Comments on: Eyes on the Party http://www.asmallchange.net/eyes-on-the-party/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=eyes-on-the-party Making Sense of Fundraising Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:58:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: What We’re Reading, Week of 1/11 « i On Nonprofits http://www.asmallchange.net/eyes-on-the-party/#comment-713 What We’re Reading, Week of 1/11 « i On Nonprofits Sat, 23 Jan 2010 17:21:26 +0000 http://www.asmallchange.net/eyes-on-the-party/#comment-713 [...] A Small Change… Eyes on the Party A brief reminder from Jason at A Small Change on how to get the most from networking at your [...] [...] A Small Change… Eyes on the Party A brief reminder from Jason at A Small Change on how to get the most from networking at your [...]

]]> By: Jeremy Shatan http://www.asmallchange.net/eyes-on-the-party/#comment-712 Jeremy Shatan Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:38:51 +0000 http://www.asmallchange.net/eyes-on-the-party/#comment-712 Agreed - a quick hello is usually fine. However, it's rarely possible to stand by the door for the whole of check-in. There may be other demands on our time as the event gets going. If it is a seated event, it's a great idea to go from table to table and thank people for coming. Your table list will let you know who you're talking to if you don't know them personally. Try to pull something out that addresses them specifically. For example, some Sony execs came to our dinner in 2008, invited by our honoree. So I said something like this: "Great to see you here - I know our honoree appreciates your support. That gold sponsorship made a real difference. And, hey, you must all be excited about that new Sony Reader!" It can start a conversation or at least make the encounter memorable. You can also empower your board members, if they are attending. Give them a table list and ask them to schmooze five people. Provide a little background on each of the five and let them go to it. Best of luck with your 2010 events! Agreed – a quick hello is usually fine. However, it’s rarely possible to stand by the door for the whole of check-in. There may be other demands on our time as the event gets going. If it is a seated event, it’s a great idea to go from table to table and thank people for coming. Your table list will let you know who you’re talking to if you don’t know them personally. Try to pull something out that addresses them specifically. For example, some Sony execs came to our dinner in 2008, invited by our honoree. So I said something like this: “Great to see you here – I know our honoree appreciates your support. That gold sponsorship made a real difference. And, hey, you must all be excited about that new Sony Reader!” It can start a conversation or at least make the encounter memorable.

You can also empower your board members, if they are attending. Give them a table list and ask them to schmooze five people. Provide a little background on each of the five and let them go to it.

Best of luck with your 2010 events!

]]> By: Dana Van Nest http://www.asmallchange.net/eyes-on-the-party/#comment-711 Dana Van Nest Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:31:28 +0000 http://www.asmallchange.net/eyes-on-the-party/#comment-711 Great point, Jason! I'm a extrovert and know a good number of people in our community, but feel a wave of relief when walking into an event and seeing a familiar face greeting me at the door. If the greeter doesn't know me, but can figure out they know of me or my company from my name tag, they can say something welcoming and point out someone I do know. Usually, when I run an event, I go over the invite list with my firm and we make sure as many guests as possible are greeted and spoken to. A quick hello is fine in these situations; guests expect it. Great point, Jason! I’m a extrovert and know a good number of people in our community, but feel a wave of relief when walking into an event and seeing a familiar face greeting me at the door. If the greeter doesn’t know me, but can figure out they know of me or my company from my name tag, they can say something welcoming and point out someone I do know. Usually, when I run an event, I go over the invite list with my firm and we make sure as many guests as possible are greeted and spoken to. A quick hello is fine in these situations; guests expect it.

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