word choice - How to say hello to a group of people?



When entering a place or meet a group of people or starting a speech, how do you say hello to the audience (from a few to thousands of people). I know that this depends on the situation. I think it is common to say



Hello, folks!



But what are some appropriate ways to say hello to initiate a connection with a group of people in different situations?



  1. Formal

  2. Formal but friendly

  3. Informal


Apart from common salutations, can you also suggest creative solutions, which may be unusual but acceptable to a native speaker?




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