Another party, another chance to awkwardly hover around the buffet and spend your night glued to the chocolate fountain. But it doesn’t have to be this way! Let the Orlando event management team help you become a conversation wizard.
Questions to Ask
“I love that, where did you get it?” Everyone loves getting a compliment, and most people love talking about their belongings — especially if they got them for a bargain. Ask about anything from their shoes to the digital notebook they’ve been taking notes in throughout the conference.
“What kind of work do you do?” It’s easy to start a conversation with someone when you know what they’re passionate about, so start by asking what they do. Ask questions to keep the conversation going; how long have they been at their job? How did they get started in this industry?
Comment on something positive. “The weather is beautiful tonight!” “Did you get a chance to hear the keynote speaker? I thought he was great.” “Great turnout, right?” Highlighting a positive aspect of the event is an easy way to initiate conversation. While stating something negative might feel like it gives you the opportunity to be funny, avoid it; it’s much riskier. If you insult the chef and the listener turns out to be the chef’s cousin, this won’t go well.
Tips to Remember
Know Breaking News. Before you attend an event, brush up on current events and breaking news. This is almost always an incredibly easy guarantee to start a conversation!
Search for Common Ground. As they’re sharing, make mental notes of what you have in common. These similarities are something you can bring up during a break or a lull as you talk!
Repeat as a Question. When in doubt, repeat the last few words the other person said, but repeat them almost uncertainly — like a question. This will nearly always encourage them to continue talking, and it gives you more opportunities to further the conversation.
Just Keep Asking About Them. Don’t stop asking about the other person! People love to talk about themselves, especially when someone is genuinely interested. (This also prevents you from rambling to overcompensate for your nervousness.) If there’s a lull in the conversation, don’t fill it with your own words; use it to propel the conversation forward and ask more questions. The key is to focus on being interested, not being interesting.
If you’re in the Orlando area and would like to throw a party so that you can try out your new conversation starters, reach out to the Orlando event management team at Fun Planners. Contact us online or at 407-955-4949 today!
