Last updated: March 29, 2026
After moving to a new town, Louis had one goal: make friends and build a community. He didn’t know many people in Scottsdale. So he picked up my book and got to work.
One month later, he hosted a party with 31 attendees. Then he hosted two more.
The people who showed up were exactly the kind of interesting people he wanted to know. Hosting parties helped him build his network fast in a new city.
Why you should listen to me: Hi, my name is Nick Gray. I wrote a book that teaches people how to strengthen their relationships and meet new people by hosting parties. My biggest goal with the book is to help 500 people host their own party, and Louis is one of those people. Meet Louis
Louis is the co-founder of a data analytics company and hosts a podcast called The Louis and Kyle Show. He read my book and decided to host his own cocktail party to meet new people and grow his network in a city where he barely knew anyone.
The Rooftop Grill Party
Louis’s first two cocktail parties were in his apartment. Both were a hit.
For his third party, he wanted to shake things up. He moved it outside to a rooftop and made it all about food. Less emphasis on drinking, more emphasis on grilling.
Along with the normal list of snacks, Louis brought sausages to grill. He told his guests to bring whatever food they wanted and he’d cook it for them. That simple offer made the event feel generous and fun.
Pro tip: Louis hit 31 attendees by using reminder texts before the party. Most people who say “maybe” need one nudge. A personal text the day before is often the difference between 15 guests and 31.
Icebreakers
Like most first-timers, Louis felt a little awkward running the socializing. But his guests loved it.
After Louis did the first round of icebreakers, he asked the group if they’d want to do another round in 30 minutes. His guests said yes. They were excited about it.
Being a confident, generous leader paid off. His guests were talking all night. Some of them made new friends and met up a few days later.
Pro tip: Louis used a harmonica to grab everyone’s attention before icebreakers. It sounds silly, but it works every time. A harmonica is loud, playful, and impossible to ignore. Guests immediately stop their side conversations and look up.
Interview with Louis
I interviewed Louis to learn more about his parties, making new friends in Arizona, and why he does it.
Q: What was your favorite part about the party?
A: A few days after the party, some of my guests were hanging out. One of them even went to another guest’s soap store and bought products. It felt great to connect people like that and see them spending time together after my party.
Q: For the next party, what would you do differently?
A: The first two parties were basically the same thing. My roommate and I hosted a cocktail party inside our apartment. For the third party, I hosted a rooftop grill out, mostly to make it less about drinking and more about food. I told people I’d bring plenty of food, and they could bring whatever meat they wanted to grill.
Q: How did hosting a party benefit you?
A: There are so many people I see once a month but never really get to know. These parties let me learn about my acquaintances and spend real time with them. Since I’m new to Scottsdale, I didn’t know many people. Hosting raised the quality of who I was spending time with and filled my friend group with more interesting people.
Q: What else helped you host the event?
A: The Harmonica was the easiest tool to grab people’s attention. Name tags definitely created an environment that got people talking. Honestly Nick, the most helpful thing was calling you before the party and asking questions. You gave me a great pep talk. Oh, and asking friends to take pictures made my job easier.
Pro tip: The rooftop setup gave Louis a natural focal point. When you give people something to gather around (a grill, a fire, a view), they talk more easily. You don’t have to engineer every conversation. The environment does half the work for you.
Podcast Party Interview
Louis interviewed me for his podcast! Watch it here on YouTube:
Party Photos
These are some photos from Louis’s earlier parties. Not the rooftop grill, but they show the kind of events he’s been hosting. The biggest benefits come when you make hosting a habit.
Conclusion
Louis moved to a new city and built real friendships in a few months. That’s what happens when you commit to hosting.
Here’s what Louis learned from the book and his three parties:
- A few days after the party, his guests started hanging out on their own
- Hosting raised the quality of people he was spending time with
- A harmonica and name tags are simple tools that make a big difference
- Sending reminder texts before the party gets more people to show up
Hello, my name is Nick Gray. In my book, The 2-Hour Cocktail Party, I show you exactly how to host a great party and meet new people. I wrote it to help anyone who wants to build a real community.
When’s your party? Send me an email and I’ll give you some bonus tips, including a pre-party checklist you can print out. Plus I’ll answer any question you have, free of charge. I love talking about parties and I’m on a mission to help 500 people host their first party.
