Update: I spent $500 on a 'premium' networking event that was a total bust

Last month I paid for a ticket to a big industry mixer in Chicago that promised 'high-level connections.' It was just a crowded bar with a cash-only drink line and zero structure. I talked to maybe three people, all trying to sell me their own services. On one side, maybe these events work if you're super outgoing. On the other, I could have saved that cash and just messaged people online directly. Has anyone actually gotten a solid client from a paid mixer, or are they just a money grab now?

3 comments

3 Comments

ryan_carr591mo ago

Yeah the "high-level connections" thing is such a trap... feels like everything is just a fancy wrapper for a regular sales pitch now. I've seen it with courses and workshops too, not just mixers.

margaret_bennett31mo ago

Hard to find anything real anymore. The whole scene is just a long con to get your email. Makes genuine networking feel impossible.

kim.sandra1mo ago

Totally agree, it's all just a dressed up sales funnel now. They bait you with the promise of real community or insider knowledge, but it's just a long game to sell you their mastermind group or coaching package. Even the free content feels calculated, like every podcast guest is just there to plug their thing. Makes you not want to trust any event or online group at all. The whole vibe has become so transactional it sucks the life out of actually connecting with people.