Making Connections That Matter

Years ago, at the New Member Reception during my first NAMM show, Chris Martin of Martin Guitars, gave me a simple task: “Work the room.” While simple in theory, bouncing from table to table, initiating conversations and enduring the occasional awkward silence can quickly turn into an exhausting experience. Thankfully, like all things in life, networking becomes easier and more productive with presence, persistence and practice.

Today, as the current chair of the networking committee for NAMM Young Professionals (NAMM YP), I have come to appreciate the fact that NAMM is the ultimate networking playground, offering boundless opportunities to connect with new people and organizations. I have also come to recognize that effective networking begins before you even set foot in the Anaheim Convention Center and continues long after the whirlwind of the show.

TIPS FOR CREATING LASTING CONNECTIONS
Preparation is key and you can start now. Take the time to look up attending exhibitors, education sessions and social events that align with your work and interests, like sustainability, AI for businesses or music education advocacy. The NAMM Show app is an excellent tool for researching and building out a calendar. Many organizations, including NAMM YP and Women of NAMM, host mixers and meetups specifically for networking. These smaller settings make it easier to connect and have one-on-one conversations.

Make time and commit to attending. Planning is great, but it only helps if you actually show up. The flurry of activity at NAMM can easily allow you to justify skipping events earmarked on your calendar. But some of the most valuable connections happen precisely in those rooms you almost talked yourself out of attending. Make a commitment to be there by blocking your schedule and sharing your planned event calendar with the rest of your team.

Don’t be afraid to work the room. We’ve all done it — you attend a networking event, see your colleagues or industry friends and beeline over to them. Give yourself a goal to network outside of your network and comfort zone, such as “I will meet seven new people at this event.” Better yet, enlist a friend or colleague to work the room with you to hit your goal. However, it’s important to think conversations, not transactions. While setting a goal can be an easy motivator, the ultimate goal is not to just gather business cards that will collect dust. So, put your phone away, lead with curiosity and practice active listening. People remember and value genuine enthusiasm and the discovery of shared passions.

Learn how to depart. Gracefully and politely ending a conversation can sometimes be even more challenging than breaking the ice. Often, simply thanking someone for their time and their conversation is all it takes to open an exit. Alternatively, having a few inoffensive jokes in your back pocket is a surefire way to end a conversation on a high note. After making a new connection, jot down a few keywords (date, place, topics) on your phone or on their card as reminder of your conversation. This will help to make follow-ups more personalized and organic.

Don’t forget to follow up. After the show, make time to send follow-up emails and connect on socials. Mention something specific from your conversation to jog their memory. Comment on their posts, share their work, listen to their podcast and music or just check in every few months. Networking isn’t about instant results, it’s about cultivating connections that matter.

So, take the advice that was given to me and work the room because you never know where a conversation may lead. Expanding your network not only benefits you and your organization, but it also strengthens our industry as a whole. MI