Party Protocol

Consider this sample list of some simple suggestions, with the purpose of making mixers more pleasurable, gratifying, and worthwhile, less apprehensive, angst-ridden, and intimidating.

1.      Casual, comfortable, clean, and neat clothing is crucial. What you wear can make a positive or negative impression and have considerable impact.

2.      If you don’t want members of the opposite sex to be attentive primarily for your physical appearance, refrain from tight, revealing, provocative apparel.

3.      On the contrary, if focusing on outer features is your goal, then go right ahead and flaunt them.

4.      Excess makeup and hair accessories cover and hide natural charm and appeal, frequently accentuating flaws. Beauty begins within, emanating outward.

5.      If you’re looking for a relationship that extends beyond superficiality, present yourself accordingly, i.e. emphasize assets such as personality, creativity, intelligence, sense of humor, poise, confidence, grace, panache, finesse, dependability, integrity.

6.      Attempt to make eye contact, albeit shyness dominates. This will give prospects a sense of importance and desirability.   

7.      Kindness, sincerity, compassion, empathy, and understanding are key to earning your intended’s good graces.

8.      Ask about them rather than making it all about you. Nobody wants to spend time listening to a self obsessed narcissist.

9.      Start simple and inquire as to what brought them to the soiree, where they live, where they grew up, what business they’re in, what hobbies they enjoy. Look for common ground.

10.  Stay optimistic, bright and breezy. Sharing your woes, worries, problems, history/herstory is boring, counterproductive, and a downer.

11.  Celebrate the moment, limiting conversation to upbeat, joyful, cheerful experiences and aspects. Save trials and tribulations for later trysts.   

12.  Generosity from gents is significant if the aim is to win a lady’s fondness. Offer to buy her a drink or an appetizer if at a public venue. Even if she doesn’t accept, it’s the thought that counts.

13.  Discard expectations of getting her to hop in the sack as a reward. Use chivalry and gallantry as an opportunity to be a mensch and display quality of character.

14.  Avoid spending the entire evening talking to one possibility. You’re there to mingle.

15.  If you feel a connection, exchange contact info, indicating you’d like to continue the tete a tete under future, private circumstances. Politely excuse yourself, dispensing with obligatory notions.

16.  Abstain from disregarding, ignoring, or belittling same sex associates. Men who are rude towards other men and correspondingly women towards women, is a huge turn off.

17.  Camaraderie to both genders can benefit you, notwithstanding an absence of romantic attraction.

18.  You never know where new friendships may lead. Long term relationships often stem from platonic cohorts. At the very least, you’ve found a crony to commiserate with.

19.  If you’re hesitant to divulge your phone number or email, request their info instead.

20.  Don’t lie about personal matters as this could come back to haunt you.

21.  Honesty is the best policy, bearing in mind that revealing your dirty laundry during the first encounter is a big no-no.

22.  Stay out of the results and stay in the process.

23.  Avoid judgment if you don’t catch your dream match. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

24.  Practice makes perfect, hence, copious occurrences involving informal communication and interaction, make it that much easier when you do unite with Mr./Ms. Right.

For a unique perspective on the dating scene, staged by top notch actors, don’t miss Second City Hollywood’s energetic production, “Undateable,” the hysterical comedy that’s been extended due to popular demand, every Friday at 9pm, through December 13th. 

The premise for this extraordinarily witty show, began after the cast had a photo shoot and posted 38 “Undateable” profiles on OK Cupid across the country. Subsequently, they spent months tracking the outcomes.

You’ll be amazed to learn that “Undateable” is based on the culmination of this time researching REAL people talking to FAKE characters, i.e. a scientific experiment about the online search for love.

The exuberant ensemble includes Chris Alvarado, Rob Belushi, Amanda Blake Davis, Kate Duffy, Bob Ladewig and Robyn Norris. Skilled entertainers, as evidenced by their exhilarating improvisations, these performers embody authentic individuals transferred from cyberspace to the stage.

Multimedia and original music is featured with musical direction by Dan Wessels and direction by Frank Caeti.

Grab your favorite date, pal, bff, relative, or sweetheart and treat them to this one of a kind, stimulating, and tantalizing piece. The gifted artists have developed an opus unlike anything you’ve seen before.

Second City Hollywood has tapped into untouched territory and will be traveling to Chicago to play in Second City’s notorious UP comedy Club!

The Second City celebrates 50 years of cutting edge satiric revues and continues to deliver the leading voices in comedy while touring the globe. Their alumni reads like a who’s who of American celebrated humorists: Mike Nichols, Elaine May, Alan Arkin, Joan Rivers, Robert Klein, Peter Boyle, Harold Ramis, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, George Wendt, Martin Short, John Candy, Bonnie Hunt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Horatio Sanz, Ryan Stiles, Jack McBrayer, Tim Meadows, Chris Farley, Mike Myers, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey and countless others.

The Second City Hollywood, 6560 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028, 323-464-8542, www.secondcityhollywoodshows.com.