turns as to who was the salad-lover and who was the one making fun of the salad-lover. It's really a fun opener because it's so silly.
And it's also great because when you use it a couple times successfully it really builds momentum, at least for me. If I can open with salad, it gives me confidence that I can open with anything.
One set we opened with "i like salad" but I didn't transition properly, so when the opener ran its course, I went back to talking to El Fenix and the girls went back to talking to each other. I'd rather let the conversation die and demonstrate disinterest than cling to a dead thread. A minute or two later she re-engages me with "so... what do you like on your salad?" I said something, grilled chicken I think, but inside I was laughing my ass off. Who knew salad could be so fascinating!
I'm convinced. Opening is 99% nonverbal, 1% is the words.