[blindlaw] Schmoozing

[Nightingale, Noel]

Mazen:

I agree  that the issue of interacting at professional social events can
be challenging.  One technique I find useful is to hang out near the
where the drinks are being served.  People getting drinks aren't usually
already in a conversation and it is easier to start a conversation than
to break in on one that is already in progress.  I also find that if you
plant yourself at a table, someone will inevitably come chat with you,
though I don't' like this method very well.  I'd rather be standing and
milling around.  I definitely would not use sighted assistance as it
implies that you need someone to assist you with communicating and also
is awkward if you don't' really want to have the sighted assistant
viewed as your appendage or as necessary for any time someone wants to
speak with you.  Also, it is awkward because the sighted assistant would
probably be involved in the conversation, which you don't' really want.

I'll be curious to see what others say.

Noel

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Mazen
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 2:33 PM
To: 'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'
Subject: [blindlaw] Schmoozing

Dear Blindlaw,

I've been trying to figure out a good technique to manage professional
social events--the best way to mingle in a crowded room.    Naturally
print
name tags are useless.

Have you brought sighted assistants with you to help find  people that
you want to meet? Or do you randomly introduce yourself in a
conversation?

I've think both techniques leave much to be desired. A sighted assistant
may not recognize people , and its impossible to read everyone's name
tag. Also the social skills of the sighted assistant may not be quite up
to par. 

On the other hand going alone and randomly introducing oneself in a
conversation may enable you to meet some people, but if you're looking
for someone in particular you may not get the opportunity to speak to
them since you can't find them and you end up talking to people you
don't really want to talk to. Or you may find yourself in the
embarrassing situation of interrupting a conversation where you're not
really welcome.

Option number three of course is standing and waiting for someone to
approach you but this of course has the downside of that never
happening, plus the problem of not finding the people you're interested
in meeting in the first place. 

So, I'm curious am I the only one with this dilemma? If not, what has
and has not worked for you?

Back to billing time,

M~

Mazen M. Basrawi
Associate
Bingham McCutchen LLP