June 15th, 2009 by Pam Martin

People are people

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About this post:

Pam Martin talks about a different registration experience at a recent meeting of the Richmond Social Media Club.

Filed under Experience Design, Social

 

NameTags by Richard Moross / Flickr Creative Commons

NameTags by Richard Moross / Flickr Creative Commons

I help our clients develop social media and communication strategies here at NewCity. I try to get out of the office pretty often, meet people and talk to other conversation-oriented types about what's working for them and what's not. I like to get out and meet people that we might like to work with in the future. I go to advertising functions, industry association meetings, technology council meetings, higher education conferences- I like meeting people.

The first thing that usually happens at these meetings and get-togethers is that you check in and are immediately handed a badge that you have to somehow attach to your person. It's meant to be an ice-breaker, a way for people to identify you and start a conversation. Nine times out of ten, it's pre-printed and it lists your name and company name- but most prominently displays the name and logo of the organization that's holding the meeting.

I'll admit that until recently I've never really questioned why this is the way it is. I suppose it's "prime advertising" space- a place for event sponsors to get their name and logo seen and a place that event organizers can sell as prime advertising space- funny the way that works.

I recently attended a meeting of the Richmond Social Media Club. It promised to be a great evening of learning and meeting people. I arrived at the event and sure enough, I walked in and there was a reception desk with smiling faces ready to check my name off the reservation list. That's where things changed a bit.

I wasn't given a pre-printed name badge with the event logo and my rank,file and serial number.

I was given a plain 3×2 label and a Sharpie.

I could define myself however I wanted.

Now, this is where I should tell David that I dutifully printed "Pam Martin – NewCity" on my sticker. I also added "@PamelaMartin" on the 3rd line. I peeled the back off the label, slapped it under my left shoulder and dove into the crowd- looking for the bar and feeling excited about meeting some very cool people.

Everywhere I looked people had labels that listed simply their name and their Twitter handle- in everyone's funky, unique handwriting. People weren't even passing out business cards!

What kind of business function was this anyway?

It's business the way business needs to be conducted today. With people. By people.

You can network with companies. You can speak to your target audience or demographic.

But it's a lot more fun to meet people.

Communication between people is where relationships happen. People like to find out what they have in common- whether it's working with youth groups and Legos on occasion, Phish and sublime food & drink, ultra-running and other forms of self-inflicted torture, a passion for shoes bordering on the ridiculous… (who me?)

I had a lot of fun meeting people Tuesday night. I met people that I'd like to have an opportunity to work with and I'll do what I can to make that happen. Now if I could only remember where they work…

Speak up.

Respect.NewCity will never distribute, sell or otherwise treat your information like its ours to run around all willy-nilly, hither and yon with. That's because we appreciate your contribution to the conversation.

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