https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/It's_the_economy,_stupid

Then they briefly acknowledge you before returning to whatever uninteresting topic they were already discussing and tighten the circle so that you could not join in even if you wanted to…

You look around the room and everyone is in tight circles, making mostly small talk, with a few people in each circle dominating the conversations. At best, all you can do is stand outside a circle, essentially eavesdropping, but that’s creepy.

So you just wander the room admiring the art and architecture, look out the windows, etc., before either finding a way to leave or finding a quiet corner and pulling out your phone.