[Baz]

oldE and Patrick are on the right track.

You can never go wrong when asking the person about themself.

I always begin by asking "Where are you from?" If they hesitate....I then add "Originally?" - just to make it easier to answer with their birthplace.

Usually you'll also get info on other places they have lived, timeline, and perhaps some family history.

All those thing can be of interest and provide a fair basis for further conversation very easily.

Another potentially great opening question could be "What kind of car do you drive?"

Or......"Tell me about yourself....do you have any brothers or sisters?"

"Are your folks still with us/"

Or....."What line of work are you in?"

If for some reason the person you are speaking to replies with one worded responses.....you may not have that great of a conversation so there's always that possibility. But at least you have done your part.

Now if you already know this person well enough to know all of the answers to the above questions, then you'll have to go to subjects based on perhaps current events surrounding the government, the weather, the neighborhood, family, friends, etc. etc.

The key though is to ask them questions....and let the conversation flow from there.

And as oldE said....listen to those answers carefully and absorb.....this is not about YOU.....leave your ego at home....or at least in your pocket.....

Lot of interesting stuff to be extracted.....I really enjoy meeting new people and learning about their lives.....