White Claw Vodka Pool Parties, the Spirited Awards Red Carpet & Ceremony, and how to network your way into spaces you are vastly unqualified for
ok so i'm very qualified now but I certainly wasn't when I first started writing. here's some tips on how to make networking fun
First off, apologies for the delayed newsletter. I went to The Fives resort in Playa Del Carmen yesterday (I got a day pass) and it was all-inclusive so you know what that meant.
Let me know if you guys are interested in a tell-all about my time there because I was pleasantly surprised by the Thai restaurant. The spiciness levels were definitely catered to the Caucasian-persuasion because I should not be able to eat the spiciest thing on a Thai menu and still feel my face but, outside of that, it was really good.
ANYWAY
Tales of the Cocktail is coming up next week and I’m INSANELY pumped. Some editors are getting back to me about confirmed coverage (which basically means that I know I’ll be paid to write about something before I arrive) and I’m planning on getting an obscene amount of content for some upcoming projects, but more on that in a week or two.
Some of the events that I’m most excited about at TOTC are:
The White Claw Vodka Pool Party: what you think it’s going to be is exactly what I think it’s going to be and I can’t wait for the mayhem
A seminar that will highlight 5 culinary and drink destinations across the African continent and why they should be on everyone’s radar
A series of experimental and sustainable drink experiences sponsored by the Singaporean Tourism Board
Catching up with some friends from Aspen at a dinner at The Commander’s Palace
Cheering for my new friend, Tiffanie Barriere, as she accepts the Visionary Award for 2023 at the Spirited Awards Ceremony
What does any of this have to do with networking?
My entire trip to New Orleans is paid for by neworleans.com. How is that possible? Because I happened to build a relationship with the CEO of the company while I was in Aspen and he and his wife strongly encouraged me to visit their beautiful city whenever I had the chance.
Every single food and beverage festival is a giant networking event, if you know how to play your cards right. The amount of fun, hilarity, and (most importantly) work opportunities that I’ve gotten because of networking at these events has truly changed the course of my career.
All of the press trips that I go on are also amazing networking opportunities. Connecting with other journalists helps me better understand the industry and, if you build a genuine connection with your fellow journalists, there will definitely be spaces for you to help each other out. The same goes for the PR reps and restauranteurs that I’ve met along the way.
I know that “networking” is a word that sounds super serious and unapproachable to many people but, at its most basic form, it’s just getting to know someone. If you are good at conversations, you’ll be good at networking. Here is some advice on how to network like a pro, regardless of what industry you’re in:
Ask questions: monologuing about yourself or your project is a fast way to lose a connection. Engage with the person you're talking to so you can see if you vibe.
You’re not for everyone and that’s ok: Much like middle school, navigating effective networking is all about finding your people. You don’t have to like/talk to everyone, just find the people you enjoy talking to.
You’re building a friendship first, not a business partnership: I cannot stress the importance of HUMAN CONNECTION enough. I’ve ranted about Avatar the Last Airbender, astrology, my favorite NYC happy hours, my dreams of getting THICCCC, the sorrows of dating as a straight woman, and so many other topics with people at a networking event long before we ever discussed “work.” I like working with people that I like and so do most other professionals.
Be you, not the you that you think other people want to see/work with. That goes for everything from conversation to the way to dress. I’ve connected with some of my favorite people at food events because they saw I was the only person who dressed comfortably to an event and they were like “omg she gets it I gotta talk to her.”
Get cards: whether that’s physical paper cards or an e-card (which is something I’m going to invest in), having a simple and easy way for people to connect with you after an event keeps the conversation going. Plus, it can make it so much easier to transition into talking about business.
Don’t force a conversation. Personally, I don’t recommend having a go-to one-liner for networking events. Corny one-liners can work on the dating scene but I’ve never seen one fly at an event. Instead, find something that genuinely interests you and talk about that. It could be the atmosphere, something they’re wearing, a question you have, literally anything you want to talk about.
KNOW YOUR DRINK LIMIT! DEAR GOD KNOW YOUR DRINK LIMIT. Nothing kills someone’s perceived professionalism like someone vomiting their organs away while talking about Q4.
If you have any tips that I haven’t mentioned, please share them in the comments!
In the meantime, I’m going to get my gown ready and hopefully find a nice pair of shoes that are fancier than my sneakers and more casual than my 5-inch heels (pray for me).