ateThe setting: With many state delegations staying downtown, hotel bars will be packed the week of the convention. “If you’re at a bar or restaurant that normally isn’t very crowded on a Monday or Tuesday, and all of a sudden there’s all of these people in there, they’re not from this area,” says a Republican involved in the convention planning process.
The strategy: Social butterflies comfortable with winging it will have an easy time making friends. With many bars open until 4 a.m. and thousands of Republicans looking to unwind, there are opportunities to mix and mingle. “This isn’t an accounting convention or an IT convention,” says the convention insider. “Republicans are good conversationalists, and they enjoy meeting and talking to different people.”
The approach: Everyone has their own level of game when meeting people. But try a simple, “Hey, where are you from?” Most people in town that week, especially delegates, will be proud of their home states and cities. “I’ve found that people love talking about where they’re from,” says the convention insider.
The close: Score an invite by getting your new friends to open up about their plans while they are in town. “If they are doing or going to exciting things, it’s likely they’ll talk about it,” says the convention insider. If they’re going to the parties, it’ll be easy for them — or someone above them — to call and get you on the list. “There are going to be people in every party that aren’t on the invite list,” he says. “It’s just up to folks who really want to get into them to figure out how to do that.”