How to Start a Conversation
Speechless? These talking points—courtesy of pros ranging from a humorist to a PR executive—guarantee that you’ll have something to fill every awkward silence. Holiday open houses never sounded so good.
Shout
Bring up the Past
I like to talk about people’s upbringings. I’ll ask, “Where did you grow up?” There’s a reason that it’s a go-to question:
A person’s child¬hood is always a great jumping-off point for more. Not only can he talk about his hometown but your chat
could also naturally migrate to the high school drama he starred in or his time spent studying abroad in college. But be mindful
of the specific details you inquire about. Stay away from asking about people’s parents or about a marriage. Those are subjects
that might invite someone to say, “Oh, well, my dad just died” or “Oh, we’re filing for divorce.” Then your conversation will
stop in its tracks.
Andy Cohen is the host of the late-night talk show Watch What Happens Live, on Bravo, and the author of Most Talkative: Stories From the Front Lines of Pop Culture ($25, amazon.com). He lives in New York City.
Talk about Downton Abbey
Television is a great conversation topic because you get to see what people are about. I often start chats by asking someone
if she watches TV. If she doesn’t, I ask why—which usually leads to a lively discussion. If she does, ask her what types of
shows she prefers. People will talk all night about the crazy reality shows they are obsessed with. And even if she only watches
the news, you can always go with “Brian Williams or Diane Sawyer?”
Alison Brod is the president and CEO of Alison Brod Public Relations, a New York City–based agency specializing in lifestyle, fashion,
beauty, and celebrity PR and marketing.
