Happy Monday, DateSpacers. Hope you had a busy weekend spent at parties, soirées and even the occasional hootenanny. Of course, some of you are probably asking the same question after the 5,473,923rd gathering surrounded by people you don’t know. It’s another question we get asked frequently: what is the best way to meet complete strangers at parties?

Here’s an original idea: go to your local New York City bar dressed as the purple Teletubby. Complete strangers will be approaching YOU to talk in no time at all!

Just kidding, of course. There are several simple, yet effective ways to go about meeting strangers in social settings that will turn into dates. Here are two techniques to get you started. And if you read all the way to the end, we’ll provide you with the best icebreaker of all time!

The first easy way to meet strangers is to utilize what’s known as the “opinion opener”. It is what it sounds like: “Hi, I need your opinion on something…my friend has had this pet scorpion for a year and he still hasn’t named it. He’s torn between Killer and Muffy. Any suggestions?”

But the best opinion openers are questions about things you’d actually like to have answered. If you make something up (such as the above fabrication) just to sound interesting or outrageous, you’ll feel silly and self-conscious and the person will not be as receptive as they could be. Try it for a night and you’d be amazed at the new friends you make. You’ll also marvel at your newfound confidence.

(Fun Fact of the Day: The opinion opener above is actually a real one. One of our friend’s did have a scorpion that he hadn’t named after a year and asked every beautiful woman we encountered what he should name it. The most memorable one? David Bowie. True story.)

Another technique is employing what’s known as a “situational opener”. Those are innocuous comments on something in the immediate environment, meant to break the ice without stammering out some cheesy, predictable pickup line. It also is less risky than an opinion opener because it seems less calculated and more spontaneous. Instead of uttering a George McFly-esque, “Uh, I didn’t know angels could fly so low…you’re my density, I mean, my destiny.”, find some interesting inanimate object in your surroundings and say something like, “Hi, what’s with that giant stone Buddha over there? Who would think to paint a statue fluorescent orange and purple?”

These methods can be used in any situation and not just at parties or bars either. You can use these tested conversational techniques at work, at the doctor’s office, or on line at the supermarket. Remember this old adage: “Strangers are the friends you haven’t yet met”.

Oh yes…we almost forgot. The best ice-breaker of all time is, “Hi”, coupled with strong eye contact and a confident grin. You’d better have something else to follow it up though.

Post your suggestions below with other favorite ice-breakers and conversation starters that have turned into successful dates.