By
eHow Holidays & Celebrations Editor
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
Step1
Review your senior yearbook prior to the reunion to brush up on long-forgotten faces and names.
Step2
Use mnemonic devices to remember names. For instance, saying "Patty Devry has bright green eyes" will ensure that you remember Patty's name the next time you run into her.
Step3
Repeat each person's name right after being introduced. Saying someone's name out loud shows them that you are listening, and helps to solidify the name in your memory.
Step4
Make a point of introducing the new person to your significant other, or to another friend, immediately after initial contact.
Step5
Make a list of people as you meet them, with an identifying characteristic following the name. If necessary, refer to this list before you approach anyone that you have already met.
Comments
djobes said
on 2/11/2007 The best way to remember names is the method that memory performers use. The trick is to associate a memorable feature of the person's face (big nose, high forehead, dimples, etc.) with the meaning of the name.
For example, this article mentions remembering classmate Patty Devry's name by simply recalling that she has bright green eyes. This probably will not be enough for you to remember her name, however.
When seeing her in person, you'll certainly notice the eyes, but even if her eyes are striking, seeing them doesn't really provide you with an effective link to her name.
The way a memory performer would do this would be to look at a photo of Patty in the yearbook and clearly imagine millions of green french fries and hamburger patties pouring out of Patty Devry's eyes. Then when seeing Patty (and her striking eyes) at the reunion, the vivid and memorable image of green fries and patties flying would come to mind and provide a very effective "cue" for recalling her name.
In other words, the green hamburger patties in your mental image would give you the first name "Patty", while the green fries would be enough to remind you of the last name, "Devry".
Harry Lorayne, for instance, has used this method in performances for years to very quickly memorize the names of dozens of audience members he has never seen before. Anyone can do it, though, with practice.