NetParty for Young Professionals

Submitted by audrey on Fri, 02/15/2008 - 3:28pm.
02/27/2008 - 6:00pm
02/27/2008 - 10:00pm

Wednesday, February 27 @ Pangaea Ultra-Lounge

Time: 6 pm-10 pm
Address: 409 Colorado Street
Admission: Free w/ rsvp; $25 at the door

As seen in Forbes (Best of the Web) and Cosmopolitan ("Top New Ways to Meet"), NetParty Austin is a unique event that is held at the hippest venues and "combines business networking with social fun" (Forbes).

Please join us on Wed, February 27 as we return to the exclusive and newly-opened Pangaea Ultra-Lounge. Open yourself up to meeting hundreds of new people for business contacts and social connections, and gain acess to the new Austin hotspot!

RSVP and Find out More
http://austin.netparty.com/networking-events.html

Submitted by softwarejanitor on Fri, 02/15/2008 - 3:54pm.

Young Professionals

Well, I guess I am doubly out being a 40+ geek. Alas.

Submitted by audrey on Fri, 02/15/2008 - 4:05pm.

Well who is going to tell differently? I doubt a red light will start flashing and alarms blaring if you go.

I'm sensing a theme here.. I don't think you like to go out.

Submitted by softwarejanitor on Fri, 02/15/2008 - 4:59pm.

I do, I just don't particularly like to go downtown or to South Austin... As a few people around here can attest I have actually been known to show up at Door64 and GeekAustin events when they are not so far and in places that you can park near...

Anyway, I'm not so sure about those alarms and flashing red lights... exclusive hotspots may not let plain old geezers like myself in...

Submitted by audrey on Fri, 02/15/2008 - 10:26pm.

Pfft... they wouldn't turn anyone away - your money is just as green as anyone else's.

Submitted by matt on Fri, 02/15/2008 - 8:43pm.

Old? Come now, janitor. I have gone to these in the past - they're not bad. It's a good reason to get out.

Matt
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Submitted by softwarejanitor on Fri, 02/15/2008 - 9:58pm.

Well, I'm kinda 1/2 kidding... but I am on the wrong side of 40 and some days I feel very old indeed.

Submitted by matt on Fri, 02/15/2008 - 8:48pm.

Oh, and regarding young professionals, I see many people there "more mature" than me. It's just a catch phrase to lure people out.

Matt
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Submitted by audrey on Fri, 02/15/2008 - 10:33pm.

Yeah, it's one of the things that actually turns me off about the event (I know... I posted it). Excessive use of buzz words and catch phrases are abundant with this one. 'Ultra-lounge' meh! ...and I hate that term 'young professionals' ... sounds like an oxymoron to me.

Also, do they not use spell-check anymore ("gain acess to the new Austin hotspot").

Submitted by softwarejanitor on Fri, 02/15/2008 - 11:02pm.

Well, I'm sorry for making fun of the posting... but I have to agree with the buzz word bingo...

Submitted by matt on Sat, 02/16/2008 - 8:21am.

I will tell you one thing that bothers me about NetParty events: Too many Realtors, insurance agents, mortgage brokers. That's the reason I keep door64 only for tech.

Matt
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Submitted by softwarejanitor on Sat, 02/16/2008 - 12:33pm.

Hey, some of those people used to be IT workers... :-) Actually I thought about taking classes to get a real estate license... given that the housing market is now in the dumper as well I guess it is a good thing I didn't.

Submitted by matt on Sat, 02/16/2008 - 1:26pm.

Don't get me wrong: I have nothing against them. It's just that I personally like to network with people with professional interests / background similar to mine. Otherwise, it becomes a business card swap:

"Matt, if you ever need an insurance agent, give me a call."

"Yeah, and if you ever need a...chip designer...give me a call...?"

I think such events are more beneficial when they focus on networking instead of just picking up clients. There's a difference, in my opinion.

Matt
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Submitted by softwarejanitor on Sat, 02/16/2008 - 1:56pm.

I understand that... It is just that one of the more interesting people I met at one of the Joe DiMaggio's events was a guy who called himself a "recovering geek". When he was laid off from IT in 2001 he went to law school and now has a private practice. I sometimes wish I had the resources to do that.

Submitted by johnerik on Mon, 02/18/2008 - 2:16pm.

you could totally do it if you want you - just take out some loans!

Submitted by softwarejanitor on Fri, 02/22/2008 - 10:19am.

Ha! Easier said than done.

Submitted by shey on Mon, 02/18/2008 - 12:46pm.

SWJ, do you have any idea how many out of job techies are trying to be real estate brokers.... the market is flooded!

Submitted by softwarejanitor on Fri, 02/22/2008 - 10:21am.

Yeah, I know... It wasn't quite so bad at the time I was seriously considering doing it myself... but I am glad at this point I didn't do it. If the real estate market turns back around before the IT job market does, which is likely, I may be still be sorry though.

Submitted by BrookeLyn on Fri, 02/22/2008 - 10:15am.

You wonder how much networking can be done without being able to hear the person you are talking to.

Submitted by softwarejanitor on Fri, 02/22/2008 - 10:22am.

It can be tough... some of the events I've been to have been crowded and noisy enough it was hard to carry on a conversation at times. I can't speak for the more recent events though, perhaps the other venues are better.

Submitted by shey on Fri, 02/22/2008 - 11:38am.

Young and professional. Why not add "urban" and say "yuppie's only".

Submitted by softwarejanitor on Fri, 02/22/2008 - 11:51am.

Ooh... that would leave me out for sure since I don't drive a BMW.

Submitted by matt on Fri, 02/22/2008 - 1:19pm.

I agree that some parties (e.g. NetParty) have been a bit noisy. Maybe it's my maturity (ahem, age) or maybe I just can't hear...but it's difficult to network when you can't hear the other person.

To me, the term yuppie has negative connotations....akin to self-absorbed, shallow, materialistic. I wouldn't find it a complement to be called one.

Submitted by softwarejanitor on Fri, 02/22/2008 - 1:24pm.

Me either, luckily it is a label that I've not had applied to myself, and probably unlikely to.