A Tale of Two Mixers: Part 3

The two mixer events I've blogged about recently (a theme camp leads mixer and a marketing and sales focused executive breakfast) had a number of similarities that contributed to the success of each. Below are takeaway tips for the next mixer I plan:


Provide Name Tags - Name tags provide good conversation starters, especially when titles and organization names or descriptors are included.

Set the Agenda - Set expectations regarding what participants should get out of each event by reading off an outline of what is to be accomplished.

Facilitate Conversation - Have pre-planned topics queued along with activities that stir conversations. Play games that encourage interactivity, and have a means of displaying topics for continued discussion.

Encourage Questions - Always include a Q&A portion! I didn't do this at the Theme Camp Leads Mixer, but it would have been an excellent opportunity to have participants ask burning questions and express feedback to event organizers.

Focus on the positives first - This one was learned from Cooper's advice. Keeping things positive tends to move the conversation forward and opens up a broad horizon of solutions and idea exchanges.


What are your tips for creating effective mingling?

A Tale of Two Mixers: Part 2

My company hosted what could be considered a mixer a few weeks ago, though the event was technically a breakfast with a panel discussion about building B2B pipeline for 2015.

People mingled for the first 45 minutes until it came time for the speaker portion. Our Sales Director then announced an interactive intent and then polled the audience for their respective professions and motives for being present.

We heard from a series of sales reps, marketing professionals, and entrepreneurs. At least three people were in attendance with similar self-introductions to this one:

"My name is _____. Our company is a manufacturer of water pipes. That's right folks, we're a bong company."

The majority of a the audience had a good laugh, and I would be willing to be I was not the only one who was pleasantly surprised when the three "water pipe manufacturers" turned out to be thoughtful contributors to the conversation.

Our Sales Director asked hard hitting questions to our CEO and a representative from a partner organization as the audience listened and shared their own best practices - as well as their struggles - with marketing and building their own businesses.

I'd consider the event a success, especially since our sales team walked away with a handful of business cards for people looking to build a lead generation program.  I also had the pleasure of meeting a (now new) colleague who seems to have the same affection for the color purple as I do!