How to be the star of a cocktail party where you don't know anyone

You can be a stellar guest — even if you don't know a soul

Gatsby

Some people love cocktail parties. So when they get an invitation to an early-evening gathering offering drinks and hors d'oeuvres, they do a little internal happy dance. Lots of people standing around talking in small groups? Awesome! Moving around from room to room, meeting a bunch of complete strangers? Yay! The clink of glasses, the babble of voices, all intertwined with some sort of peppy background music? Bring it on!

And then there's the rest of us. You don't have to be a complete introvert to feel overwhelmed and awkward at a cocktail party, especially if you don't know anyone there other than the host(s) who invited you.

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Leslie Turnbull

Leslie Turnbull is a Harvard-educated anthropologist with over 20 years' experience as a development officer and consultant. She cares for three children, two dogs, and one husband. When not sticking her nose into other peoples' business, she enjoys surfing, cooking, and writing (often bad) poetry.