And that someone is me. I’ve started a new community event that I hope to do once a month and it’s called Developer Dinner (DD). If you’re familiar with the concat meetup, the GitHub drinkups, or various topical groups you can venture out with any given day of the week, you know that developers need to network, but we don’t really like calling it “networking”. At least, I don’t. I think hanging out with my peers — because true respect and career movement comes from camaraderie — is just a part of being the best technical person that I can be. My profession, my skills, my role in the product economy, do not exist in a bubble.
So, in my head, that means I need to be getting dinner with friends in my field. It does not mean clumping in groups that don’t inter-communicate, at a dimly-lit bar (not hating on that format, it just super duper 100% does not work for me). Maybe it’s because I have always been a person who loves to throw dinner parties, but the best way for me to get to know someone new or to catch up with someone I’ve known awhile is to eat dinner with them …no matter how busy or stressed I am. I guess it’s “networking”, but the power of a well-organized dinner is truly something else.
Therefore I’d love it if you came and ate dinner with me (and lots of other great folks who plan for, write, or scream at, code) on March 25th or April 21st (RSVP so I order enough food!). I’m sponsoring it. Show up with beer or something if you want but I’d like to see your face. If I don’t know you, I will make sure I meet you. If you don’t know someone else present at the dinner, I will do my damnedest to make sure you meet them too. That’s how community events really should be. Maybe I am just a fed-up introvert who finds herself stuck in a corner at loud networking events …with no idea who is around her or how to conquer the crowd… but I still really love people! And smiles. And stories. And laughter. I just don’t think traditional networking is effective. I’ve unintentionally made a habit of “alt-networking” through meals and support groups and outdoor activities (I can’t accomplish much at massive events or conferences), so it’s time to formalize the inclination.
Historically for large dinner parties (we throw a great dinner every fall called Betagiving that’s ~50 people!) we create a Franken-table so I will make sure you have somewhere to sit, someone to talk to, and a beer to drink or a cupcake to munch on.
So come eat with me. I hope to see you soon.
