Networking and after parties?

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Phalynx

Active member
This is my first visit to NAB. I am really looking to network as much as possible as well as absorb as much knowledge as I can. I understand that after parties are a great place to network and talk more at a down to Earth level. I am not looking to invite myself to any of these but I am interested in how you do get invited or of there are normal parties that you are free to attend. Any advice is appreciated.
 
Just ask around while there w/ anyone you network with. If you talk to a guy at a Vinten booth for 10-15min, see if they know anything.

The only real after party I went to was one hosted by CNN. I was freelancing for HDNews at the time & their news director & executive producer were at NAB & got me into it. They also got me into a dinner hosted by Sony for Cablevision which was nice too.
 
The parties are usually hosted by the bigger companies for their important clients or potential future clients - invitation only. If you're a nobody to these companies, then you need to find a friend that works for one of these clients and have them get you an invitation.
 
Probably one of the worst places to network. Trade shows are all about sales. If you want to network pick a less stressful setting. My experience with so called parties are: a bunch of semi drunks, who will not remember a single conversation the next morning.
 
For those who think NAB is not good for networking: You're doing it wrong. Think about whom you would like to network with. If you are a shooter, crew person, director, producer, then you don't really want to go to a manufacturer's party. Those are for dealers and rental house and others who interact directly with them. But there are always tons of get togethers informal or not where people that you want to mingle with are around. Remember, they are at the show too and have to find ways to spend their time. You can go play cards with someone, informally get a bunch of people together to get drinks and let them know to invite anyone they know, etc. One of the best contacts I ever made was at my first NAB many years ago where I started talking to someone in the Panasonic booth maybe 15 minutes after we both hit the floor. We were both talking to a Panasonic rep. about some camera (I think it was the original VariCam) and afterwards continued the conversation and decided to go over to another booth for something related. The better part of the day was spent roaming Central Hall together and I later did two features with the guy (me DP, him Line Producer on one and Director on another) plus countless other projects from our mutual connections. And that's just one example.

When I couldn't find anything of particular interest technologically, I would park myself by an interesting booth that I knew would attract people I'd want to meet. A good dealer like BandPro or AbelCine worked well for me. Just don't get in the way of someone's business because they're spending a lot of money to be there.

Have fun at NAB, and do a ton of networking. Even if it is just saying hello to old friends, by reminding them that you exist again it will generate interest and you're likely to get something out of it down the road. NAB is fantastic for that.
 
I plan to introduce the crap outta myself and ask manufacturers a LOT of questions. This will be such a good learning experience.

And unlike when I was a kid... I plan to see with my hands and not with my eyes (take that mom & dad!) :tongue:
 
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