7 Compelling Business Reasons To Attend My "Professional Networking Event"

This Saturday, business is coming home 💼💥

Hey folks!

Hope all is well. Today’s newsletter is a bit of a change from the usual ‘here’s what I’ve been up to recently’ format:

As you may know, I’m having a big party on Saturday at Gigi’s in Hoxton, London. So far over 350 tickets have been snapped up, but there’s still room to squeeze in a few more.

Therefore, in the style of the sort of person who won’t shut up about qualified growth opportunities on LinkedIn, here are 7 compelling business reasons why you should attend.

1. There Will Be Free Food And Drink

Like any good business event, I’ve asked the venue to lay on a few canapés, while our friends at Jellyfish have very generously put a bit of money behind the bar to help get the evening going.

Obviously there is only a limited amount of free stuff before you’ll have to start paying for it. However, for the number-crunchers amongst you, getting there early to stock up on bruschetta and chicken wings could represent a significant return on investment for your £10 ticket money.

2. Stock Up On Promotional Tat

No conference is complete without some sort of branded promotional nonsense, in a desperate bid to convince you that the people exhibiting there are worth keeping in touch with.

This weekend’s “Professional Networking Event” is absolutely no different, with a highly entertaining array of badges, laptop stickers and business cards for you to get your hands on.

There may be some sort of prize for the first person to collect them all. Come and find me on the night if you manage to pick up the full set.

3. Raffle Prizes Galore

As ever, there will be some magnificent prizes given away during the keynote speech as part of this year’s raffle.

Up for grabs is a signed photo of the Absolute Radio Breakfast Show co-presenter Matt Dyson, the actual goat from the 3 million view Instagram sensation ‘hiding a goat in our neighbours’ flat’, the official BBC Radio 2 Subbuteo set and a lifetime’s supply of crisps*.

*assuming you have one bag a week, and meet an untimely end at some point within the next six months

4. The Entire Thing Is Tax-Deductible

I understand that HMRC generally takes a dim view of people claiming back nights out against tax. But this isn’t a night out - it’s an important event for the business community.

Therefore, your ticket is tax-deductible and/or can be put through expenses at work (although obviously I’d encourage you to check with your boss, or an appropriately qualified tax professional).

5. Live Music & DJs

(Or visiting speakers, if you’re trying to fob your boss off with the expenses claim).

The Party Academics will be performing 90 minutes of straight bangers, before our DJ line up takes over right through until 2am.

Plus, the venue is split over two levels, so if you’re a raver you can carry on throwing shapes until the wee small hours, but if you’re more of a conversationalist you can enjoy making new professional connections in the relative calm of the business lounge.

6. Henry VIII Will Be There

I don’t know if you’ve ever been on LinkedIn, but virtually everybody claims to be ‘award winning’.

If you happen to be amongst the very few people who aren’t ‘award winning’ (or maybe you are, but you’d just like to win even more awards), you will be eligible to enter the 2024 prize for Individual of the Year, which literally everyone who enters will win.

The trophy is a solid gold rendering of my head, and will be presented by Henry VIII, which will make you the first person in your LinkedIn network to have received an award from a centuries-dead tyrannical monarch.

7. I’ll Be Wearing A Kilt

Here it is:

Obviously there are heaps more reasons to join us on Saturday. Including some daft business-related activities for you to discover, and a very silly way of gaining entry to the party which involves a couple of priests.

If you’d like to get involved, or maybe just want to find out a bit more, please feel free to check out the website.

As ever, if you’ve got any questions you can send me an email, or DM me on Instagram.

Back in a few weeks with one final update for 2024 😱

Tom