Quality of Tech Networking in Austin - poor?

Thank you for your post. Let me address the types of people you mentioned:

1) People out of a job, mostly middle aged people laid off from one of the big name tech companies in Austin or people(much smaller %)passively looking to jump ship.

Well, the current demographic of Door64 consists of "technology professionals". We have members of all ages, and our attendees reflect that. But as in any normal distribution, there's going to be an average, and the profile you described sounds like you've nailed the average techie.

In terms of employment status in this current climate, you're going to find individuals who are either out of work, or working (though possibly looking). That criteria pretty much covers every person, so we shouldn't be surprised.

2) People looking to peddle something, promote something, sometimes completely unrelated to tech

I do my best to restrict Door64 to only technology professionals. I actively try to keep out people who would solicit the group (including, but not limited to financial planners, Realtors, etc.) If they are attending Door64 events and "peddling", find me and I'll take care of it.

3) IT Recruiters

Especially considering the employment climate, recruiters are welcome because they are searching for tech hiring candidates. If a member finds a job through Door64 or a company finds who they're looking for, then I get really excited!

The VP's, entrepreneurs, and VC's are out there; I've met them at these events (both Door64 and ATHH). FYI, from my observations, you may not see VC's or Angels inscribing that information right on their name tag; flaunting their investor status can sometimes lead to skewed conversations.

In terms of SaaS companies, you're seeing those in Austin because frankly that's where the money's at for relatively low startup cost. Product companies like the ones you mentioned take lots of up front capital investment. They are around (I've seen them present at the 2010 Door64 Tech Fair, for example); however, because the SaaS model is so potentially lucrative with little upfront investment, many people….including local folks who have been laid off from those "product companies" are giving entrepreneurship a go. So I think many of the SaaS startups are starting here in Austin, whereas product companies may move here.

The Door64 event sponsors bring out quite a number of people. For the the past few events, there were about 5-10 people from each sponsoring company each. It's definitely to their benefit to bring as many representatives from their company as possible, and I encourage them to do so.

Networking in smaller groups is definitely different than in larger groups. I wouldn't say better or worse: just different. The Door64 calendar lists lots of user group-type meetings that allow you to foster connections with other individuals over some specific topic of interest. They are of tremendous value, and as such the Door64 calendar exists to promote their meetings in the local tech community.

Let me end with this (not directed at you, but in general): Networking is about giving before you get. Going to a networking event with an intent to "get something immediately in return" is the wrong reason to attend, and you'll probably be disappointed. Instead, I advise to help others while there (e.g. building relationships, giving feedback on their ideas, connecting people to others you know, etc.). If everyone behaves in this fashion, then networking will be a rewarding experience for everyone who attends, no matter who they speak with.

A few comments while I'm waiting on my cuppa:

First, @enrcomm: What was the outcome of your search here on Door64, Dec2009-Jan2010, for "RF system engineers, communications and protocol stack experts" ? It seemed that you were forming a venture - is that underway? If so, do you need a training department? (I've built two departments from the ground up, provide full-spectrum instructional design, and speak fluent OSI, etc.) If your venture didn't launch, would you care to share current/last status, and any lessons learned?

Second, regarding the happy hours: My experience hasn't been quite the same as yours in the half-dozen or so happy hrs I've attended over the last couple of years. I've met many more employed folks than unemployed ones, and seen about an equal distribution of ages among the latter. I've been hustled, err, "vended to" just once as an outcome of a Door64 happy hr, and that came several weeks after the event itself, from someone whose own situation had apparently changed. Full disclosure: I'm a middle-aged, currently employed professional. As a contractor, I have to be looking for employment months ahead of projected contract end, and more generally, stay ahead of new trends and technologies. Door64 has helped me on both counts, both through this board and in the happy hour events.

Third, regarding networking, paying forward rarely feeds the bulldog *today*, and is hard to quantify ROI, but it is indeed invaluable. One anecdote: At one happy hour, I met a recruiter at an Austin fab plant who continues to recruit applicants by posting on this board. She's also a community-outreaching source for professional activities and organizations. Through her at that same event, I met a just-graduated, job-seeking EE, who didn't know about ERCOT in Taylor. I steered him to ERCOT, and I hope he made the cut. So was all that worth the ten bucks' parking charge for the happy hour? I think so, especially considering that I fed my belly with free food and my mind with good conversation.

I hope the value improves for you!

Wayne C. Vermillion
Instructional Designer/Project Manager

Todays unemployed folks are tomorrows' hiring managers - because eventually they will get employed, and with luck will need more people for their projects.

It is very much the employer's market, so people who need a job tend to be a lot more active and loud, than those who need people. It's not the quality of networking events, it's the state of the economy in Austin (and many other places).

And economy has to be not just great, but on the bubble for the investors to start announcing that they've got money to throw around to random people who show up to open networking events. Door64 and other open networking spots is where people meet and build relationships, money talks come later in the cycle and at different venues.

Jane Prusakova
Senior Consultant at Improving Enterprises
LinkedIn Info