5 Great Conversation Starters

Picture this scene: You’ve scored a first date with an attractive person. He or she is sitting in front of you, waiting to know the interesting and personable you. You search yourself for something clever to say and…nothing.

Coming up with friendly conversation on the spot isn’t always easy. We have compiled a list of surefire conversation starters for a stress-free introduction.

1) “Describe the Perfect Day”

Narrow your query down by asking about his or her perfect Sunday or to share their pick of the most beautiful place in the world. Providing a glimpse into what you do with your free time or your definition of beauty helps to describe your priorities, hobbies and practices that you hold dear. Your perfect day could entail some R&R by the pool, spending time with family or volunteering in your community. Sharing your ideas of a perfect day helps to determine if your conversation partner is adventurous, independent, outdoorsy or cerebral.

2) “What is the most Foolish Thing you’ve Ever Done?”

Mistakes can be an amusing learning experience, inspiring humility and perspective. Narrow the quandary down to a crazy impulse purchase or a certain time in your life for some focus. Sharing some insight on eating a live goldfish to impress your friends in college, to getting a scorpion tattoo at 17 in your cousin’s garage, or simply forgetting your passport on your European vacation just reminds us that we are all human and can learn from those painful and oftentimes comical blunders.

3) Would you Rather…?

“Would You Rather” is a unique conversation starter/game that constantly evolves. Although there are several variations, “Would You Rather” is a riddle that you propose to another, giving two options, requiring a choice between the two. The quandary may dabble from the gross to the silly, questioning your moral fortitude to merely selecting the lesser of two evils. Present your counterpart with the option of giving up technology or giving up your pet, finding true love or finding $1 million dollars. “Would You Rather” initiates a lively dialogue that is creative and different every time. No doubt that your fellow chatter will want to reciprocate with his or her original retort.

4) “Do you have a Pet? Did you Have any pets Growing Up?”

Pet owners must care for something in addition to themselves, indicating a sensitive and a responsible nature. Finding commonalities from the best dog park or what to feed Mr. Whiskers lets you carry on an informative and entertaining conversation. In addition, animals can be the funniest creatures, complete with paw-in-the-paint-bucket stories or fond memories from childhood. What better way to get to know someone than over some chuckles and cherished tales of your four-legged friends?

5) “If you Found $100, What would you do with it?

Did anyone see you pick it up? Is it the middle of the night or during broad daylight? Would you look for the rightful owner of the money? Would you pay off a bill? Would you take your friends out to dinner? There may be many variables on how you came upon this fictional cash, but look - now you are having a conversation! How you handle or spend “free” money also indicates your priorities and what you like to do to treat yourself. Sharing this information with your conversation partner can offer some insight into your personality, your core moral beliefs and your creativity. It could even spark a few laughs, if for instance he elects to spend it on Luchador masks or she would purchase the Time Life-Ultimate Rock Ballad series.

Sure, you can’t win them all. The aforementioned conversation starters may not garner total success every time, but at least you will have taken the initiative to make nervous introductions run a little smoother. The important part of conversation is to find something in common with your acquaintance while compelling them to remember you. Try out a few, varying your questions depending on your audience, noting which starters work better than others. Long gone are the days of astrological signs and professional shoptalk to start up a conversation. Now you are ready to make your first impression memorable and fun.