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.
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