In the Club...

How are wingmen useful?

Despite all the progress the human race has made over the centuries, there is still an element of hunting behavior in the pursuit of potential mates - a perception that hunting in groups or packs better than hunting alone. In the context of a bar or a club situation, there is a certain group dynamic that can be observed.

Beginning with the case of the lone female on the dance floor: they could be considered to be undefended, but they could be waiting for someone (or can claim to be) or they might have a boyfriend with some serious rage issues sitting at the edge of the dance floor just "enjoying the view".

Moving up the scale, you have the case of the duo of girls. This is essentially a tough nut to crack with a solo approach. A girl will be reluctant to abandon or neglect her friend, or even if she does not have these concerns she may use them as a reason to reject your advances. In such a situation then the use of wingmen comes into play.

wingmen

A wing man can serve to at least pretend to be interested in the friend of the intended target. The wing man need not be handsome, dynamic or charming; in fact such qualities could lead to the target being drawn to them by accident. The unconventional but witty wingman is a more solid choice as wit can be turned up and down while good looks can not. Taking things to a higher degree to have not only a wing man but a whole squadron of wing men to entertain the target's friend also can come in handy as well as making you look really popular at the same time.

Proceeding up the size range, we hit the trio which is a lot more vulnerable than the duo. The target has less of a strong excuse for abandoning a friend if there is a duo left over. There is the slight drawback that you will be subjected to scrutiny by both of her friends but assuming you pass their examination you will have two positive reviews on your side. Once again a wing man can come in handy or the whole squadron.

Drifting back to the topic of wingmen - There is also the sacrificial wing man who goes on in ahead and purposefully says something stupid or makes a nuisance of themselves. Then the remainder of the group shows up, makes fun of the crazy person or gets rid of the man who is being such a nuisance and as a result ends up looking good to begin with.

Finally there are the groups of four or more. As numbers in a group increase then the group can become less cohesive and as a result be easier to approach. However, the large group means a large number of scrutinizing eyes; it is difficult to perform well with an audience. In the case of the large group, the wing man might not be needed to distract the target's friend but still could come in handy to make you look good.

In summary, there is a great deal to be gained from having a good wing man. However, they have to understand that their role is to ensure your success first (with their success taking second priority) or at least have a coordinated strategy that does not threaten your success.

-Richard Ford