Last night I tried to act like Ciara and "Dare to be different" by heading out to the NetParty.com sponsored "Networking Event with a Twist". I found parking pretty easily and headed to Estate (1 Boylston Place, in the Alley). I had been eager to try this place out for a while- When I arrived there was a line...the guy checking ID's was a bit annoyed. (You are working - be pleasant )
When I got inside there were different name tag colors for your industry - Pink for Entertainment, Light Blue for Healthcare...etc. Nice concept, but what would have been nicer is if they already had the name tags made instead of having girls write your names on them Sharpies . And sorry to say, most of the girls weren't too bright. When my gal pal was trying to describe that she was a Development Officer at a University she was like - "yah, but what do you do?" *Sigh....
BostonFab! and Fab! Friends, Jax, Rebecca and Michelle
Once inside I was ready to dig into the free hors d' oeuvres that they had advertised would be served from 6 - 7 p.m. None to be found. Okay so I maybe there were like 2 trays of chicken skewers being passed around - but there were over 500 people who RSVP'd and I was not thinking this would be a "loaves and fishes" moment. *Ugh.
When I got inside there were different name tag colors for your industry - Pink for Entertainment, Light Blue for Healthcare...etc. Nice concept, but what would have been nicer is if they already had the name tags made instead of having girls write your names on them Sharpies . And sorry to say, most of the girls weren't too bright. When my gal pal was trying to describe that she was a Development Officer at a University she was like - "yah, but what do you do?" *Sigh....
BostonFab! and Fab! Friends, Jax, Rebecca and MichelleOnce inside I was ready to dig into the free hors d' oeuvres that they had advertised would be served from 6 - 7 p.m. None to be found. Okay so I maybe there were like 2 trays of chicken skewers being passed around - but there were over 500 people who RSVP'd and I was not thinking this would be a "loaves and fishes" moment. *Ugh.
Networkers hungry to chat it up or just hungry
Then let's talk a lil' bit about the venue...dank and hot! People kept congregating to the side so that they could actually see! There were only two chandeliers on either side of the room with a few back lights in the bar area. So, trying to find out what people did even with the colored name tags was not so helpful. And the acoustics...also awful. On weekends this is a night club, so I am not sure how that works out. I felt like I was shouting to the person next to me.
BostonFab! and Steve a Compliance Specialist
Still determined to get something out of this event I headed to the bar to get a glass of wine and was met with the rudest bartender I have experienced in Boston thus far. First we asked the chick - and if you ever go there she has long blonde hair and was at the bar on the far wall next to the VIP area- I really got to get peoples names...anyways...so we first go up and my Fab! friend Jax asks if they have a drink menu - She laugh -" Uh- no" Jax:..."Ooookay so what about a mojito" - "Oh no - we don't have any mint". So while Jax was thinking about her 3rd attempt I asked if I could get a Cabernet "Will that be one or two?" Me: "One"...so then Jax orders a Piniot Grigio - and she gave her attitude about that....then she screws the top off of something and gives it to me. "$8" Okay so I give her a $20 and then she gives me back $4 and I'm like - "I just said I was getting one drink" - She was like "Oh...well I'll give her change and you can just get it from her." SO RUDE!!....I'm almost over it.
After that I tried to mingle a bit, but the group was such a hodgepodge of people and I couldn't see who was my in my color group, so I felt at a loss. I mean yes, we were there to network, but in a sweltering low lit environment, where I had to shout to be heard, it was kinda hard.
Realtor Kobie Evans and BostonFab!
Packed like sardines!
But oh my dear friends I have not come to the "twist" part of this "networking with a twist" so at exactly 8 o'clock all of the sudden the lights went even lower -though I didn't think it was possible - the music turned up and suddenly there were pink search lights swirling around the dance floor. Uh-oh....yes, this networking event had turned into a singles bar...just that quickly. And your girl had to get!
Impression of the Grand Opening of the Boston NetParty - if you have NOTHING better to do on a night that they have their events and you enjoy quirky people watching, or you typically use "So, what do you do" as a pick-up line - then this is the place for you. Other than that - skip it!
Unfab!
Then let's talk a lil' bit about the venue...dank and hot! People kept congregating to the side so that they could actually see! There were only two chandeliers on either side of the room with a few back lights in the bar area. So, trying to find out what people did even with the colored name tags was not so helpful. And the acoustics...also awful. On weekends this is a night club, so I am not sure how that works out. I felt like I was shouting to the person next to me.
BostonFab! and Steve a Compliance Specialist Still determined to get something out of this event I headed to the bar to get a glass of wine and was met with the rudest bartender I have experienced in Boston thus far. First we asked the chick - and if you ever go there she has long blonde hair and was at the bar on the far wall next to the VIP area- I really got to get peoples names...anyways...so we first go up and my Fab! friend Jax asks if they have a drink menu - She laugh -" Uh- no" Jax:..."Ooookay so what about a mojito" - "Oh no - we don't have any mint". So while Jax was thinking about her 3rd attempt I asked if I could get a Cabernet "Will that be one or two?" Me: "One"...so then Jax orders a Piniot Grigio - and she gave her attitude about that....then she screws the top off of something and gives it to me. "$8" Okay so I give her a $20 and then she gives me back $4 and I'm like - "I just said I was getting one drink" - She was like "Oh...well I'll give her change and you can just get it from her." SO RUDE!!....I'm almost over it.
After that I tried to mingle a bit, but the group was such a hodgepodge of people and I couldn't see who was my in my color group, so I felt at a loss. I mean yes, we were there to network, but in a sweltering low lit environment, where I had to shout to be heard, it was kinda hard.
Realtor Kobie Evans and BostonFab!Packed like sardines!But oh my dear friends I have not come to the "twist" part of this "networking with a twist" so at exactly 8 o'clock all of the sudden the lights went even lower -though I didn't think it was possible - the music turned up and suddenly there were pink search lights swirling around the dance floor. Uh-oh....yes, this networking event had turned into a singles bar...just that quickly. And your girl had to get!
Impression of the Grand Opening of the Boston NetParty - if you have NOTHING better to do on a night that they have their events and you enjoy quirky people watching, or you typically use "So, what do you do" as a pick-up line - then this is the place for you. Other than that - skip it!
Unfab!
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