Worst networking meetup ever at Buckhead Saloon last Thursday

I drove 40 mins across town to hit that Buckhead Saloon networking thing last Thursday. Got there, bought a $9 beer, and spent the whole time watching three guys argue about cloud migration while I just stood there holding my drink. Nobody even looked at me for like 20 minutes. Finally just left after 45 mins. Has anyone else walked into one of these things and felt totally invisible the whole time?

3 comments

3 Comments

charlie1985d ago

Right there with you man, that SUCKS. I showed up to a similar event at some bar in Midtown once and stood by the nacho station for literally 30 minutes without a single person saying hello. These networking things always feel like you're supposed to already know someone to even get a foot in the door, but how does that make any sense? The organizer should be walking around pulling people into groups, not just letting everyone cling to their cliques like it's high school. A $9 beer just to feel invisible sounds about right for Atlanta, sorry you wasted a whole drive on that nonsense.

kim_davis5d ago

Actually gotta disagree a little bit. Standing by the food is a power move - you control the salsa, you get a reason to nod at people grabbing a napkin, and worst case you eat free. The organizer thing is true but honestly people need to grow a pair and just walk up to someone and say "hey, this beer's expensive, what do you do?" instead of waiting to be rescued.

rosepark5d ago

Is it just me or does standing by the food station at these things feel like you're auditioning for a pity party? @charlie198 I totally get the nacho station move though, I've practically become a salsa tasting expert at events nobody actually wants to be at. One time I watched a guy pretend to take a phone call just to have something to do for 10 minutes, and honestly I respected the hustle more than I should have.