Creative Cape Town

New Networking nights? No, not a euphemism for dating after dark; but a handy summary of a new way to work while you play.

We’ve begun a new year, making it a good time to investigate the  new networking nights at Cafe Sofia.  You’ll agree that it’s always useful to make more of the right kind of friends – the kind you can relate to personally and professionally. The  gatherings a good way to integrate your everyday and your inspiration with a bit of a twist, because they’re  based on the natural synergy between socially and professionally interlocking networks and they’re essentially about whatever you’re about.

The twist is guest performers, unfettered, facilitated meetings, idea/skills swap, speakers, games, and even dress-up to spice up the night, thanks to the tailored input of Tetris Events.

Tetris has 15  plus years at work in the film, television, entertainment and corporate industries, Tetris Events and has made the creative approach central to its eventing and marketing. Lynette Ou Tim, the inspiration and motivation behind the collaboration, approaches this experiential marketing exercise practically.

“I care about community, and so does Café Sofia (who do things like student discounts, pensioner discounts, and a family night). The idea was linking my community and their community, and through that to make it an interesting, semi-regular place to go to. It’s about building interest first, and seeing people get involved. It’s not about formal, corporate gatherings with speeches. I’m looking for gaps and ways to do things that have substance -  events of substance, if that’s the right phrase; I just don’t want to do another cocktail party.”

What if your peers and people are busy that night – should you skip out? No! The focus is friendly meets professional. “Knowing me, you’ll probably know someone I know, and I’ll connect you further,” Lynette points out, as it is central to her philosophy. And even if you don’t, the hats and hostess will have you feeling right at home in no time.

It’s true, not everybody has time, energy or thei inclination to dress up, so Lynette provides hats to help stir the mood. She admits to enjoying the contrast of passing beyond comfort zones, as well as the opportunities.  “The attendance includes a combination of professions, a lot of the people are in corporate day jobs, and their ‘other’ life is creative ;  it gives them an alternative outlet for that.”  Quite literally. The social evening is in its third month now (January 2011) and your next ‘date’ with fate will be announced here.

Meet, greet, eat and swap notes. Doesn’t that sound like the kind of team brainstorm session you’d rather have?