Forgive our adolescent fun, spindizzy, but humor is probably not a bad idea. Otherwise, if you can figure out what the other person is interested in (sports, politics, fashion, food, whatever), talking about it, even if just asking questions, will engage them in the conversation.

lol very funny. I got the point, thank you

So Mike, how does on catch a polar bear? . . . . . Put some peas around a hole in the ice and when he comes to take a pea, kick him in the ice hole!

"Do you know much a polar bear weighs? I don't either but it's enough to break the ice. Hi I'm..." Don't ever actually use that one because it's really cheesy and a lot of people already know it, but it's funny the first time you hear it.