business networking group - what to wear

[markyyyyyy]

Hi all,

i am going to my first business networking group shortly - i am a sports massage therapist.

Should i wear my massage therapy clothing (tracksuit trousers / polo shirt) or dress a bit more smart casual?
Everyone will be wearing business uniform, would i look a bit out of place wearing my massage uniform?

Many thanks for your help

Mark

 

[Frankus]

Who cares what people think? Business networking groups are that - business networking groups. If you go in a suit & tie, people will see someone in a suit and tie. You might be selling elctrical supplies, dog food, computer systems...anything.

If you go in tracksuit and Polo shirt, all 'logo'd up' people will see someoine involved in the fitness industry. If they, like we all do, know they need to pay some attention to their body in that way, they might come and talk to you.

The previous poster has his point of view, I have mine, so you should have yours.

 

[I Love Spreadsheets]

I'm with Frankus on this one.

I attend every business meeting, every network meeting, every client meeting in jeans and my "I Love Spreadsheets" t-shirt. Sure everyone else is in the room is wearing shirt and tie, so I stand out like a sore thumb, but everyone knows what I do and who I'am as a result.

You are in the fitness industry, so why would you go in smart casual wear rather than your working clothes? Your fitness gear tells everyone in the room exactly what you do and it acts as a reminder in peoples heads.

At these meetings you are abound to be asked by people about their fitness etc, and if you are in your "work" clothes you will be able to demonstrate things.

 

[simonr]

.... as it's not a sensible question!

By that, I mean that each and every networking group is different so there's no on size fits all answer. My suggestion would be to go to your first one wearing something conservative so you don't goof too badly, then make your choice for subsequent meetings based upon your observations...

S

 

[Minuteman Press]

Hello Mark,

As I am sure you are aware 'You never get a second chance to make a first impression'. Further, at a networking meeting you must stand out from the other speakers - so often one walks away struggling to remember who said what.

Therefore...

I recommend you attend completely naked. Attendees will certainly remember you and if the meeting concludes with an arrest (indecent exposure, etc) you'll likely make the local newspapers, perhaps national - 'all publicity is good publicity'.

An additional thought - write your web address / email across your chest so that when your picture appears on the cover of the local rag - hey presto - a free advert!

Hope I have added value.

Best wishes

Peter

 

[Ashley_Price]

I would suggest you go dressed in the same way as you would go to a meeting with a prospective client. All of the people in the room are prospective clients or they may know people who would be. So you should present the image you would like to be seen by those people.

When I go to meet a client I always have collar and tie - so when I go networking I wear the same.

For your business a collar and tie would look out of place, so don't feel bad about not wearing them. Just like I am sure the average accountant doesn't wear tracksuit bottoms, baggy t-shirt and Crocs when they go to meet a client, yet I know of at least one that dresses this way when she goes networking. I wonder why she doesn't get much business from the networking group. Yet, another female accountant I know goes more formally dressed to the same meetings and within a year of starting her business has more work than she can handle.

 

[Ashley_Price]

I attend every business meeting, every network meeting, every client meeting in jeans and my "I Love Spreadsheets" t-shirt. Sure everyone else is in the room is wearing shirt and tie, so I stand out like a sore thumb, but everyone knows what I do and who I'am as a result.

Yes, they do remember you... but is it for the right reasons?

Do they remember you because you are professional and project a professional image? Or do they think "Good grief did you see what they were wearing? Can we trust our business to this person?"

 

[LauraReed]

I'm new to a lot of this, so if I was to attend this meeting and you were in a suit I wouldn't know immediately why you was there and may miss a vital opportunity to talk with you simply because I wouldn't recognise your trade.

If you stand out, what an effective way to advertise and a business opportunity surely can not then just walk on by.

It will show your true confidence in your business by standing out from the crowd, fantastic way to get your name about I'd say.

Don't hide behind a suit

 

[LauraReed]

Sorry maybe you got the wrong end of the stick then. Standing out for the RIGHT reasons to show an immediate advertisement and how proud this person is to wear the name of the company. If there is no dress code specified anything that would catch a potential clients eye is worth trying.

 

[LauraReed]

The idea of the meeting is to network, therefore they will know what you do and who you are all in good time. But go in with a sandwich board and flashing hat, you may look like a total nutjob, but at least it will catch potential clients eyes

Well you seem to have a very strong oppinion, and I have mine, think that's all the person wanted

 

[I Love Spreadsheets]

Yes, they do remember you... but is it for the right reasons?

Do they remember you because you are professional and project a professional image? Or do they think "Good grief did you see what they were wearing? Can we trust our business to this person?"

Some will always think like that and I will probably lose their custom as a result, however I have found that the loss is far out weighed by the number of people that do remember me from it and use my services.

I'm also a member of the 4N forums and on there I have been searched out several times as the "Excel guy with the t-shirt". There are a handful of people on there that do what I do, but they always search for me first because I stick in their heads. They don't search for them because they are just one out of hundreds of people they see on the forums each day but get blind to what they do.

None of my major clients have issues with it (including Pepsi's European board of directors in Geneva, who actually asked where the t-shirt was when I flew out there to attend a meeting with them).

 

[FreelanceSEO]

Smart casual for me. I think the days of having to wear a suit to networking events is fast becoming a thing of the past.

. . . . . . or you could attend one of our events in your pants (or worse). Just don't tell me if we get to chat

 

[Michael-Bush]

Some will always think like that and I will probably lose their custom as a result, however I have found that the loss is far out weighed by the number of people that do remember me from it and use my services.

I'm also a member of the 4N forums and on there I have been searched out several times as the "Excel guy with the t-shirt". There are a handful of people on there that do what I do, but they always search for me first because I stick in their heads. They don't search for them because they are just one out of hundreds of people they see on the forums each day but get blind to what they do.

None of my major clients have issues with it (including Pepsi's European board of directors in Geneva, who actually asked where the t-shirt was when I flew out there to attend a meeting with them).

...and I can back this up as I am on there as well.

He's one of the most respected members of the 4N board, probably because he's a good man, but everyone remembers his brand image and it works

 

[FreelanceSEO]

I think Carls "I Love Spreadsheets" is fantastic branding.

I have reccomended his services on more than 1 occasion on the strength that I remember the brand rather than the name.

Memorable branding works. Positives far outweight the negatives in my opinion.

 

[julie001]

Depends how confident you are... If you know everyone is going to be dressed in suits, then you need to have a LOT of confidence and personality (as Mr Spreadsheets clearly has!) to be able to turn up in jogging bottoms and polo shirt!

Maybe you could compromise by turning up in smart shoes/trousers, but wear a branded polo shirt. Or wear an open necked shirt with your logo badge pinned onto your suit jacket/outer layer.

 

[simonswords]

Wear whatever you feel most comfortable in.

 

[Mohammed2011]

Hello Mark,

As I am sure you are aware 'You never get a second chance to make a first impression'. Further, at a networking meeting you must stand out from the other speakers - so often one walks away struggling to remember who said what.

Therefore...

I recommend you attend completely naked. Attendees will certainly remember you and if the meeting concludes with an arrest (indecent exposure, etc) you'll likely make the local newspapers, perhaps national - 'all publicity is good publicity'.

An additional thought - write your web address / email across your chest so that when your picture appears on the cover of the local rag - hey presto - a free advert!

Hope I have added value.

Best wishes

Peter

LOL you made laugh mate