working the room

Verb

work the room (third-person singular simple present works the room, present participle working the room, simple past and past participle worked the room)

1. (idiomatic, hostess, or guest) To interact enthusiastically with the attendees at an event, by moving among them, greeting them, and engaging them in conversation.
   • As a campaigning politician, he really knew how to shake hands, kiss babies, and work the room.
2. (idiomatic) To interact with one's audience, taking cues from its reactions and adapting one's performance or words to elicit the audience's attention and enthusiasm.
   • In show business parlance, Miss Hudson knows how to "work the room." Her comic turns are as rooted in vaudeville as her high-style wit is straight out of the smart supper club circuit.1989 February 26, Alvin Klein, “Theatre: ‘Jerry's Girls,’ Revue, in East Windsor”, in New York Times, retrieved 03 Jul 2008