Sorry to post on this, but I think one of the best things a newbie - or anybody - can do when chatting to people for the first time is to ask open questions. For example: So you started a conversation with "hi" and "how are you?" but somebody can respond "fine thank you" and the conversation is closed. Try "tell me about your day" as now they are made to think and talk. So the following is from an article on how small talk can help your career - well you have to entertain clients right?
Copied and pasted from the article "Save Yourself From Tedious Smalltalk" by Sue Shellenbarger of the Wall Street Journal. It's from the Work/Life section so it has a focus on careers and networking.
Sorry if these are a bit silly, but you get the idea:
How you answer at the start of a conversation could make the difference between something boring and something deeper. OPENER: “I just moved here two months ago.” SMALL TALK REPLY: “I’ve been here 10 years.” BETTER: “What has it been like getting used to a new city?”
OPENER: “I found the speaker so fascinating.” SMALL TALK REPLY: “Me, too.” BETTER: “Tell me more about what caught your attention.”
OPENER: “I’m starting a new company.” SMALL TALK REPLY: “I work for XYZ Company.” BETTER: “What kind of people are you looking for to help you make a go of it?”
OPENER: “This hot weather is killing me.” SMALL TALK REPLY: “Me too, I can’t wait until it cools off.” BETTER: “Do you think the weather affects people’s moods or job performance?”
also: "Many people who rely on small talk don’t realize they lack critical conversational skills "
and finally: "Such skills also make you happier. People who have more substantive conversations with others report a greater sense of well-being than those who engage in small talk, according to research led by Matthias Mehl, a psychology professor at the University of Arizona. "
