Why should people host more events than they do right now? Under what conditions shouldn't a person host more events? Do these suggestions apply to introverts? What's the best RSVP tool? What is "double opt-in"? What's the ideal length of time for a social event? What kinds of ice-breaker activities, if any, should hosts use? What are the primary factors that affect people's enjoyment of an event? What does it mean to "compress and release" in an event or party context? Which nights of the week are best for hosting events? When should hosts end the event? What should hosts do if people's energy or enjoyment seems to be flagging? Should everyone get a name tag? How should hosts follow up after an event? What is "the strength of weak ties"? Should events be used as business networking tools? How can someone meet more interesting people?

Nick Gray is an entrepreneur and best-selling author living in Austin, Texas. He started and sold two successful companies: Flight Display Systems and Museum Hack. Nick is the author of The 2-Hour Cocktail Party, a step-by-step handbook that teaches you how to build big relationships by hosting small gatherings. Over 75,000 people have watched his TEDx talk about why he hates most museums. He's been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and New York Magazine, which called him a host of "culturally significant parties." Connect with him on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, or TikTok; sign up for his newsletter; or learn more about him on his website, nickgray.net.

Further reading

• The 2-Hour Cocktail Party: How to Build Big Relationships with Small Gatherings, by Nick Gray
• The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, by Priya Parker

Staff

• Spencer Greenberg — Host / Director
• Josh Castle — Producer
• Ryan Kessler — Audio Engineer
• Uri Bram — Factotum
• WeAmplify — Transcriptionists

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