October Program:
Need for Speed: Networking your way through the room
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Have you ever left an event wishing you had introduced yourself to a few more people? Was there always someone you meant to meet sometime during the night, but before you knew it, the event was over and that person had left?
To solve this problem, CWIP hosted a Speed Networking event. Similar to speed dating, everyone in the room had one-and-a-half minutes to talk to someone before moving on to the next person. The plan was to meet everyone in the room. With two rows of chairs facing each other, participants were sure to do so. To coordinate the evening Stacy Jones, Director of Business Development and Marketing for Shakespeare Squared, announced, "If you have been trying all night to introduce yourself to someone at an event, this is a great way to do it." Jones directed everyone throughout the evening by staying within the timeframe allowed, signaling "Time's up" with her whistle and moving the rotation along.
Each participant brought business cards to exchange, a pen, and a 30-second introduction known as an elevator speech. During each short session, participants also elaborated on what they offer and what they are seeking. Many people were freelance writers and/or editors seeking full-time employment or more clients; and all attendees wanted to meet new people.
Barbara Joan Zeitz, a gender equity analyst and women's historian, spent the night networking and promoting Jane Addams Day. "[The event] was excellent. I made so many connections. At least three that involved my current projects and I had an impact on at least two people." One-and-a-half minutes may seem like a long time, but as one was in mid-sentence, the whistle would blow. People exchanged business cards and rotated to the next networking partner. After two rounds, there was a half-hour break for refreshments and for participants to either continue a conversation from earlier, or meet someone new. Finally, one more round of rotations ended the evening.
At least 30 attendees were present and only positive feedback was heard. "I loved it," Ashton Bazell, a design student at Illinois Institute of Art, exclaimed. "It was fun. I got a lot of feedback [about opportunities]. It was a very positive experience." "It was a chance to know who is doing what, make connections and meet good people," shared Heather McLane, a freelance writer, editor and designer. From these and other responses, it was clear that many people would attend another networking event of this kind. With so many individuals to meet at any given event, this was definitely the one that made it possible for all attendees to meet each other. Rachel Winokur graduated from Columbia College Chicago's Fiction Writing Program in May 2006. Currently, she is a freelance writer and editor. |
