Simple Pickup: from prank videos to a dating company
Simple Pickup put three friends on the street with a camera and one goal: get a woman's phone number. The channel debuted in February 2011, and by the end of May, Tubefilter reported it had passed 30,000 subscribers and 1.8 million total views across only six videos. That's fast growth for a first-year YouTube channel, and it's why the name still comes up in any list of early pickup content.
Who was in it
The three were Jesse, Kong, and Jason. OC Weekly, in a September 2011 profile by Matt Coker, described Kong as six feet tall with broad shoulders, Jesse as a screenwriting fan, and Jason, nicknamed "The Pudgy One," as the third.
What the videos showed
Each video followed the same basic shape: the group walked up to women on Southern California streets, college campuses, and beaches, said something funny or very direct, and tried to leave with a number. The camera caught the rejections as well as the wins.
OC Weekly counted what it saw. Across 16 videos, the group collected 125 phone numbers, and the channel had 7.3 million total views. One video, "Internet Trolls Pick Up Girls," reached 1 million on its own. The videos had more than 38,000 comments.
Kong told the magazine they got numbers about 50 percent of the time on college campuses and at Huntington Beach, and about 30 percent at Venice Beach. Those are his own figures for the places they filmed, not a study.
The style
The group leaned on humor, confidence, and bold lines instead of looks or polish. OC Weekly quoted one opener: "I saw your facial symmetry, and I was like, I need to speak with her." It's a joke and a compliment in one sentence, said with a straight face, and it tells the woman right away that the guy isn't taking himself too seriously.
A funny, direct opener lowers the stakes for both people. She knows why you stopped her, she can laugh, and she can decline without it being awkward.
What happened to the channel
Kong said he was inspired to start by The Game, the 2005 book by Neil Strauss (see Neil Strauss and The Game). Later he decided Simple Pickup had done what he wanted it to do, which was help people gain confidence and improve their dating lives. He founded Jumpcut Studios, an online business school that makes courses, and moved his focus there.
Reliable sources on the channel's current activity, and on what Jesse and Jason do now, weren't available, so they're left out here.
Where it sits in pickup history
Simple Pickup is comedy-first: the viewer is watching three guys be brave, not a coach demonstrating a system. If you want the bigger picture, what is pickup and the history of the pickup community cover where this style fits. For how to watch this kind of footage with a clear head, read infield videos explained.
What to take from Simple Pickup
- Set a number target, not a result target. Aim for 10 approaches in one outing, whatever happens. Kong's 30 to 50 percent figures came from a lot of attempts in busy places.
- Open with something light and honest. Try: "Hi, I know this is random, but I saw you and wanted to say hi. I'm [name]." Say it with a smile and then listen.
- Let a joke carry the first line, then switch to a real question. After the laugh, ask something you want the answer to: "What are you up to today?"
- Pick busy, relaxed places. Campuses, beaches, and markets worked for the channel. People there are already walking slowly and looking around.
- Treat a no as a full stop. Thank her and walk on. In Flow, log it as Rejected, and after the session note which opener got the best reaction. The 100 approaches challenge is a good structure for this.