INFORMAL NETWORKING
Never waste an opportunity.
As soon as you step out of your home to attend the conference you can begin networking. Be prepared for every opportunity. Perhaps you are at the airport at the gate and you notice others who may be going to the same conference as you. Go up to them and introduce yourself. Take the same approach when you are on the plane. You may be able to meet someone sitting next to or near you who is also attending the conference. Or perhaps you might meet another conference attendee or speaker waiting to board the plane or even waiting in line for the restroom.
When you arrive at the hotel and are waiting to check in, there may be others attending the conference waiting to check in, affording you yet another chance to network. It is usually a good idea to stay at the hotel where the conference is located, for convenience and the informal networking opportunities. When you stay at the hotel, you are up and down the elevators with other attendees and speakers. I have met great contacts in the elevator, at breakfast, in the lobby, at the hotel gym, in the hallways and at the pool.
I find the gym to be a great place to meet someone because often there are few people there and it can be a nice informal atmosphere to connect with someone.
AT THE CONFERENCE
When you get to the conference, do not be discouraged if it is poorly attended. Look at it as an opportunity––make the best of the situation. I have made excellent contacts at poorly attended conferences. It is not how many people attend the conference, but what YOU accomplish there. Also you should be courteous and friendly towards the people working at the conference as they can provide you with valuable information.
Make sure you keep track of all the business cards and other materials you receive. I like to ask for people’s cell phone number if it is not on their business card so that I may call them while still at the conference, if appropriate. When I meet someone at a conference who I want to keep in touch with, I tell them to please let me know when they will be in Los Angeles so we can meet again. Make sure you get as much contact information as possible because phone numbers change, as do jobs.
Very often when I am at a conference, aspiring artists give me CDs, and if it is an out-of-town conference, it is hard to bring them all home. A clever way to distribute your music and photos, etc., is to put them on a thumb drive attached to a lanyard, making it easier for people to carry and transport.
Do not be shy. The vast majority of people that you meet will be cordial. Try to establish something in common with the person you are meeting, such as mutual friends or being fans of the same band. This will help establish some rapport. Smile and be polite. Let them know that you are someone they should meet. Networking is not just about approaching people; it is what you say and do after you meet them. And remember, don’t make it all about you––show that you’re interested in their career objectives.
Everybody has probably met someone at an event who will not stop talking. Do not let anyone take up all of your time. Find a polite way to end the conversation and move on.
If you are alone at the conference, it is usually a good idea to make a friend there, whether or not you believe they are a good contact for you. You will enjoy the conference more, you will have someone to eat and hang out with, and chances are you will end up meeting more people if you have a “wingman.”
You must get out as much as possible. Explore restaurants close to the hotel where attendees will be congregating. If the conference provides breakfasts or luncheons, make a point to attend. You are not going to meet anyone sitting by yourself in your hotel room!
