PSA: That $200 networking event in Buckhead was a total bust for me

I went to that big mixer last Thursday at a hotel near Lenox Mall... cost me $50 just to park and another $40 for a ticket. Figured it would be packed with legit business owners, but I ended up talking to three people who were just selling MLM stuff. One guy actually tried to pitch me a 'business opportunity' while I had a handshake going with someone else. I bailed after an hour and grabbed a beer at a dive bar down the street instead. Has anyone else hit up those pricey events and found them useful, or am I better off sticking with free meetups?

3 comments

3 Comments

garcia.cameron5d ago

Found a free meetup group for local small business owners on Meetup.com and honestly met more real contacts there than any paid event I've tried. One of my best clients came from a casual chat over tacos at that free thing.

davidshah5d ago

I read somewhere that those high-ticket networking events are mostly just feeding off people who think paying more means better connections. Honestly, sounds like you dodged a bullet by leaving early.

sagejackson5d ago

You're missing the point though. Those high dollar events filter out the time wasters and hobbyists. I've walked out of three of those Buckhead mixers with actual contracts because the people who drop $200+ to network are usually serious about doing business. Yeah you're gonna get some MLM trash but that happens everywhere. The free meetups are fine if you want to trade tips over tacos but if you're trying to move real money you gotta play where the serious players are at.