Hot take: Meetup groups in Midtown are way less effective for real connections than those random coffee shop chats at Octane

I made two solid business referrals last month just by chatting with strangers at the Octane on West Peachtree, while every Meetup I went to in the past year just felt like a room full of people handing out business cards and nothing more, has anyone else had better luck with casual spots over organized events?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_felix2d ago

Tbh @danielowens nailed it. Octane beats Meetups every time for real talk.

danielowens2d ago

Yeah, did it take you a while to realize this too? I used to be all about Meetups, thought they were the only way to network in this city. Then I started hanging at the Chattahoochee Coffee Company in Vinings on weekends and landed a solid freelance gig just from chatting with a guy about his dog. Those awkward meet and greets feel like a job interview, but random spots actually let people relax and be normal.

danielowens2d ago

Vinings Kroger parking lot is where I got my best lead last year, just swapping truck bed tie-down tips. Meetups feel like you're selling something even when you're not, so folks stay guarded. Coffee shops and dog parks let people be human first, which is way better for real connections.