Nearly everyone has at least one streaming service, but those who love sports likely have three or four now. From ESPN+ to Peacock, football, soccer, baseball, and more are spread across numerous channels. One week your team may be playing on ABC, and the next it’s only available on Prime. It can be an extreme headache.
As such, many sports fans are turning to watching parties and alternating whose house will be the host in any given week. This means that you’re likely to come into contact with friends of friends and the odd acquaintance you’ve never properly met, and when you’re not watching the game(s), you’re generally expected to mix, mingle, and join in on conversations.
So, whether you’re watching the World Cup or your high school alma mater on the cable local access channel, having a few extra socializing tips on hand can never hurt, so you should keep these in mind.
Socializing tips
Don’ts:
- Use your phone unless absolutely necessary. If you’re in the middle of a conversation and receive a call, wait until the chat is over and then return the call.
- Ignore strangers. While you may be as picky about who you’re friends with as techie folks in the know are about API security, you never know what caliber of people are going to be at these functions, and you could meet some interesting folks.
- Dwell on small talk. As opposed to asking strangers what they do for a living, ask who they’re rooting for and other sports-related questions. When it comes to talking about yourself, instead of telling them about your boring job, reveal the fact that you love playing the ukulele or that you get paid for your YouTube videos. Make it interesting.
- Drink excessively. It may be tempting to down a few beers or cocktails at a watch party, but it’s important to remember your limits and not overdo it.
Dos:
- Initiate conversation. A surefire way to make friends, or at least new acquaintances, while watching real-time sports is to actively seek out new people and start up the chat.
- Make sure it isn’t too loud. Sure, the game sounds great coming through your boom speakers at full volume, and while it can make the game more exciting, it makes it hard to have conversations. Keep the volume at mid-levels to ensure both the game and chat can be enjoyed.
- Bring a dish or drinks to share. Not only is it polite, but it’s also a great conversation starter. People will appreciate your contribution and may even ask for the recipe or where you got the drinks from.
- Be inclusive. If someone looks lost or left out, invite them to join in on your group’s conversation. This not only makes them feel welcome but also shows that you are a friendly and inclusive person.
- Be open-minded. Maybe someone likes a team that you don’t, but instead of shutting them down immediately, listen to their reasoning and have an open discussion about it. You may learn something new or even find a new appreciation for that team.
- Congratulations to the winners! Be a good sport, and even if you lose a wager, shake their hand and give them a pat on the back. Sportsmanship goes a long way toward ensuring there are no awkward moments and no one gets uncomfortable.
This is more than just watching the game. It’s a chance to connect with people who share a love for sports while having some fun socializing with friends and getting to know new people. Not to mention chowing on some nachos and whatever else made its way to the potluck. Keep the above in mind and have fun at this week’s get-together.