Storytime #1: It's all about the approach.

& the topic is: dating in LA

The topic of dating in LA is brought up mid-discussion as we enjoy our Thursday night out around a dinner table at Marvin's. We're celebrating Claude's promotion to Creative Director and Gene's new relationship status after the guy she's been seeing for a few months finally asked her to be his girl. She retells the story of how the two first met, reflecting on her surprise when he immediately approached her after making eye contact at the Black Market Flea. "hold up girl, he approached you?"

Gina was new to the group and hadn't heard the story before. She moved to LA three months ago and despite getting upwards of a thousand likes on any given IG photo, she'd yet to be approached IRL. The general consensus amongst the group was that most men won't approach even if they're interested; instead they'll wait to send a DM later on or perhaps never reach out at all.

Drinking a spicy paloma to the right of me is Lia, a Forbes 30 under 30 nominee, who blames social media, "men don't have to try when there's an app for that." Claude, who's currently dating three women all pursued online, brings up a point none of us had considered before... "You're already facing so much rejection as an artist and creative here, why make it worse and have some girl do it too?

So is that what it all boils down to...ego?

It made me wonder. How hard was it to approach someone I was attracted to? Did I even care to try? The short answer was no, but the curiosity made me think, is approaching someone you're interested in really that intimidating? And is the possibility of facing rejection greater than the possibility of a potential connection?

I had to find out for myself.