Networking is one of the most important reasons people attend live, in-person events, but most event organizers don't put much thought into creating opportunities for networking. Carl Landau, Grand Poobah of Niche Media, presented these great ways to create a great networking environment at your events for the SISO 2013 show.

1. Event Networking Mania!
Carl Landau
Grand Poobah, Niche Media
Sacramento, CA
carl@nichemediahq.com
www.NicheMediaHQ.com

2. Welcome to Niche
Nashville, Octobe
r 1-2
Learn more at
NicheMediaHQ.com

4. What is the #1 Reason
People Attend or Sponsor
Live Events?

5. #1 Answer is Always Either
Industry Education
or
Professional Networking!

6. How Much Effort is Put Into
Planning for Networking at
Your Events?

7. Carl’s 25 Ideas
for Producing Super Charged
Event Networking!!!
(Like it or not, you’re in the entertainment business.)

8. #1 Anyone Can Do Boring!

9. #2 It All Starts with the
Event Producer
You need to be
willing to make a
fool of yourself!

10. #3 It Starts with Your Promotion
Themes get people
really excited!

12. #4 Build Excitement 360 Days a Ahead
of Your Event!

13. #5 Build a Facebook Event Page

14. #6 Get Your Speakers & Sponsors
Excited and Networking
in Advance of the Event

15. #7 Pre-Event Meet-up with Local
Industry Leaders
• These host city locals will
be your ambassadors - get
them excited!
• Brainstorm party venues
with them
• Pick somewhere intimate
and relaxed
• Hint: the worst venues are
hotels and tradeshow
floors

16. #8 Visit Your Event’s Party Venues

17. #9 Name Tags
(Magnets, not Lanyards!)
Carl
Landau
Grand Poobah
Niche Media
Sacramento, CA

18. #10 Provide a Roster of
Attendees & Sponsors

19. #11 Go Casual, Baby!
No one has
ever had fun
with a tie on

20. #12 VIP Party Exclusively for
Speakers & Sponsors

21. #13 Use Music to Create an
Energized and Fun Vibe

22. #14 Breakfast Roundtables by Topic
• Have your speakers and sponsors participate!

23. #15 Lunch Isn’t Lost Time
• Lunch with a stranger or assigned seating

24. #16 Speed Publishing

25. #17 Rent a Venue Where People are
Active but Social
• Bowling alley
• Miniature golf (or build
one on the show floor)
• Roller rink
• German beer garden
• Cabaret theatre
• Honky tonk
• Lawn bowling

26. #18 Orientation Party (Red Rover)
• Help people find others like themselves
• Example: Use Red Rover to break people up
into B2B, Association, B2C categories
• Then break down by category

27. #19 Track Parties (One Hour)
• One Hour – Micro Parties
– CEO Track
– Executive Track
– Sales Track
• One hour – Macro Party (everyone together)

28. #20 Trivia Group Games and Photo
Booths – Always a Winner!

29. #21 Apps Great for Networking
at Larger Events

30. #22 Niche Out Your Event to Build
A Small, Intimate Event

31. #23 Go to Other Events
(and Steal with Both Hands!!!)

32. #24 Launch an Event from a Blog

33. #25 Ask Other Event Organizers
What Works!
I’d Love to Hear Your
Networking Ideas!!!