3 Networking Experts Share Tips
to Work a Large Business Mixer

by Karen A. Teeters

Networking with the Sharks

This past year I attended the largest networking mixer I ever experienced. It was called Networking with the Sharks. Almost 450 people showed up to network and share their businesses. No, I did not get bitten by anything with “sharp” teeth. But I admit I was somewhat intimidated by large groups of 5 to 6 people mingling and talking and just about all of them total strangers.

Networking with Animals Walking on Two Legs

I did the best that I could at the Camden Aquarium event held in Camden New Jersey on the waterfront. The room was huge and gorgeous and the buffet layout of fruits and tasty sweet delights was luscious. Did I mention one full tall wall was indeed a huge water aquarium filled with the sparkling personalities of live swimming sharks? But it was actually the animals walking on two legs that scared me.

As the night wore on I did end up chit chatting with quite a few people I already knew. I did meet a lot of new people and I had some fascinating conversations. It was definitely worth my time but I will confess networking mixers of 30 to 70 people are more of a comfort zone for me.

So as a blogger/journalist, I decided to interview a few of the key local networking organizers to get a better feel for what these large events are really about and how to work these social behemoths to the max.

Networking Experts

Scott Jones:

Yes I did recently help organize a networking business mixer that drew 450 people and I did hear a lot of people share that they were a bit intimidated. My tip is you do not need to meet everybody. I say, “Just walk up and shake hands - meet people, plain and simple.”

And absolutely work the whole room. Some people have a tendency to just talk to who they already know. My goal is to meet at least 5 to 7 new business contacts. They can be my ideal client or a contact who can introduce me to my ideal client.

Be helpful to your fellow networkers and ask them, “Who do you need to meet?” And then introduce them. This is what a mixer is about, helping others to network.

Marilyn Kleinberg:

Yes, even an experienced networker like myself who has worked for a large Chamber of Commerce and now runs a large woman's networking group can be intimidated by these large mixers. I was an attendee of that large 450 person event. My tip is to go ahead into those large groups of 5 to 6 people that you may not know and ask permission to enter their circle. Ask if they would share what they were discussing.

Often, to prepare, I picture myself with an on and off switch. Before entering I mentally hit the “ON” switch to shift my mindset into a sense of positive excitement...instead of my scaredy cat mode.

Then I look around to see who I know and I buddy up with a friend and we go along and make introductions for each other.

Staci Greenberg:

Yes, I am a facilitator for one of the organizations that planned that huge 450 person mixer. I use the same focus and plan of action that I would for any size mixer. From my experience I have found it is best to gravitate to smaller groups of 2 to 3 people and break the ice by asking questions.

Rather than focusing on quantity of contacts, I emphasize quality connections. I will review the guest book for people I would like to meet. And I ask a friend or the host to make an introduction.

You can not expect to meet everybody in the room. The focus is on listening to the people you do meet and creating quality conversations by engaging with questions.

Scott Jones is the facilitator of South Jersey Business Alliance and you will find his latest events listed on his LinkedIn Group: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=3065273&trk=myg_ugrp_ovr

Marilyn Kleinberg is the South Jersey Facilitator for eWomen and you will find her latest events listed on the eWomen Network of Southern Jersey Website event page: http://www.ewomennetwork.com/chapterHomePage/chapterEvent.php?chapterCode=NJ101

Staci Greenberg is the facilitator for the Philadelphia area Business Mingle Group and you will find her latest events listed on her Facebook Business Page: http://thebusinessmingle.com

Of course I have found after working one of these large events, it is always good to review all the connections made and decide who is a good fit to stay in touch. The typical advice of setting up a chat over coffee or linking on social media is still the best advice to warm up those connections no matter how large the mixer where you originally met!

I'm over my scaredy cat shyness at these events. And if you are not quite yet, remember these great tips from the experts, turn on your “ON” button and get out there and work that room, shake that hand!

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Karen Teeters is a full time online marketer, blogger, website designer and developer. She is an avid fan of the power of WordPress websites!. For more tips on online and social media marketing, follow her blog, SocialNetBlogger.com and visit our website creation website at FiveStarSiteMakers.com. You may republish this article in full. Just make sure you list this paragraph and provide a link.