Two simple words are the key to kicking off conversations: "Tell me." Most people ask closed questions that already contain the answer. This relegates the other person to confirming or denying what you just said. "Did you have fun at the dance?" "Yeah." "Did you enjoy the ball game?" "It was okay." End of conversation. "Tell me"--as in "Tell me about the dance"--gives people a hook on which to hang a conversation.