Last Thursday I went along to the ‘Taste Of Birmingham’ event at Cannon Hill Park in Edgbaston – it’s basically an event where all local food & drink producers have stalls so you can sample everything they make.

Thursday’s part of the proceedings was termed ‘A Taste Of Business’, designed for all the local businesses to get first dabs on the good stuff, and treat it as a networking ‘do’. I have a mantra that I go by when at food events, it’s easy-to-remember acronym is: “FYFWAMFFAP” – “Fill Your Face With As Much Free Food As Possible” – (See, told you it was easy) Great place to go if you skipped lunch…

It’s true to say I thoroughly enjoyed myself, partaking in lots of different from the norm stuff, like alcoholic ginger beer, champagne lager, (there was some food, too), but I decided to have a go at the speed networking session that was being run by my friend Mark Linton from Corkscrew Events. They do these speed networking events all over the country, at big business shows, and their own big business shows, the Business Growth Show (all over UK). And in all the time I’ve known Mark, probably coming up to 2 1/2 years, I’ve never actually done a speed networking session!

Most of my networking happens at 4Networking breakfast meetings, (four of which I run in the Midlands), and because of the time commitment for those, I don’t tend to do many other meetings. (However I always go to the Business Growth Show when it’s in town twice a year)

So, without giving it much thought, I took my place in the circle of other networkers preparing to start the first round. (You get 1 minute to speak, whistle blows, then other person starts straight away!) It’s quite an experience. But of course I didn’t really think it through, talking loudly (to drown out everyone around you, very noisy situation!) incessantly for what ended up being 40-odd minutes of solid networking. Afterwards my voice was absolutely raw!

However, this isn’t to put you off from trying it for yourself; quite the opposite in fact. I came away from that session (which I never had planned to do before arriving, was a spontaneous thing) with some awesome contacts, so it made it absolutely worthwhile.

To be sure I’ve learned my lesson, next time I do something similar, I shall carry a bottle of water and some voice artist’s throat spray! (Now on order!)

Want more info on the Business Growth Show? Look here – www.thebusinessgrowthshow.co.uk

Want more info on 4Networking? Look here – www.4networking.biz