Networking Event Speeches

For the past ten years, I have been fascinated by how public meetings work. What makes an event buzz? Why are most institutions dying? How do you organise people?

This is particularly relevant to what I do because the key to a good event is a good speech.

I really don't like state-sponsored networking events. Someone from the council needs to round up a group of people in the community. So they organise a 'free' networking event.

That's a bad move from the start, because if there is a free buffet, you'll just attract people interested in the free buffet. A small charge at least focuses people's minds. Why am I there?

Yesterday I went to a meeting for theatre people in the Dorset area. It was a familiar experience.

At first it was difficult to find out where the meeting was. There were no signs in the foyer of the theatre.

A tell-tale whiteboard gave a hint. I approached the lady running it, let's call her Brenda, and she was quite welcoming. We were invited to fill in post-its to put on the wall, suggesting what we wanted for the arts in the area, because Brenda was about to apply for some grants.

I had some interesting conversations with the people who were milling around. Some of them had travelled from quite a distance.

And we just carried on milling around, until the play we were supposed to see started. Now what is wrong with such a meeting?

1) Brenda did not introduce herself to the group. She gave no speech of welcome explaining what the group was about.

2) There was no designated meeter-and-greeter to welcome people and maybe give them a badge.

3) The people there could not explain what their expectations were from the group. The alcoholics anonymous ritual is essential on this sort of occasion: "My name's Brian and I'm a....". It helps people to identify who they might like to speak to.

4) The group was asked to write down what they wanted. So there were some rather optimistic suggestions, like the council should pay for everyone to go on a theatre trip.

5) There was no mention of future meetings.

Later I asked a few people their opinion. They seemed slightly disappointed. I approached Brenda and tried to give her some positive feedback. But she replied that the group had agreed that they didn't want formality. They didn't want badges and stuff.

My conclusion is that Brenda didn't want to do the public speaking and organise the badges, and she projected that idea. As one person said to me afterwards, there was no leadership in the group.

In my group, BomoCreatives, people hate the ritual of explaining who they are in 30 seconds (which they sometimes have to do in front of over 30 people). But they come back because they see the benefits.

My suspicion is Brenda took a strong dislike to me. I tend to think I'm wiser to keep silent on these occasions and avoid these kind of groups.

It's sad, as it wastes enormous amounts of time and energy.