While Attending.................

I had an absolute awesome weekend. I attended this great birthday celebration at an associates home. Very nice event. I was totally impressed and had a great time. While out shopping on Saturday. I tossed on the above jacket. It was the rave for all onlookers/gawkers. (Please disregard the backdrop! My dressing room was in a slight disarray.... Hey I had a full weekend.)

I havent attended a house event since the holiday season ;so it has been a long time. When you attend a party it is imperative that you always take something. If the invitation states a dish, then oblige. If not then you must not enter or even imagine going without a beverage. The rule is to bring what you consume. It is declasse' to bring a beverage that you dont prefer and you are seeking the host last bottle of Grand Sie'cle. If you are not the invitee of the host, ask the person with whom you are attending about the invite.

When entering plaster a smile on your face and immediately look for the host to offer salutations. While entering remembering faces of those that you have made eye contact with. I call this when four eyes make two. This is the person that you will converse with immediatley. If you become nervous remember a few topics to initiate an exchange.

0. Your schelp to the party. ( Parking, commute to the event, something you experienced on the way.)

1. Sports - almost everyone likes some kind of sport.

2) Hobbies

3) Weather and climate being experienced

4) Your respective spouses and children(do not brag)

5) Media - such as television shows, movies, or music that both of you may like.

6) Holidays that you think the other person may enjoy (but refrain from talking about how much your holiday cost you - unless the other party brings it up.)

7) Your respective hometowns... Are you from ...............?

8) General information about the occupation of each person. (intro........... Are you in same occupation as ................................(the host)

9) Current trends in art or fashion.

10) Gossip about famous people. ( Keep in comical and not insulting)

Hopefully all these tips will allow you to have an easier time looking for a small talk topic.

Be well-read and well-informed about a host of topics. You have heard it said that it pays to read a lot and it is true - if you know a lot about different topics, you can easily conduct a conversation with people from different backgrounds. It will not be so hard to find a small talk topic then.
Keep the flow of the conversation on a casual keel. You might panic if the conversation takes on a very deep tone, such as when you are talking about politics or business, because then it becomes harder to find common ground that you can agree. Topics should be light, hopefully cheerful, so that you will be able to bond better with the other attendees.

Avoid controversial topics. Controversial topics might only put the other person on the defensive. Also, you and the other person might be on opposite sides of the issue.