How to Host a Game Night

Summary

The video offers practical advice on making friends as adults, especially for those who have recently moved or are looking to build relationships in a new city. The speaker shares her experience as an 'Urban Nomad' and how game nights were the most effective way to bond with new people across different cultures. She outlines a step-by-step guide for hosting a successful game night, emphasizing setting a goal, planning the event, choosing appropriate games, preparing guests, providing food and drinks, and managing timing to ensure a fun and engaging experience.

Takeaways

• 🏡 The speaker and her husband became 'Urban Nomads', moving to a new city every two months for two years.
• 🌐 They traveled to various cities globally, including Buenos Aires, Shanghai, New York, San Francisco, and Portland, Oregon.
• 🤝 They found it challenging to make friends quickly in each new city, as traditional social activities like drinks and dinners were less effective.
• 🎲 The most successful method for making friends was hosting game nights, which provided a fun and engaging environment for bonding.
• 🎯 Before planning a game night, it's important to set a clear goal, such as having fun, getting out of comfort zones, deepening existing friendships, or creating new ones.
• 🏠 Consider the size of your space and the number of players a game can accommodate when planning the event.
• 📝 Preparing guests by informing them about the type of games and the level of comfort expected can help set the right expectations.
• 🍕 'Drinkies and Munchies' are essential for a fun gaming experience, and it's important to communicate what food and drinks will be available.
• ⏰ Clearly communicate the start time and schedule for the game night to avoid awkward interruptions during gameplay.
• 🔥 Starting with a small group of four to six people is recommended for an intimate and effective game night.
• 💬 The game of conversation is also highlighted as a valuable tool for bonding, with the speaker offering a book titled 'Captivate' for further guidance.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video script?

The main topic of the video script is about making friends as adults, particularly in new cities, and the focus is on organizing game nights as an effective way to build relationships.

Why did the speaker and her husband decide to become 'Urban Nomads'?

The speaker and her husband decided to become 'Urban Nomads' to sell all their belongings and travel, staying in a new city every two months for two years, allowing them to see the world.

What were the challenges the speaker faced when trying to make friends in new cities?

The speaker found it challenging to bond with people quickly in new cities as traditional methods like drinks and dinners were harder than expected to organize and execute.

Why did game nights prove to be an effective method for making friends according to the speaker?

Game nights were effective because games provide a cross-cultural, global way to bond through laughter and fun, which helped the speaker and her husband make friends all over the world.

What is the first step the speaker suggests when planning a game night?

The first step is to define the goal of the game night, which could be to have fun, get people out of their comfort zones, know people better, or learn something new.

How does the number of people影响 the choice of games for a game night?

The number of people that can comfortably fit in your space and the number of players a game can accommodate are crucial in choosing the right game for your game night.

What is the significance of prepping people before a game night as suggested by the speaker?

Prepping people is significant because it sets expectations for the type of game night it will be, allowing guests to decide if they are comfortable with the planned activities and avoid awkwardness.

Why are 'drinkies and Munch Munchies' important for a game night?

'Drinkies and Munch Munchies' are important because they facilitate a fun and easy gaming experience by preventing discomfort from hunger, which can detract from the enjoyment of the games.

What advice does the speaker give regarding the timing of a game night?

The speaker advises to be specific about the timing, informing guests of when to arrive for drinks and food and when the games will start to avoid interruptions mid-game.

What is the speaker's recommendation for the size of the group for a successful game night?

The speaker recommends starting small, with a group of three to six people, as it's easier to manage and allows for better bonding and getting to know each other.

How does the speaker suggest enhancing conversation during a game night?

The speaker suggests playing conversation games and referring to her book 'Captivate' for ideas on how to have engaging and amazing conversations.