Fortunately or unfortunately depending on how you view it, I don't have that particular problem. Once I start talking I can usually keep it up indefinately. Which I have noticed Interviewers have appreciated at the begining of the interview because then they can sort through their papers while making small talk.

I remember one interview not to long ago where the inteviewer greeted me and extended his hand. Because of the carpet, there was that electrical spark that happens when a person has walked on it and then touches something not fabric. Anyway, he said, "Wow I am shocked", and I said, "Yes, well I am an electrifying person". Corny? He!! yeah. Effective? Absolutely. He had already told me over the phone that this was the first interview that he will have conducted, (Ever, not just for this company) and he was nervous about what he was supposed to do. By that simple exchange at the beginning of the interview, we were both put at our ease and were able to discuss other things besides the actual position on the walk down to his office. Once inside his office, we were at ease with the interview.

Ever since then, when the interviewer comes to the lobby to greet me, I say something to put myself, if not the interviewer, at ease. Most times, I have already rehearsed what I am going to say. Sometimes, I find things to lend themselves to me. Such as the carpet incident or if the lobby has particular paintings or books/magazines I will pretend to be interested so I can comment on that when the interviewer comes out. Since you rarely know what the interviewer looks like it can be a guessing game. But, I have found that if you keep the magazine open on your lap, look up whenever someone comes out of the inner offices and smile, then when the interviewer come around you will not look like you had staged this scene.

Before the carpet incident, I was always nervous as heck about what I was going to say and what the interviewer would think if I didn't say something up front besides Hello and How are you.