How to Be a Good Party Guest

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A good party guest should live by this motto: Ask not what the party can do for you, but what can you do for the party!

Step 1: Arrive at appropriate time
Arrive at an appropriate time. For a dinner party, that�s within 15 minutes of the invited time. With an all-night bash, you have more leeway. If you�re running late, call to let your host know.

Tip
Don�t arrive early, but don�t be afraid to be on time. Your host may be anxious for the first guest to arrive, and your presence will not only be a relief but it will earn extra �guest points��especially if you offer to help.

Step 2: Bring a gift
Never come empty-handed. Unless you know the host�s taste well, consumables make the best gifts. A jar of artisanal preserves is a better choice than, say, a porcelain tchotchke.

Step 3: Mingle
Don�t cleave to your date�mingle. Talk to someone you don�t know�or even don�t like. It helps to be knowledgeable about a wide range of subjects and to have read a newspaper that morning to be up on current events.

Tip
Judge the crowd and determine what kind of topics might catch everyone�s interest. Don�t rule out sex, politics, and religion, or even all three at once.

Step 4: Ask questions
Ask questions. If you're stymied by someone who's shy or doesn�'t seem interested in the same topics as you, fall back on questions that aren't overly personal, such as, "How do you know the host?"

Step 5: Drink in moderation
If the party is even close to formal, drink in moderation. A single lampshade on the head will follow you for the rest of your life.

Tip
Because it can feel awkward to stand around empty-handed, find a drink you like that is either non- or only slightly alcoholic. However clich�, spritzers are a good call.

Step 6: Take pictures
Take pictures! If you�ve thought ahead to bring a camera, you�ll do the host a great favor by recording the evening so they don�t have to, and then sharing them soon after the party.

Step 7: Don't overstay your welcome
Leave before the host starts wishing you�d go. If you�re not sure, err on the early side.

Step 8: Thank the host
Thank the host the next day. A note in the mail is always appreciated�and particularly appropriate for a formal affair�but, despite what your grandmother told you, a call or email is often just fine.

Did You Know?
The ancient Greek symposium, the precursor to the modern party, featured music, food, intellectual discussion, and wine served by nude young men�those Greeks could party!