I always viewed the small talk thing sort of like coming over to someone's house. Some people might enjoy you climbing the side of the house and jumping through a window but it's probably safer to just knock, come in the front door, take your shoes off, etc. Eventually you'll get to the meaningful stuff if you both want to.
After reading your post I can see how the "what do you do" question could mess with people. It also brings up self confidence to me. If you feel you're not where you should be/want to be in life, it could be depressing saying you work somewhere like Starbucks or something. I've had that problem in my life myself though not as much lately.
As for the question and how I introduce myself. I usually just list off a bunch of stuff and they can pick whatever interests them or nothing at all, lol.
"I work part-time at Starbucks, Indigo, used to do art professionally, compose music for fun, (used to be) into fitness, and spend a lot of time hanging out/taking care of my friends kid."
I always viewed the small talk thing sort of like coming over to someone's house. Some people might enjoy you climbing the side of the house and jumping through a window but it's probably safer to just knock, come in the front door, take your shoes off, etc. Eventually you'll get to the meaningful stuff if you both want to.
After reading your post I can see how the "what do you do" question could mess with people. It also brings up self confidence to me. If you feel you're not where you should be/want to be in life, it could be depressing saying you work somewhere like Starbucks or something. I've had that problem in my life myself though not as much lately.
As for the question and how I introduce myself. I usually just list off a bunch of stuff and they can pick whatever interests them or nothing at all, lol.
"I work part-time at Starbucks, Indigo, used to do art professionally, compose music for fun, (used to be) into fitness, and spend a lot of time hanging out/taking care of my friends kid."
I like the scattershot approach. Let them decide what's worth grabbing on to haha