How to Break the Ice at Social Gatherings

Here’s a nightmare for any hostess: the guests are arriving and the party is off to an extremely slow start. No one seems to be interacting, and the room is freakily quiet. However, with just a little planning it’s not hard to change this scenario. Here’s how the beginning moments of your party can kick off a great event.

Instructions

1. Make introductions enthusiastically and clearly, pointing out a conversation starting point. “Tom, this is Mike—I thought you guys would like to meet each other since you’re both are fishing nuts.”

2. Play upbeat music. Let your guests enter to the sounds of salsa, classic rock, or whatever you think might appeal. Or put together a special party mix.

3. Give some thought to the lighting. When you think about it, outdoor gatherings always seem to get off to a quick start. Low lighting, especially at a gathering where people don’t know each other all that well, can dampen spirits. Use tea lights, candles, or even extra lamps to make sure people can at least see each other.

4. Set out unusual snacks or appetizers before guests arrive as they serve as conversation starters. For example, a fresh pineapple stuck with pretzel sticks on which cheese cubes and olives have been speared, a cream cheese dip formed into a football or snowball shape with pimento markings or a make-it-yourself taco bar.

5. Ask guests to help with a variety of tasks as they arrive. For example, if you’re serving drinks, ask someone to serve as an impromptu bartender—or perhaps just approach guests as they arrive and ask if they’d like lemonade or soda. Put someone in charge of the music. Ask others to take coats or refill appetizer plates.

6. Go with some traditional icebreakers. Let your guests complain and call you corny, but they’ll end up having a better time for getting the opportunity to know each other. Here are a few to try out:--Names of current celebrities or politicians are pinned to the back of guests’ shirts. By asking yes or no questions, guests must find out their "celebrity" names.--Divide guests into teams. Teams are challenged to be the first to come up with two words in which the vowels all appear in order, three words which end in “ous” and five words ending in “x.”--While still in teams, ask guests to “Name 5.” On the list you’ve printed up, they’ll be asked to write down the names of five good luck symbols, five musical instruments starting with “T,” five famous men named James, five planets, five countries in South America, five kinds of pasta or five books with a color in their titles.