Meeting new friends at Comic Shops

[SuperSanchez]

I'm 16, a huge nerd and don't have many friends due to that. How would you guys recommend meeting people at comic shops? Thanks

 

[Immortalfire]

No one on the Hype has any friends either. I doubt we can help you.

 

[Perfect Cell]

I'm not even a real person. I'm just a bot that someone forgot to load up with Viagra ads.

But... the simplest answer is always usually the best one. You can meet new people at the comic shop the same way you meet them anywhere. Talk to people, find common interests, and expand on that. If you get along, go from there. Since you already ostensibly have comics in common, that's a solid ice breaker.

 

[Silvermoth]

Does your comic book shop do a book club nights? Some do and they're pretty fun. Look into it and you'll be able to make friends super easy.

 

[PyroChamber]

This may be just my experience, but at the one I go to unless you actually bring someone with you no one else will want to talk. Even when I try to talk with the staff they don't seem to be interested.

 

[NotSoLongAgo]

I'm 16, a huge nerd and don't have many friends due to that. How would you guys recommend meeting people at comic shops? Thanks

I met my lifelong friends in drumline. I don't know how it even happened but it did. So honestly I don't know what else to say but to be yourself and talk to anyone and everyone.

 

[ThePhantasm]

I'm 16, a huge nerd and don't have many friends due to that. How would you guys recommend meeting people at comic shops? Thanks

No problem.

First you need to draw attention to yourself. I recommend going shirtless (if male), in a bikini (if female). Don't worry if you're out of shape, that will help them understand you are a nerd. When you go, stand in a corner in the shop with a clear view of the door in case customers enter. If the shopkeep tells a joke like "what the f*** are you doing, get out of my shop" just laugh politely and wink to show you too have a sense of humor.

When another customer enters, approach them slowly, inhaling and exhaling loudly. If they ask if you are okay DO NOT SPEAK. Your purpose at this stage is to arouse their interest, not to make small talk. Pick up a comic book in each hand and do "the squirrel dance."* This expresses that you are a serious comic book fan who is excited by comic books.

At this point the other nerd should be at least backing away, or ideally running into the door of the comic shop repeatedly, screaming while forgetting that the door is a "pull" not "push." At this point begin yelling your favorite comic books excitedly. Throw in some obscure references and quotes, ideally: one obscure comic book reference, one D&D reference, one video gaming reference, and one comic convention reference (bonus points if it is not mainstream like comic con).

As the other nerd escapes and runs down the street, shout your phone number after him and also your name (so he can friend you on Facebook). The shop keep at this point will say something like "you are banned from this store, never come back" which means "you are our favorite customer, see you tomorrow" (shopkeeps are notoriously sarcastic and hilarious).

Mission complete. You will soon either be contacted by your new friend, or will have built up a reputation that will help you acquire new friends. You are now on your way to popularity.

*this dance mimics the movements of squirrels. Best executed if you have some nuts in hand, if you don't, borrow someone else's

 

[Snow Queen]

No problem.

First you need to draw attention to yourself. I recommend going shirtless (if male), in a bikini (if female). Don't worry if you're out of shape, that will help them understand you are a nerd. When you go, stand in a corner in the shop with a clear view of the door in case customers enter. If the shopkeep tells a joke like "what the f*** are you doing, get out of my shop" just laugh politely and wink to show you too have a sense of humor.

When another customer enters, approach them slowly, inhaling and exhaling loudly. If they ask if you are okay DO NOT SPEAK. Your purpose at this stage is to arouse their interest, not to make small talk. Pick up a comic book in each hand and do "the squirrel dance."* This expresses that you are a serious comic book fan who is excited by comic books.

At this point the other nerd should be at least backing away, or ideally running into the door of the comic shop repeatedly, screaming while forgetting that the door is a "pull" not "push." At this point begin yelling your favorite comic books excitedly. Throw in some obscure references and quotes, ideally: one obscure comic book reference, one D&D reference, one video gaming reference, and one comic convention reference (bonus points if it is not mainstream like comic con).

As the other nerd escapes and runs down the street, shout your phone number after him and also your name (so he can friend you on Facebook). The shop keep at this point will say something like "you are banned from this store, never come back" which means "you are our favorite customer, see you tomorrow" (shopkeeps are notoriously sarcastic and hilarious).

Mission complete. You will soon either be contacted by your new friend, or will have built up a reputation that will help you acquire new friends. You are now on your way to popularity.

*this dance mimics the movements of squirrels. Best executed if you have some nuts in hand, if you don't, borrow someone else's

I knew I was doing something wrong, no wonder no one ever talks to me.

Do I get extra friends if it's a Squirrel Girl comic?

 

[Erzengel]

I meet a lot of new friends at Victoria Secret with our shared love of underwear.

 

[BrollySupersj]

I often think, for me, it's a good place to meet people. But I never even try to engage someone.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I meet a lot of new friends at Victoria Secret with our shared love of underwear.

Just don't try that at Gap Kids.

 

[Duke]

I meet a lot of new friends at Victoria Secret with our shared love of underwear.

Just don't try that at Gap Kids.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

The comic book shop near me is in a hipster area so there is a cooffe and pizza shop connected to it ha. The people that work there are very cool and there are some attractive girls that work there as well. The shop is called Local Heroes and Grant Gustin AKA The Flash use to frequent the place when he was an up and coming actor in the area ( Norfolk, VA). So needless to say, it's pretty popular these days. So it's a good place to meet new friends and fellow nerds.

 

[tzarinna]

There are some geek and nerd groups on meetup.com. I'm not sure about your area, but it's worth a try. The groups I belong to get together to swap comics, go to movies, play board games and all sorts of nerdy/geeky stuff. They are way more social than I am, I've only been to one or two events out of my 4-5 groups. You can start a group, get some sponsorship from your comic shop to pay for maintaining the group. Hang in there little one.

 

[Lunar_Wolf]

I'm 16, a huge nerd and don't have many friends due to that. How would you guys recommend meeting people at comic shops? Thanks

Don't be silly; being a nerd is hip.

 

[Immortalfire]

I used to believe that.

 

[Prison Mike]

It's hip to be square