work the room

1. A host, hostess, or guest to interact enthusiastically with the attendees at an event, by moving among them, greeting them, and engaging them in conversation.

2. A performer or public speaker 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.

1. As a campaigning politician, he really knew how to shake hands, kiss babies, and work the room.
2. 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.