People Watch
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1. The Background:
People watching is the art of observing the people around you and noticing characteristics about them. It can be a fun way to pass the time, a chance to get ideas and inspiration, or simply a way to connect with people around you. To begin people watching, find a well-populated area, sit somewhere out of the way, and avoid calling attention to yourself to observe people unobtrusively.
2. Find an area with the demographic that you want to watch.
If your goal is to observe the elderly, head to a retirement home. If you want to find families, post up at your local mall. If you do have a goal for your people watching, don’t head somewhere that won’t have anyone you are interested in.
- If you are not planning to people watch, you might not get to choose when or where you start. Standing in line at the doctor’s office or sitting in a waiting room are great chances to observe people.
Parks will usually be populated with families, while cafes or restaurants might have couples or single people. College campuses are populated with young adults and public transportation attracts people across all demographics.
3. Set goals for your people watching if you want to learn something.
You may set out to people watch just to pass the time. Or, you may be looking to observe certain behaviours and mannerisms for a specific purpose. If you are looking to get information from people watching, set those goals beforehand so you know what to do as you watch.
- People watching is a great way to get fashion ideas and character designs for books, movies, and plays.
4. Go to an area that is well-populated.
- Dog parks, art galleries, public transportation, and tourist spots are all great places to people watch.
5. Sit in a spot where you’re out of the way.
If you people watch in the middle of a walkway, people are bound to run into you and interact with you. To people watch undisturbed, tuck yourself into an out of the way corner where you can sit down. A park bench, a corner booth at a cafe, or a bench in the mall are all great spots to sit.
- Try to sit somewhere high up whenever possible. Balconies and rooftops are the ideal spots in a building.
6. Bring a friend with you to have more fun.
People watching with another person is always more enjoyable. Grab a friend to sit and chat with you as you observe people. Don’t laugh at or make fun of people as you watch them with your friend. This can make people feel bad or uncomfortable.
- Avoid bringing a large group to people watch. This will only call attention to you, and your group of friends might get bored.
7. Wear an outfit that won’t make you stand out.
You want to blend in with your surroundings. Avoid flashy shirts and lots of bling. Instead, opt for neutral colours and weather-appropriate clothes to become a person in the crowd rather than standing out as an observer.
- Avoid wearing large hats or glasses.
If you are outside, put on a pair of sunglasses to disguise your eyes. Do not wear sunglasses inside, as it will only draw attention to you.
8. Bring a notebook to write down interesting moments or people.
- Be subtle as you write things down. Don’t stare right at someone and take notes on them. Instead, steal quick glances as you observe them from afar.
9. Act like you are doing something on a phone or laptop.
- You can also bring a book or magazine to act like you are reading.
- Plug headphones into your phone or laptop to look even more inconspicuous.
10. Think about each person that passes and who they might be.
- People’s clothes also say a lot about them. Layers indicate they are prepared for the weather, while showing skin can mean confidence.
11. Avoid passing judgement on anyone.
- People may act differently when they don’t know they are being observed.
12. Observe people’s body language to pick up on their emotions.
- Facial expressions are also a good indicator of mood. Scowling or scrunched faces indicate anger while raised eyebrows often indicate contentedness or relaxation.
13. Listen to people’s voices as they talk to learn more about them.
- It can also be fun to overhear snippets of people’s conversations without context.
14. More tips:
Try not to stare at the same person a lot—look around and at others. This can be a great hobby for artists or writers! If you’re a visual artist, you can try to sketch the people that you see. Writers can use people and scenarios they see as inspiration for creative works.
If people stare back at you, this may mean they can tell what you’re doing and don’t like being watched. If you see anyone do this, stop immediately.
Try to be as inconspicuous as possible. If you’re interested in one person in particular, sneak glances but don’t openly stare.
Wearing dark sunglasses is a great way to people-watch without drawing attention to yourself.