[FR] Halloween Weekend or: My Discovery of the Power of Social Proof

Taking a week off to reset my frame quickly turned into more than a month off after back to back ear infection/flu as well as some family stuff. I'd be damned if I was going to miss Halloween weekend, though. The parties over the weekend and the eventual Day2 turned out to be firsthand lessons in the amazing power of social proof.

The Field Report: Social Proof for the Win

"Here, go change so we can go," the 7 said said excitedly, thrusting my rolled up costume into my chest. Minutes later, I emerged from the bathroom looking like a crossdressing jazzerciser - brightly patterned tank top, bright purple leggings, a pair of girls' lounge shorts, and a hot pink bandana around my head. It was either going to go over amazingly well or terribly awkwardly.

"Oh my god! You look ridiculous!" the 7 shouted, at the same time throwing her arms up around my neck and pulling me in for a kiss.

"Ridiculous? You mean incredible!" I retorted. She snickered and kissed me again.

"Selena! You HAVE to come check this out, it's like Richard Simmons!" She shouted up the stairs. Just as she finished, her friend, an 8.5 dressed as a go-go dancer, appeared at the top of the stairs. She was met with quite the couple at the bottom - a tall, lanky jazzerciser screaming with loud color and Tinkerbell covered head to toe in flowers and gold glitter.

"You guys look... like..." she stammered. That was as far as she got before completely losing it. I smacked Tinkerbell's ass and she let out the short, playful shriek that all females are obligated to when a man does something along those lines. With that we were out the door, on the way to pick up one more friend - an 8 dressed as a vampire - then off to the party.

"It's the house with the strobe light and the big spiderweb," the voice blared from the 7's speakerphone.

"Yeah we see it, be in in a sec," she replied cheerily. We parked and headed in.

I had had some inkling of the idea of social proof before reading any PU material but was unable to articulate exactly what it was. After reading The Game etc., watching some videos, and cruising forums and such, I had a pretty clear idea of what it meant. I knew my entrance was going to be dripping with it.

I burst through the door with Tinkerbell on one arm, go-go dancer on the other, and sexy vampire in tow. When I went to tell myself to smile, I discovered a wide, warm grin already on my face. The girls were laughing, I was smiling, and the heads began turning in our direction.

"KATIE!" Tinkerbell yelled to an 8.5 Snow White in the kitchen.

"Oh my gosh! So glad you guys could make it! Your costume is amazing!" Snow White scampered over from the kitchen for a hug and Tinkerbell introduced us. On the way to the kitchen, we passed a 6 dressed as a witch. I snatched her hat and put it on my head.

"That's MY hat!" she complained.

"Not anymore! I look better in it anyway," I said with the you-can't-get-mad-at-me grin on my face. She scrunched her face up and walked away. The four of us made it to the kitchen before we split up.

I wandered through the living room and out back to the beer pong table and began chatting up the people waiting to play. I was still scouting the party at this point and just wanted to slip myself into a good frame. On my way back inside, I caught the eye of an 8 with blue hair and smiled. She smiled back. Target acquired.

After grabbing a water, I headed into the living room and found the blue haired 8 standing just outside with half of a 12 pack in her arms. She gave me the look - chin down and slightly to the side and eyes looking up right at me, small grin creeping across her face. As I walked in her direction, I ran into a 7.5 bumble bee. I put my hands on her shoulders and turned around so my back was facing the 8.

"Diggin' the stinger," I told her, reaching around her and grabbing the small yellow and black appendage clipped to her booty shorts.

"Haha thanks! Those stockings are hiLArious!" she said loudly, pinching my thigh and pulling them out only to let them snap back down. She went on her way and I turned back to the 8.

"Is that beer part of the costume?" I asked her, reaching into the box and grabbing one.

"No! I'm Katy Perry, can't you tell? What about that hat?" I ignored the question about the witch hat and turned to her friend and gave a confused look. "Oh shut up!" Katy Perry complained, slapping my arm.

"Hey! I didn't say anything. Did I say anything?" I looked once again at her friend and held a straight face for a second before smiling back at Katy Perry. "Doesn't Katy Perry have the cupcake boobs though?"

"Yeah well..." she said sheepishly.

"Well why do I want to talk to a half-assed Katy Perry?" I said, just as the 6 walked behind me and grabber her hat back. With that, I took my beer back inside to see what my friends were up to.

The party went on for a couple more hours - Tinkerbell went off to smoke with Snow White, Go-Go Dancer took too many shots and passed out upstairs, and Sexy Vampire was on the prowl for someone younger to make out with. The party died down some and I found myself back in the kitchen making a drink.

In the living room, three guys with no costumes (!) and shifty eyes were on the couch scanning the room and giving every girl who walked through a bad vibe. In the dining room, two couples were talking quietly around the table. To my right, a fat chick in far too little clothing was pouring shots. I turned around and saw three guys and an HB7 sitting at the table taking shots of beer. It was by far the most appealing set.

"Power hour, eh?" I ask, pushing apart two of the guys and pulling up a chair between them.

"Yeah! Can you believe this guy didn't know what that is? Figures, 'cause he's from Illinois," the zombie next to me said.

"Didn't know! Jeez man, get outta here!" I replied jokingly. With that, I pulled Illinois's chair back - he was a scrawny, pasty kid who probably weighed no more than 130 pounds. Everyone at the table laughed and he scooted back in as I patted him on the back.

I talked with the zombie, Illinois, and the ninja on the other end of the table for about half an hour while the 7 stayed sucked into her cell phone. When I got up to grab a water, I again was met by Katy Perry and her friend.

"I told you, I don't want to talk to fake Katy Perry!" I reminded her. She grinned and reached out to pinch my nipple. I reached out and pinched her back.

"You can't do that!" she protested playfully, covering her hands with her breasts.

"You can't expect me not to reciprocate," I told her, "plus, if you actually had the cupcake boobs, I wouldn't be able to."

She stuck out her bottom lip for a second then the three of us laughed. We chatted some more, Katy Perry pinching at me the entire time while simultaneously trying to swat my hands away.

"TINKERBELL IS LOOKING FOR RICHARD SIMMONS! TINKERBELL FOR RICHARD SIMMONS!" Charlie Chaplin boomed as he entered the kitchen.

"That would be me," I told Katy Perry before I went to go ask what was up. Charlie told me that Tinkerbell was looking for me, that was all. I turned to leave the kitchen and winked at Katy Perry on the way out.

Tinkerbell just wanted to see what I was up to, so I talked with her and Snow White and the few other people in the bedroom. She told me she wanted to leave in about an hour or so and it seemed reasonable.

I went back to the kitchen where I again sat down at the table and began talking with the Power Hour-ers. Almost immediately, Katy Perry came up and pinched me. I batted her hands away, but eventually had to excuse myself.

"I wanna hang out again," she said as she pulled out her phone. There was no mistaking her sultry tone.

"I don't blame you," I smiled. She pinched my nipple again. I went to pinch hers and connected. Her eyes lit up. I gave her an eyebrow.

I gave her my number and we rounded everyone up to leave.

---

I saved Saturday night to really get my drink on, as it was my good friend's birthday. Long story short: beer, beer, tequila, tequila, beer, rum, tequila, rum, rum, tequila, stiff morning on the floor. According to the pictures, I had an HB 8.5 on my arm for almost the entire second half of the party. Unfortunately, it was the second half of the party where almost everyone was blackout drunk. I was out to have a good time though – picking someone up was not my priority that night.