I had become a member of ryze.com way back in 2004 after receiving umpteen invites as is the wont when some new fad takes over.

Whilst I am not completely technologically challenged, I prefer my Networking to be off line, face to face….you probably get the point.

However, I attended a couple of Business Mixers as they are called offline, the first one being in Bandra on the corner of hill road opp. Globus. There were some 70+ people (if my memory serves me right). Meeting them, exchanging cards & more improtantly thoughts, views the evening flew past - never managed to try out the starters & just barely managed to have a drink.

Over the next 2 years, attended other mixers - bindas bol; rum mixxa - but they were more fun evenings rather than really networking so to speak.

Business Networking Mixers happened pretty regularly & attended them, never for a moment looking at them as a business opportunity, more to socialize, observe people, understand the entrepreneurial bent of mind - since most of them were that..

Met people like Unni, Rajesh, Ranten, Ian, Soeb, Sailesh the SAI, Jiten, Venkatesh, Lalit, Ivan, and others too numerous to name, though remember most of them except the ones I don’t need to.

As we became friends, maybe did business together, if relevant, started an informal off line network MNDFCK - read about it here & here. BUT they became an important part of my Rolodex.

2006 onwards till March 20, 2009 I was completely off Ryze, its Mixers & what have you. There were a variety of reasons for this:

• Too many mixers - most of them sub sets - you ended up meeting the same people, chewing the same fat - not worth the time & effort.
• Too many groups, sales pitches & not enough substance.

AND my personal Peeve!

As one of the few people who worked for an Organization, I became the target - the moment I walked in - a lot of people became extremely pushy - trying out their aggro sales pitch - give them your card finally & they immediately asked for your mobile number/direct number etc. And then without even understanding the position would start badgering you for something you already had, did not need or could not help them.

• Just a presentation about something completely irrelevant (hello! first research the needs)
• Use your name, when they met someone in the organization (don’t allow my family to do this)
• Used you as a reference without checking with you (the bane of my existence)
• Friend, Relative introduction to you or for you (Don’t I have enough of my own???) And so on.

All this was as if they were doing you a favor!!! (as if I need one without asking for it) When you did not entertain, promptly start bad mouthing you.

During the time I went off Ryze also; I heard, learnt from the Network Owners of the losses they incurred because of people who promised, did not turn up & did not pay!! irrespective of the announcement etc.

A couple of weeks back, I received a message on FaceBook from Unni about a Mixer. Ignored it for the most, though circulated it around. Got some responses also….I have urgent meetings; Flying that night; travelling; is the price not too expensive; how many will come….most of these I ignored:)

How many will come? Go register & find out!!!

Expensive - Yes! for those who are going to measure ROI instantly. Attending for the first time with lot of expectation. For others, who commit & never attend how does it matter? And because there has to be a commitment on number of people to be given, the expense goes up!

A couple of days, speaking to Unni on some other matter, he said why have you not registered?? forcing me to get off the fence & say AYE…..

And so the evening began…..Pictures tell the story…..but some observations……

40 confirmed & 22 maybes = 32 attended, (out of which 8-10 were gate crashers) with a variety of out landish excuses thrown in or phone un reacheable, by the others.

Felt like a Private Party.

Quite a number of new people around, some of them extremely enthusiastic, so much so somebody had printed special visiting card.

Were unable to understand some pitches.

Guess food could be had at leisure & there was enough for everyone.

AND YES! the organisers made a substantial LOSS

Some offered to share the losses which was gracefully refused!

However, this has not diminished Unni’s passion! He has committed himself to a June Mixer that has some value proposition & would like it to be smaller.