I AM standing at the Ivy sipping lemon, lime and bitters when I become aware of an entire species of male I'd never encountered.

Before me are three students practising the art of the ''pick-up''. They approach a woman and begin talking, turning the conversation to carefully considered ''passion subjects'' and even touching her arm at just the right moment.

Simply irresistible ... master of the pick-up Damien Diecke in action. His seduction college is called the School of Attraction. Credit:Dallas Kilponen

After each conversation, or ''set'', they wander to the bar where their coach subtly intercepts, debriefs, and sends the student into another set.

The novices are from Damien Diecke's seduction college called School of Attraction. Diecke is a pick up artist (PUA). After nine weeks of theory and practice these students hope to be so, too.