Hot take: local business meetups are way better than the big networking events downtown
Was at the Downtown Business Association mixer last month and this guy in a suit spent 10 minutes just talking about his golf handicap before even asking what I do. Meanwhile at the 118th Ave small biz breakfast I had a real convo with a baker named Sarah who actually remembered my name the next time we crossed paths. Those big events just feel like everyone's trying to sell you something without listening. Anyone else find more value in the smaller neighborhood groups?
Oh man, those big mixer things always make me feel like I showed up in my work boots to a tuxedo party or something (I have, actually, more than once). Give me the small group where people laugh at my bad jokes over burnt coffee any day.