Update: I chose a big networking event over a small group meetup last quarter

I had to pick between going to that huge Detroit Chamber event at the Huntington Place or a small, focused roundtable with just five other local business owners. The big event cost $250 and promised hundreds of contacts, while the roundtable was free but limited. I went with the Chamber event, thinking more people meant more chances. Honestly, it was overwhelming. I got maybe twenty business cards, but only two real conversations that went past 'what do you do?'. I spent most of my time just moving through the crowd. Looking back, I wonder if the smaller group would have led to deeper connections, even if there were fewer of them. For those of you building a network here, do you aim for quantity or quality when you pick an event?

2 comments

2 Comments

graceprice11d ago

Honestly, that's a classic trap. Tbh, those huge events are for collecting cards, not real talks. The small roundtable would have let you actually get to know people, maybe even find a partner or a regular customer. Quality beats a stack of cards every time.

hugo_jones11d ago

So how do you actually find those smaller roundtables? Every time I look, it's just the big flashy events getting all the promotion.