And also Nick Gray's 2 hour cocktail party book

My personal thoughts on events:

(These don't really apply to parties, but they do apply to non-party events)

1. Do intro circles: If it's a 5-25 person event with a handful of people that don't know each other, do an intro circle about 15-20 mins after the start time. Turns it from something where people show up and might meet 1-3 random people that they happen to walk up to, vs something where everyone gets 1 point of contact with anyone else. Works well up to about 25 people, haven't tested it beyond that. Go round say name, and then pick a few questions depending on the audience (eg could be something you'd like help with, something you're reading about, etc). For non-parties (eg meetups, work mixers, things that don't have alcohol or aren't late), the easiest way to improve any event is for the host to do a brief intro circle.

2. The best events to host are the ones you wish you could attend but that don't exist

3. Minimize uncertainty for attendees: Clear parking info/photos and a photo of the space is always helpful too.

4. Host more events: Very positive sum. Even can be simple discussion groups. Anything that you enjoy doing where it'd be more fun with a few other people. Playing video games together, reading papers together, discussing how you're using AI coding tools, whatever. Workshops, mixers, talks, parties, peer groups, etc. If you enjoy reading about it on HN or twitter, you'd probably also enjoy discussing it with people directly. The world is undersupplied for events.

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roncesvalles 4 days ago | parent | next [-]

>1. Do intro circles

So, turn your party into hell on earth?

	▲	user_7832 4 days ago \| parent [-]
		I think a middle ground is possible. Have people not talk about themselves, but rather how they'd react in some bizzare hypothetical situation (for example), and have a few limited options for them to pick and justify. Kinda like cards against humanity in some ways. Ofc ask people first in private what kind of questions etc they're comfortable with and what they'd like to talk about. Almost everyone has something interesting to say or contribute, the hosts' ideal job is to bring that out.

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komali2 4 days ago | parent | prev [-]

> 1. Do intro circles:

I'm an extrovert, and my assumption has always been, maybe introverts appreciate this kind of thing because otherwise they won't meet anyone?

But, I've never, in my life, met someone that enjoys this kind of thing, other than the person subjecting everyone to it. So, unless I'm way off base here, why has nobody learned that everyone hates these and that they're useless?

	▲	Yodel0914 4 days ago \| parent \| next [-]
		As an introvert, I always assumed it was something the extroverts enjoyed (while being pure torture for the rest of us).
	▲	rkomorn 4 days ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		I like them depending on contexts. At a party they'd probably feel weird, but in any sort of meeting/get together/tour where time allows, I find them useful.