Incidentally, I don't actually hit on the girls. To me "hit on" means unwelcome, uncomfortable compliments and gestures, and I don't actually do that, even though I say I'm going to. Sometimes I'll say "but I'm going to do it really badly, and it's going to be creepy and uncomfortable, like this..." and I'll pretend to hit on them in the wrong way.
Tonight the band is between sets, and it's suddently possible to talk when a moment before it was very difficult. I make some dumb (slightly funny) comment on a situational observation to the target and she agrees. Then, I tell her I'm going to hit on her while the band is between sets and it's possible to talk. She laughs. I play on that joke a little more and then transition to something else.
I think there is always a sort of subtext that you're approaching a girl with the intent of picking her up, even with a perfect indirect approach. Even if they are distracted by "who lies more" or whatever, on some level they always know that you're approaching and talking to them deliberately. By calling yourself out on it, it becomes MUCH less threatening. When intentions are explicit, there's nothing to be afraid of.
I think this is something of a low-pressure direct approach. By stating my intention right away, it eases the tension both for her and for me, and I still get credit for being ballsy and confident. Perhaps even moreso than a normal direct opener because admitting to hitting on someone is, for lack of a better term, politically incorrect.
A week ago I told a girl that I was going to try to pick her up and take her home with me, but that I would most likely fuck it up at some point, so she's probably safe. I ended up closing her that night.
