Convention season never really ends in Las Vegas — CES kicks off every January, and the calendar stays packed straight through the year. Whether you’re working a trade show floor or a chamber mixer, mingling is a skill. Here are five tips to sharpen it.
1. Just Start the Conversation
The hardest part is the first sentence, so keep it simple: “Hi, I’m [name] — what brings you here tonight?” Nobody at a networking event is offended by being approached. That’s why everyone came.
2. Find the Common Interest Fast
Listen for overlap — an industry, a neighborhood, a team, a shared contact. Common ground turns a polite exchange into a real conversation. In a city as connected as Las Vegas, you’re usually one question away from a mutual acquaintance.
3. Exchange Contact Info That Sticks
Paper cards still work, but have a digital option ready too — a QR code, a LinkedIn connection on the spot, or a quick text of your details. The format matters less than the follow-through. Whatever you exchange, use it within 48 hours.
4. Keep Moving — Gracefully
A good rule of thumb: about ten minutes per conversation, aiming for four or five quality connections an hour. When it’s time, exit warmly: “I don’t want to monopolize your evening — let’s continue this over coffee.” Then actually schedule the coffee.
5. Quality Over Quantity, Always
Five real conversations beat twenty drive-by card swaps. The goal isn’t to meet everyone in the room. It’s to be remembered by the right ones.
Convention in town? Local mixer this week? Find it on the Network Vegas calendar and go practice.
