How to Avoid the Most Common Party Blooper

The average party goer, let's say Charlie, arrives at the bash. He

makes a beeline for the refreshment table for munchies and a beverage. He then finds a few buddies and starts chatting away with

them.

Chewing the nibbles on his plate and the fat with his friends,

he occasionally looks around the room to see who might be new

and fun to talk to. He's hoping several attractive and interesting

people at the party will spot him and come over to talk.

What's wrong with Charlie's approach? Everything, if Charlie wants to make the party productive. Let's start with the average party goer's first mistake—getting some refreshments and a

drink right off the bat.

People mingling at a party make judgments, often subconscious, about whom they are going to approach. Have you ever

lived on a farm? Or had a dog or a cat? Then you know you never

disturb animals when they are eating. Likewise, when a human

animal is eating, other human animals do not feel comfortable

advancing. If party goers' eyes scan the crowd and see you with

the feed bag on, they pass right over you. Subconsciously they're

saying to themselves, "Let the hungry hound chow down and

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How to Avoid the Most

Common Party Blooper

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maybe we'll talk later." Later never comes because they wind up

making friends with someone else whose mouth wasn't full.

Politicians always eat before they come to the party. They

know they'd need a circus juggler's talent to shake hands, exchange

business cards, hold a drink, and stuff crackers and cheese into

their mouths—all with just two hands.

How to Avoid the Most Common Party Blooper 271

Technique #71

Munching or Mingling

Politicians want to be eyeball to eyeball and belly to

belly with their constituents. Like any big winner well

versed in the science of proxemics and spatial

relationships, they know any object except their belt

buckle has the effect of a brick wall between two

people. Therefore they never hold food or drink at a

party.

Come to munch or come to mingle. But do not

expect to do both. Like a good politician, chow down

before you come.