Party Talk

Some people---I don't---master the art of small talk at dinner parties. Good small talk is not:

Hi, good to see you. How have you been?
Good. You?
You know, busy.
Yeah, keepin busy. How's work?
Good. Busy. You?
Yeah, super busy.
Good.
Well, hell, nice to see you man!
You too!
awkward silence...

Good party small talk also isn't:

I cleaned my whole house today.
Really?
Yeah.
Wow. The whole house?
Yeah, the whole house.
Wow.
It needed it.
I bet.
Yeah.
I really need to clean mine, too.
Yeah?
Yeah, I need to find a new cleaning lady.
Yeah, me too.
It's hard.
I know.
It's a bitch.
Tell me about it.
Yeah.
Awkward silence ensues...