Travel

• Just about everyone is interested in far away, exotic locales. However, instead of boring your companions with blow-by-blow braggadocio of your own fabulous vacation, engage them by asking open-ended questions, such as if they have been on any trips lately, if they could hop on a plane tomorrow and go anywhere in the world, where they would go, or in their opinion, what is the prettiest state in America.
  
  

Entertainment

• Books, music and movies offer nearly endless opportunities to engage others in conversation. From children to young adults to the elderly, just about everyone enjoys books, movies and music of some sort. You can ask guests to name the very first record, CD or song download they remember purchasing, if they have seen the latest Brad Pitt movie or who their favorite author is. Do remember that everyone has the right to their opinion. If someone happens to dislike your favorite author or actress, don't take it personally.
  
  

Personal Connections

• Personal connections are especially handy when you are seated next to a guest you have never met before. Although you may simply be attempting to get to know the person and make conversation, some people feel that being asked where they live, what they do for a living and whether or not they have a spouse or children is nosy and intrusive. Instead, focus on questions that don't seem as though you are gathering intelligence on your new acquaintance. Some ideas are to ask how they are acquainted with the host and if they have had the pleasure of tasting the host's delicious cooking before.
  
  

Just for Fun

• Off-the-wall questions can start fun conversations that get all the guests talking, laughing and generally enjoying themselves. Questions such as if they could invite a famous, deceased person to this party, who would it be; if they could have one super power, which would they choose; or if there was such a thing as time travel, would they go back in time or ahead to the future.
  
  

Subjects to Avoid

• Judith Martin, who writes the syndicated "Miss Manners" column, writes in her book "Miss Manners' Guide to the Turn-of-the-Millennium" that discussing financial matters is generally considered in poor taste, whether the financial matters are yours or someone else's. Other taboo topics are religion, sex and politics, according to Martin. Although these topics are fascinating to many, they can cause emotions to run high, resulting in major disagreements among guests and a ruined dinner party.