If you’re like me, sometimes you doubt your social skills, especially at an event where everyone is a stranger, and worse, no one is talking to each other. At times like these I remember a bit of advice given to me: the best way to start a conversation is still “Hi, my name is…” When you add a smile and a little enthusiasm, it can go a long way towards breaking the ice. Once the stranger to your right or left smiles back and introduces him or herself, they’re less of an unknown and it’s easier to remember all those other opening questions that help to get a conversation going:

Ask
What brought them to the event if there is a speaker, a topic or an area of interest
If they’ve attended an event at this location, with this group or seen this speaker before
What they hope to get out of the event
If they recommend any similar groups, events or speakers
How they heard about the event
If they’re a member of the group

If you’re at an event where you don’t know what you have in common with the people around you (say, a wedding, standing on line for tickets to a show)

Comment about what you do have in common: the person getting married, getting an award, etc.; your enthusiasm for the upcoming show; where you came from to get there; something that is happening around you, for example, a speech, the food, the person ahead of you having a hissy fit.