When Barton J. Bierman of The Virdere Group stood in front of the 50 or so Trifesta goers August 8 at NJN’s Newark studio, he treated his audience to a compendium of networking and crowd-working tactics.

People are afraid of going to a party where they don’t know anyone, he said. But that’s what networking is — introducing yourself to strangers. Make eye contact, wear your name tag on the right side instead of the normal left. (Bierman brings his own.) Read USA Today, the business and sports pages (especially good for women), five books a week. Knowledge is power, he insisted, and is fodder for good conversation.
Still don’t know what to talk about? Talk about the weather, but never politics, religion or feelings.
Look over the room and make a beeline for the crowds. Arrive early (you then become the host) and stay late.

“Why networking?” he asked, then answered his own question. It builds contacts, costs nothing and is the best way to advertise yourself.

Make the effort, be enthusiastic and energetic. Be courteous, he said. Dress right, develop a sense of humor. Never go anywhere without your business cards. Keep them in two places. Bierman won’t even talk to people without them. Hearty words for a successful evening.

The event was sponsored by the AD Club, RPI Multi-media Duplications and the New Jersey Broadcasters Association, with media help from njbiz. Co-chairs were Michael Schumacher and John Howlett.

Barton J. Bierman	Stu Bodow	Michael Schumacher and Rick Bonelli