Old-School Networking: Boston Business Journal Mixer
Attended: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 6P in a Charlestown office
Dress: Overall – very businesslike. That night was HOT – outside and inside! There were about 250 people in the room – 230 in black. I was Talbot’s-ed out in a bright aquamarine flowered sheath dress and silver sandals (swatch to the left). Towards the end of the night – it was hard not to sweat. I felt bad for all the folks in black, with special sympathy to the men in suits.
How I learned about the networking event: As a Boston Business Journal subscriber, I am on their email distribution list. This is the first event in my get-out-of-my-room commitment with a charge – $40.
What was the event: An opportunity to network with Boston business people – with an overall theme of meeting the BBJ reporters and staff at the Boston Business Journal.
Recap of the event: If you have read my previous posts about MeetUps and TweetUps – you know I met fantastic people. With social media, I had a warmer introduction to individuals at the events. This event was more hardcore networking.
I arrived on time which gave me the opportunity to get an idea of the venue layout before it got crowded. The hosts provided fantastic food and 2 open bars (one featured a pomegranate-style martini). At the wine bar, I met a really nice Sr. Communications Specialist from a major pharmaceutical firm. After we talked about social media, her company and the FDA, we separated and worked the room. In the time we talked, the joint filled up.
I completed a pass through the room and realized this was very different from the TweetUp I attended last Tuesday. The TweetUp attendees had #140Conf in common. Most of us knew who would be there by the MeetUp attendee list and the tweets from people that planned to attend the event. At this event, these old-school networking attendees did not have one common reason to be there. Some networked for business. Some looked to make career contacts. Some were PR professionals attending to meet the reporters in a more casual setting. No one seemed, at first, willing to make the first move in introductions.
NETWORKING TIP
In the past, this upcoming Networking Tip would create high cringe factor: I read nametags. Yes – I walked through the room reading nametags to find people I wanted to meet. So glad I did – I introduced myself to a woman I have admired from The Commonwealth Institute and Patrick Lawlor, Research Director at the Boston Business Journal I have communicated online with for 10 years!
A great conversation with Patrick led to an introduction to Mass High Tech and BBJ reporter Rodney Brown. I know Rodney’s byline and our conversation has piqued my interest in several technology verticals I hadn’t given much thought to in the past. Rodney is responsible for several hours of Google time this week.
Spend time with a featured reporter at a Mixer designed to meet featured reporters – and you meet more people. I enjoyed a conversation with a recent transplant from Chicago who introduced herself to Rodney. This architect told me about The Boston Club and introduced me to a woman who is a director at The Boston Club as well as a volunteer for WBENC: Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. I have been very active with WBENC in my DJ (Day Job). It was an honor to spend time with a woman who volunteers her time for this organization.
I look forward to attending the next “BBJ Mixer.” I enjoyed every conversation I had that night. I had a moment when the room became crowded that I had doubts, but I took action. When I pushed the icky feeling of reading nametags to determine who I wanted to introduce myself to – I met interesting people.
Final thought: When attending any event, if the rest rooms are single stall in a high traffic area – lock the door. Please.