We all have those friends who would happily trade tequila shots at the bar for a cup of tea in bed on a Friday night. I have a handful of friends fitting this description, and while I love them to death, getting them to go out with me is sometimes harder than any of the homework I'm putting off by going out that night. With less than two months of my freshman year left, I'd like to think I'm somewhat of an expert by now, so here are some tips on how to force reluctant friends out of their beds and into the life of the party.
1. Bribe them with boys.
If your friend doesn't have a boyfriend, a key part of their decision to go out will be based on which boys they'll be “casually running into" that night. If they refuse to leave their room for you, maybe the mention of a certain someone's name will be enough to inspire them to put down their laptop and pick up some mascara and an eyelash curler. If your friend does have a boyfriend, don't worry, there are more tips coming.
2. Promise to behave.
If you're the one having to constantly convince your friends to go out with you on a random Tuesday night, there's a big chance that you're a little wilder than they are. There's an even bigger chance that they ended up carrying you home after the last time you managed to convince them to come with you, which doesn't help your case. Guaranteeing your friend that this time will definitely not be like the last time, even if you know there's a good chance it will, takes a weight off of their shoulders. It's like giving them a get-out-of-mom-duty-free card; they can't say no to that offer.
3. Play the "college" card.
No matter how comfy someone is in their bed, playing this card will always make them think twice about staying in. Trust me, I use it all the time. “Come on, we're in college! These are the best four years of our lives and you're wasting it!" Maybe it's a little dramatic, but it's also a lot true. Part of the college experience is going out way more than necessary. Friends that don't live by this philosophy are lame — and by lame I mean they have their lives together way more than I do and comparing myself to them ensures a reality check that I am eager to avoid. Even so, the “college" card still works wonders.
4. Just beg.
If every other attempt has failed, just beg shamelessly. Try convincing them by any means necessary. If they say they have nothing to wear, offer up your closet. Offer up your roommate's closet. Tell them that everyone's going even if you have no idea who's going and even if you're 90 percent sure everyone else is actually staying in too and you really just don't care at this point. Promise to buy them Relish or Pizza by the Slice — honestly, if that doesn't work you might want to find new friends. Remind them of all the times you did them favors. If you've never done them any favors, make some up. After all this, you'll be looking so desperate that they might just agree to go with you out of pure pity. But that's fine; you achieved your goal, and you won't have to worry about doing any more convincing ... until the cycle starts all over again tomorrow night.
