Chances are you have to attend that one party where you know no one.
It might be a work-related party where although you know your co-workers, you may have to speak to your clients and their friends and family members.
Or it's a birthday party where you know the host but not anyone else. And of course, the host won't be able to devote all their time to you. So you will have to socialize, meet people there, and indulge in some small talk.
Sometimes, small talk works as an ice breaker and can result in a friendship. Sometimes, you just need small talk to entertain yourself more than build a friendship with someone.
Either way, it can be challenging to come up with topics on the spot.
Here are some small talk topic ideas you can, well, talk about.
1) Weather. As monotonous as it sounds, who doesn't have an opinion about the weather? It's always either too hot or too cold. Or it's cold during the day and suddenly hot in the evening.
Weird weather patterns are especially good conversation topics.
2) Movies and TV shows. Most people will have a favourite movie or a TV show they absolutely want to discuss. With so many streaming services and hundreds of shows and movies available because of it, everyone seems to be hooked on some show or another, even if it is an old one they are rewatching.
Asking about their favourite TV show or movie is a good conversation starter.
3) Work. Asking someone about their career is another good topic to talk about. If they happen to be from your industry, guess what, you've just made a contact. If they are not, you get to learn something new about their work.
Even if someone is working from home or is a homemaker, ask them about all the tasks they manage to accomplish in a day. Everyone has something or the other they want to talk about.
4) Food. Everyone eats, right? What better topic to talk about than food? Everyone has a favourite dish. You can ask someone about their favourite foods and whether they are able to make it themselves or go to a restaurant to eat it. If they make it themselves, ask them for a recipe. Maybe you can try it too.
5) Celebrity Gossip. Thanks to social media, celebrities have become a little more accessible. We don't have to wait for a gossip magazine to post news. Simply browsing through a celebrity's social media account will give you information about their latest projects or flings.
Sharing gossip can be another great conversation starter.
6) News. Now, this can be a trick topic as some people usually have rigid opinions about a particular official or political party. Try to navigate away from controversy with someone you have just met and instead stay neutral while discussing news items. Following the news and talking about it shows you are knowledgeable about what is going on around you.
Additionally, if you already don't know, you may learn of some local events you may want to attend from these small talks.
7) Family. Once you start talking, chances are the conversation can be steered towards family. You can ask someone about who is in their family and if they are comfortable talking about it, chances are you will get to hear some funny stories about their families.
8) Sports. It seems that there is always some tournament or another going on. Why not talk about your favourite sports or favourite team? You may just find someone who supports the same team.
9) Travel. Some people love to boast about all the places they have travelled to. Perhaps they even have pictures on their phones that they are dying to show people. In either case, you can talk about the places they have visited and maybe learn something new through their experiences.
10) Technology. Most people have some gadget or another they like to brag about. It could be a robot vacuum cleaner, a new tablet, a cellphone, or a smart watch.
Why not talk about your latest purchase as well and what you usually look for when getting a new gadget.
Small talks can lead to friendships or may eventually lead to a person not connecting with you but seeking you out at the next event to talk to.
Small talk is one way to connect with people and learn something new through other people.
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