Happy & Healthy

proper Etiquette at an event where you don’t know anybody

You know them. Those days you’ll looking forward to but at the same time not looking forward to at all, hoping you’ll catch an acute stomach flu or that someone hits your car when you’re on the highway and luckily you’re not hurt but you’re car is total loss so you have to spend the rest of the day getting your paperwork together to get it fixed.

But if neither of the above mentioned situations happens, there’s nothing else left for you to do that breathe in and out and just go. Our beauty editor happened to have one of these days (night included) yesterday. She’s already met Queen Maxima (yes, she was there too) and Neelie Kroes (a former Dutch politician who now works as the European Commissioner for the Digital Agenda). The current Dutch prime minister was also a guest and she knew who he was, but it’s not like they were on a pat on the shoulder type of level.

So hereby the reasoning behind helping you out when you’ve got an event to attend that you’re looking forward to slash terrified about because you know absolutely no one.

1. Breathe in, breathe out

Think of it this way; everyone is nervous. Yes, even Queen Maxima. Whereas you’re able to become one with the curtains if you wanted too, she’s always have at least fourteen iPhones pointing her direction taking one photo after another and people are going to be sending each other messages about whether she’s looking beautiful/ugly/fat/thin/old/friendly/unfriendly/smart. She’s definitely the one being reviewed. Not you.

“Try to obtain some information other people might not know about”

2. Think of discussion topics

Think of things you can discuss with anyone. Perhaps the Grand Prix that’s going to be taking place on Sunday (note to Joss: it’s taking place in Monaco). Try to obtain some information other people might not know about (which shouldn’t be too hard since women and the GP might not be the first thing you’d ever consider talking about, yet everyone is doing it. Why not check this out for some inspiration).

3. Make the first move

It’s okay to assume that most people here came on their own. Walk up to them, introduce yourself and say: “I’m came here on my own. Let me introduce myself. May I ask you why you are attending?” And then you can talk about everything the two of your are looking forward to and she will be thrilled that you came up and talked to her.

“It looks a lot better than the whole look-at-me-being-busy-on-my-phone”

4. Provide emergency supplies

Imagine this, someone is looking for a tampon, an iPhone charger, a tissues or a bandaid. You have it. No one will forget you after this.

5. Hang on to that PR lady

Now I really hope there is a PR lady present at your event. If there is, head on over to her. It’s a part of her job to make sure you’re having a good time and she’ll most likely know more than one person she’s dying to introduce you to.

6. Grab a book

When there is a break, go and read a book. It looks a lot better than the whole look-at-me-being-busy-on-my-phone and besides, people might ask you what you’r reading which can lead to another conversation which will last almost your entire break and so you hardly read a page in the entire book.

7. Make sure you’ve got business cards

Or don’t. That way you can spend an even longer time talking to people. But it’s still useful on days that you’re surrounded by a lot of interesting people.

But if it’s all still very hard, slow and lonely then just think of it this way: this day too, shall pass. Really.