How To Mingle

Upon arrival, identify the most uncomfortable-looking person standing alone. Stride confidently up to them, and introduce yourself with a smile. Not only will this get you a warm reception, but it will prevent you from becoming the most pathetic person in the room.

Don’t get too comfortable with your new friend. The whole point of mingling is to meet new people, so excuse yourself after five or ten minutes of chitchat with a “It was really nice meeting you.”

Find another target and begin the process again. Practice on enough wallflowers and you’ll soon have the confidence to approach someone intimidating.

Let the other person do most of the talking. And really listen—resist the urge to think about what you want to say next while they’re still babbling.

Maintain eye contact. Not in a creepy, Hannibal Lecter way; just don’t scan the room for someone more interesting while your conversational partner is talking. That’s just plain rude—even if he is describing his appendectomy in excruciating detail.

Whenever you find yourself in a group, keep an eye out for loners hovering on the edge. Be gracious and bring them into the conversation.

Feel free to give our business cards, but be discriminating. Handing them out to every single person you come into contact with makes you look cheesy, not friendly.

“Leave them wanting more” is a good rule not only for individual chats, but for the event in general—_especially_ if you’ve met someone intriguing. Better to disappear after you’ve made a good impression than hang around all night and risk ruining it!