How I Hosted My First Networking Event (75 People Showed Up!)

I'll never forget hosting my first networking event in Calgary. I had zero experience, no email list, and no idea what to expect. To my complete surprise, 75 people showed up! Here's exactly how I did it and how you can replicate this success.

1. Overcoming the #1 Event Hosting Fear

Most people worry no one will come to their event. But the real nightmare scenario? When just one person shows up. I know because it happened to me at my fifth event! That awkward moment when you have to explain "normally there's more people here..." is worse than an empty room.

2. Getting People in the Door

The Power Duo: Eventbrite & Meetup

These platforms are gold because:

• They already have massive audiences actively looking for events
• Your listing appears alongside other professional events
• The registration process is frictionless for attendees

But here's the key - your listing needs to convince people you'll bring the right crowd. Ask yourself: "Who would someone expect to meet at my event based on this description?"

The Exclusive Formula That Works

I learned this the hard way: Specificity attracts more people than generic invites. For example:

This works because professionals want to meet their peers, not just random people. When I switched to this approach, my attendance doubled.

The Melvin LinkedIn Method

Here's my step-by-step process:

1. Search LinkedIn for your target audience (e.g. "marketing professionals in Calgary")
2. Connect with everyone on the list (no need for custom messages initially)
3. After they accept, send: "Hi [Name], I'm hosting an exclusive event for [target audience] on [date]. Would you be available to attend?"

This builds your network while positioning you as a connector in your industry.

3. Mastering Event Engagement

The moment of truth - people actually showed up! Now what?

The Door Greeting Technique

I always:

• Stand at the entrance to personally welcome every attendee
• Introduce the first few arrivals to each other
• Continue making connections as more people arrive

Solving the Introvert Problem

At every event, you'll have:

• Extroverts who naturally mingle
• Introverts who stand awkwardly hoping someone talks to them

This is why I created Jam Bingo - a digital icebreaker that gives everyone structured ways to connect. Here's how it works:

1. Display a QR code on screen or printouts
2. Attendees scan it to get custom prompts on their phones
3. Examples: "Find someone wearing the same color shirt" or "Find a fellow entrepreneur"

The result? Even shy attendees are laughing and making real connections within minutes.

4. The Venue Hustle

Finding affordable venues was my biggest challenge. Here's what I learned:

The Door-to-Door Approach

For my first event, I literally walked downtown Calgary going into restaurants and coffee shops asking:

Most handed me business cards and never responded. But one local restaurant agreed to waive their usual $1,000 minimum spend for a Monday night.

The Hard Truth About Free Events

I assumed attendees would buy food/drinks. Reality check:

• Free events attract people who won't spend money at the venue
• After 2-3 events, venues will expect compensation
• The first restaurant I worked with actually went out of business months later

The Drink Ticket Solution

Here's what works:

• Make events paid (even if just $10-20)
• Include a drink ticket in the price
• Use that money to pay the venue

This creates a sustainable model where venues are happy to host you repeatedly.

5. The Follow-Up That Builds Your Reputation

Your work isn't done when the event ends. Always:

1. Send a thank-you email to all attendees
2. Include links to your business/social media
3. Encourage them to share about their experience

This compounds your results because each attendee shares with their network of 100+ people.

Hosting successful events transformed my business and network. The first one is the hardest, but follow this blueprint and you'll avoid the mistakes I made. See you at your next event!