Don’t Skip This Step Before Attending a Big Event

The following is adapted from An Introvert’s Guide to World Domination.

What should you do before a big event? There are obvious answers like “figure out the dress code” and “stock up on breath mints.” But there’s one tip I recommend to everyone I coach, especially if they’re attending a networking event: become pre-known.

When you become pre-known, your event will go much smoother. Not only that, you’ll increase your chances of finding that one solid connection, which should be the goal of every networking event. You’re not there to make 100 shallow connections; you want one that is meaningful.

So, how can you get pre-known so that when you walk through the door, you already have people who know you and want to talk with you? In this article, we’ll look at two methods.

Get Pre-Known Online

A lot of times these days people will have a group on Facebook, WhatsApp, or Telegram for people who are attending the event to socialize a little bit before the event starts. 

It could be weeks or a few months before the actual event. So, what you want to do is get on there and be active—not super over the top—but active and involved. Join the online group and observe. You’ll see who the main people are in that group, and then you want to piggyback on what they’re doing. Comment on some of their posts and reply to comments they make. 

Play it cool, and if you see something you like, compliment it. Thank the main players for sharing things and ask questions to get a little conversation going if you can.

Be active enough so they get familiar with you like, “Oh, this is Steven. Steven has been interacting with me for three weeks now. We’ve discussed X, Y, and Z.” 

As you get closer to the event, you’ll say, “Hey, I look forward to seeing you/meeting up with you at the event.” That will give you a little advantage when you arrive at the event.

Meet Up Before the Event

Another way to get pre-known is an in-person gathering. (Remember those?) Sometimes the night before an event, someone will say, “A group of us are meeting at this bar for drinks.” 

If this happens, this is something you may want to show up to. This has happened to me many times where I’ll be tired and just want to sleep, but then somebody will say, “Hey, I’m going to be at this bar having a beer if anyone wants to go.” And my response is, “Yes, I’ll meet you there.” 

When I show up, it’s usually not some massive group. There might be four of us who show up and everybody is on equal footing because it’s not like, “Oh, it’s a gang of us who know each other and you’re the outsider.” Usually, it’s a group of people who don’t know each other yet.

So it’s not a really uncomfortable thing to do. You have an opportunity to go in on a smaller scale than the event will be and maybe have a beer or some French fries with a handful of people in a different setting like a bar, pub, or restaurant, where you can actually sit across from them, get to know them, have a laugh, and exchange ideas before the event.

The Benefits of Being Pre-Known 

If you make this effort, by the time you arrive at the actual event, you already have a group that you’re familiar with. So, when you show up, you’ll say, “Hey, there’s Phil, Jim, and Sarah…” 

People will recognize you, and you will recognize them, and that makes a huge difference when you walk in. If you want to become pre-known, these are two great ways to do it. Also, don’t be afraid to be the one who kicks it off. If no one else is doing it, you can do it.

One thing I like about being the one to do it is you can control the atmosphere. If there’s a certain restaurant you feel comfortable in or a certain place, you can say, “I’m going to be here. Meet me here, anyone who wants to show up.” And somebody will show up.

If you do both, that’s even better. If you can be active in the group and you can also meet with one person or a few people beforehand, you will be golden. This has served me really well. I made some really great connections by meeting people before an event even starts.

For more advice on preparing for your next big event, you can find An Introvert’s Guide to World Domination on Amazon.

Nick Shelton, “the connected introvert,” has been fine-tuning the craft of effective, high-level social strategy and networking for twenty years. Beginning with his time in the United States Air Force, Nick learned skills that were indispensable to his journey. Coupled with extensive research and fifteen years of experience in the oil and gas industry, Nick finally “cracked the code” and developed tools that gave him the confidence to flourish in social situations. Nick has successfully built a strong, international network of friends, colleagues, and associates and continues to teach introverts how to navigate social events with ease. You can learn more about Nick—and his methods—at www.connectedintrovert.com.