Steps to Throwing Business Mixer
What is a business mixer? A business mixer is a networking event that offers business people a chance to meet and greet other professionals. The purpose of a mixer is to help business people make new contacts that can benefit their businesses in a number of ways at some point in the future. Hosting a party for your associates and peers may sound intimidating, but there are 15 easy steps to follow to make your event a hit.
1. Make a list of your business contacts. The list should include anyone with whom you have had business dealings in the past, as well as any professionals with whom you are even casually acquainted. Next, think of any people in your community who you know by reputation only who might be looking for an opportunity to network
2. Come up with a theme. Then invite local entrepreneurs and other individuals who would have a reason to be interested and involved with the theme you have chosen. Be creative. For example, if your theme was real estate, you should invite the owner of local cleaning companies, house painters, landscapers, moving companies, accountants, lawyers, Realtors, title agents, and various types of lenders.
3. Make a few phone calls. Call a few of your top contacts and let them know you are considering throwing a mixer to help your contacts meet some new people. Ask them if they have any suggestions for you and if there is anyone who they would like to meet. You might also want to ask if any of your top contacts would like the honor of co-sponsoring the event. In exchange for helping you with the cost of the event, you can offer them a 10-minute speaking opportunity on a relevant subject of their choice. If there is room, you might also consider giving them permission to set up a small table with some of their marketing materials at the event.
4. Choose a location and set a date. Choose somewhere that guests can mill around comfortably and not have to shout to be heard. An art gallery would be a perfect example of a place to hold a business mixer. Set a date. Send out attractive, quality invitations to everyone on your newly expanded list of contacts. Include RSVP cards, and send your invitations out a few weeks in advance. Midweek days such as Wednesday or Thursday are generally your best bet, and most mixers run from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Be sure to specify the standard of dress for the occasion, be it traditional business, business casual, or cocktail attire. For the typical business mixer, business casual is probably the standard of dress that you should request. If, however, you will be hosting your event at an upscale venue, serving finer fare, and serving some type of alcoholic beverages (or allowing guests to bring their own alcohol, such as bottles of wine), then you should consider requesting cocktail attire. Most people love the opportunity to get dressed up for an event, but you must make sure the occasion merits it. Approximately two weeks in advance, follow up by sending an Evite to everyone whose e-mail address you have. Evite, found at www.evite.com, is a wonderful resource for creating e-mail invitations and offers helpful party-planning tips. There are also numerous ways to use social networking sites to spread the word and remind people about your event. Be sure to encourage everyone to bring a friend, since this is the best way that you as the host or hostess will meet new people and forge new business relationships.
5. Follow up with VIPs. If there are any VIPs that you want to invite, follow up with a personal phone call a few days after mailing out their invitations.
6. Be up front about the cost of the event. Let everyone you invite know the cost per attendee (somewhere in the neighborhood of $20 is appropriate) and ask them to pay in advance or bring a check or exact change the night of the event.
7. Ask for contributions. You might also ask key players to bring a door prize valued at $50 or more. Let them know that they will receive an acknowledgment for their support of the event. Ask local businesses to donate small items such as pens, drink sleeves, or monogrammed golf balls at least a week before the event in order to make goody bags for your guests.
8. Plan food and drinks. Simple appetizers, bite-sized desserts, and other finger foods that can be served at room temperature are ideal for the occasion. You might see if a local restaurant, deli, or bakery would be willing to give you a discount rate for handling this portion of your event in exchange for getting some visibility in the community. Mention to them that many investors, Realtors, and business owners will be in attendance, as these individuals often look for a good deal on great food for open houses and office parties. As for beverages, bottled water, tea, coffee, and soft drinks should be considered the bare minimum. If you have the budget for it, offering beer, wine, cocktails, and mocktails will have a very positive effect on the success of your event. Before making those decisions though, consult with your attorney, as well as your local Alcoholic Beverage Commission, as there could be liability issues to take into consideration.
9. Don’t forget the prizes. If you have the budget for it, consider purchasing a prize to raffle off. Be sure to make it something that would appeal to your guests, such as a new PDA or a nice leather laptop carrying case.
10. Plan a short speech. If you would like, plan your own short speech on a relevant topic, making it slightly longer than the others given that evening. You want people to have the impression that you are the new expert in town, and that you are the person to do business with.
11. Last-minute follow ups. Make contact with everyone who RSVP'd on the day before or the day of the mixer to remind them of the event and again ask them to bring a guest.
12. Have everyone sign in. Have a sign-in table at the entrance to the event where the guests can all leave their contact information and specialty for inclusion in a master contact list that you will compile and mail out at a later date. Have blank name tags and black markers available at the table.
13. Mix and mingle. It is important to be social, but don’t try to insert yourself into every conversation and don’t try to steer the night in any particular direction. Let things naturally flow.
14. Be the last one to leave. Stay at the event until the last guest has left. Thank everyone for coming, and be sure that all the clean-up has been taken care of, whether by you or by someone to whom the task was designated. If alcohol has been served, call a cab for anyone who seems as if he or she may not be able to safely drive home. Not only is it the morally responsible thing to do, you could be liable if the guest became intoxicated at your event and had an accident after leaving.
15. Compile and send out the contact list. Include everyone who sponsored and/or attended the mixer. Be sure to include a personalized note thanking everyone for coming.
Remember to plan, plan, and plan some more. Don’t leave anything to chance. At the same time, do not allow yourself to become frazzled. There may be things that don’t go exactly as planned. If a problem pops up, don’t panic. Calmly address and resolve the issue to the best of your ability and keep your sense of humor. Enjoy yourself. Not only will this help your guests to relax and have a good time, but the people who are meeting you for the first time will get the impression that you are a professional who can get things done without even breaking a sweat. Everything may not be perfect the first time you throw a mixer, but the best way to learn is by doing. The day after your event, reflect on the experience. Think about what worked well for you, as well as what did not, and try to identify any ways you can improve for the next mixer or event that you host. If you keep at it, before long, hosting successful business events will be second nature to you.