Jojo, Food52's General Manager and Super Enthusiast, went to an industry party this past weekend where guests were encouraged to choose a sticker that "reflects how you're feeling." Options included "not sure why I'm here," "wearing the wrong shoes," and "hoping for the best," among others.
As a despiser of small talk, I loved this approach to icebreakers. Some of you may be thinking, "I don't want to go to any gathering where you'd need icebreakers." But if you're an adult on planet Earth, you're likely to end up at all sorts of dinners, cocktail parties, and weddings where you don't know people but you'd like to get to know them via something more interesting than: "What do you do?" I hear only New Yorkers ask that, but there's surely an equivalent lazy opening line in other environs.
My husband, Tad, has a good question he asks people at parties: "What's the best decision you made today?" It never fails to lower the other person's guard and elicit a thoughtful answer that tells you something interesting about them.
What's your party line? Let me know, and I'll share the best ones in a couple weeks! I'm at amanda@food52.com.
