Everybody knows pick-up lines don't work. The best way to strike up a conversation with a woman at a bar or a party is to make eye contact and not act like a game show host or a drooling, frat beast with free-range fingers.
Simple questions asked sincerely in the most human way possible have a better success rate than rolling up to some broad and saying, "Your eyes are like two, big, wet balls full of beautiful liquid," or "Was your father a thief? Because he stole two big volcano's and put them on your chest." I think I've used one pick-up line in my life and it was something along the lines of "You look wonderful tonight." I said this. I did. These words came out of my talkhole. She smiled and disappeared in a puff of smoke and brimstone.
I have friends who aspire to being "pick-up artists." They're really not all feather-bedecked tool-baskets with rapey sneers -- most just lack the confidence to introduce themselves to lovely strangers. Chatting up ladies can be a self-esteem withering thing for a dude. They use "openers," which are just simple ice-breakers. And I say, whatever gives them the false confidence to risk rejection is fair game.
Real confidence is preferable.
yupp, i'm a girl and that's definitely the way to go!
Here's a great opener, Hi!
Or here's another one, hey, what's your name? then remember it!