Q. I am 24 and have just thrown my first drinks party — 120 people came and, although everyone enjoyed themselves, I am conscious that I failed as a host in one important way. I did not introduce people to each other. I found it too difficult to do this as, each time I tried to shepherd someone across the room towards someone I had promised them they would meet, I found myself ambushed en route by other friends and never arriving at the target. What is the technique for circulating fluidly through a party when every single one of the guests is one of your own friends?
M.B., London W11
A. In order for a junior host to achieve the maximum volume of introductions it is necessary for him to remain in position near the party’s entry point. He can then be certain of at least greeting each friend on arrival. But with each new introduction taking at least three minutes to effect — not counting crossing the room to arrive at the target — it is unrealistic to expect to make more than five introductions per hour. The technique, therefore, is to hand out numbered stickers to each guest to wear on their lapel or similar. Each guest should also be handed a dance-card-style postcard with the names and numbers of the other guests you have decreed they would enjoy meeting in the course of the evening. People can then scan others’ lapels before introducing themselves saying, ‘I’m not sure why our host wanted us to meet but your number’s on my card.’ Enjoyable revelations then pour forth as the couple tackle the mystery of what they might have in common.
Q. I was recently given the present of a one-and-a-half-hour facial at a top London spa. This started with the usual polite chit-chat but I was unable to ‘shut down’ conversation with the therapist thereafter and this slightly spoilt the relaxation element of my dermatological treat. How could I have maintained silence without causing offence?
S.H., Woodborough, Wilts
A. You could have held forth animatedly for one final burst of talking, then slapped yourself on the wrist saying, ‘I’m so sorry. You must stop me from chattering. My friend who gave me this treatment said she would be really annoyed with me if I gabbled away as I normally do. She said the whole point is to say nothing at all so you can really relax. So I’ll shut up now.’
Q. When my husband and I go out to dinner in our neck of the Dorset woods, our friends invariably give us champagne before we sit down. We feel when reciprocating hospitality we should do the same but we are on lower incomes than most of our friends and simply cannot afford an extra £40 for two bottles for an average eight to ten guests. Can you recommend an acceptable champagne substitute? Is there such a thing?
Name withheld, Blandford
A. Why not serve a delicious yet little known wine from just outside the champagne region which, although produced in exactly the same way, cannot be called champagne. This blanc de blancs called Varichon and Clerc is priced at a reasonable £7.99 from Newbridge Fine Wines of Bath (01225) 480996.
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