What are some tips for networking with industry professionals at a film festival awards ceremony?

One thing I add is …. Confidence! Practice your pitch- narrow it down to what’s important. Also research the person and or company with whom you will be speaking with ahead of time.

When pitching don't get salesy in your pitch. If I was to give my.pitch I would say this:I am the MASTER NETWORKER to teach others how to make quality connections via my podcasts, books I write and a tv show I produce.

As I am a published author along with a full suit I wear special ties with implied message on the ties. If I am attending a film event I wear the tie with film props on it and a pin indicating a director. If I am.attending a general.event networking or otherwise I wear the tie with my book cover on it. By wearing this you will be unforgettable as I have yet to meet anyone with a book cover or film tie this making the connection memorable.

Try and keep phone on silent or vibrate as if a call interrupted your concentration it would lose your train of thought. The number called in is on your phone or you send quick text message indicating your busy and when would return call text or voice.

You could make a note on your phone about conversation and mark it high if an important lead that could result in some revenue. When you followup reference where you met the person,reference points of the conversation and maybe.add phone number into email to see if you could connect via voice for followup meet in person for coffee. If I her a card I.might make a note about event I was at,date of event and few words about person or topic.

Use an acronym F.O.R.M. F=Family O=Occupation R=Recreation M=Message If you get stuck on how to start a conversation with a stranger pick.one or more letters and ask about the topic. Eg.if I detected an accent from the person say it was an Aussie I would say i think your from Australia and I have my brother living in Adelaide over 50 years working in oil industry.i might add I planto visit that country one-day and see my brother. I could get into R letter saying brother skydived over there and I have an interest to try this too.

There are big differences between virtual networking online and in-person networking at events. With virtual.networking you.might attend an event via zoom and there could be as many as few hundred on any screens. The host may nor let you speak as restrictions might be put in place Some events may have "breakout rooms" smaller sizes of groups 2 or many as 7 or 8 in the room.Everyone gets an oppportunity to give their pitch and mention what they need I E.guests for their podcast, looking for work. You can enter more detail into chat box I.e.contact info.,social.media sites nd summary of business There may be a timekeeper so that everyone gets a chance to contribute to conversation. I use my timer so i won't go over 60secs if that's lomit