Think of a party like your very own improv show: every new conversation is a new skit, and you have to act on your feet. The Titanic Players, long-form improv group and counterpart to Mee-Ow, divulged personal tips, suggestions and strategies it has accrued over their years at Northwestern. Weinberg senior Kati Skelton and Communication juniors Marie Semla, Emily Anderson and Danielle Calvert sat down after one of their shows to pass on their knowledge.
To attract a stranger’s attention: Semla suggests walking to the iPod and blatantly blasting the gangsta rap. Make sure he notices. Skelton says beating him in beer pong will surely put you on his radar.
To sidestep your ex: Semla discovered one way out: “Hide behind tall people. It works really well. You can follow them out unnoticed.” Or lead a double life, because Anderson suggests only dating townies. “You won’t see them at any Northwestern parties.”
To do something: If the party ain’t bumpin’, inject a little gambling to get the adrenaline rush back. The Titanic Players suggest Horse Races. To play, take the jacks (your four horses) out of the deck and line them up on the table. Put eight cards face down perpendicular to your horses and place bets in numbers of sips. Flip over the remaining deck one card at a time. For each suit that comes up, the corresponding jack moves one space up closer to the finish line. The winner gets to dole out however many sips he bet, and the losers have to drink their bets.
To escape a scary conversation: You’re talking with someone about Star Trek, and you can’t differentiate Kirk and Spock. Semla says to fake it: “Start doing the potty dance and yell ‘I have to pee!’” Calvert suggests saying something awful and racist and walking away.
To make a boring person more exciting: People love to talk about themselves. Anderson asks very specific questions to make an interesting line of conversation. For example: “What would you name a three-legged cat?”
After much experience navigating the social waters, the Titanic Players know what not to do. Don’t talk about your major, where you live or where you’re from: everyone does that. Calvert mentions one other topic to avoid: “Don’t talk about Star Wars. It doesn’t work out too well.”