Why Networking is Dead & Braindates are The Future – #EventIcons Episode 138

If you have not heard the term braindate yet, we need to talk! We believe braindates are the future of networking and you are going to want to incorporate them into your next event. We all want networking at our events to knock the socks off the participants, leaving them feeling richer for the experience, and braindates do just that. They allow you to use an app to connect to other participants and set up one on one or small group meetings based on shared interests at a specific location. Overtime, they have proven itself at events from C2, PCMA and so many more. 

But how exactly do braindates work? What do you need to set them up? Today our ICONIC panel, Christine Renaud and Sophie Silkes of e180 are here to discuss all these burning questions and more! In today’s episode we will discuss what braindates are, how they work, how to set them up and so much more! You do not want to miss this episode! Let’s jump in.

We want to help keep you up-to-date with the latest and greatest!

Below, in our Epic Resources section, we link the awesome insider favorites that were mentioned in this episode! You WANT to check these out! What has been your favorite episode so far? Comment below and let us know!

You’re watching this recording of our episode here on our blog, but wouldn’t you rather watch live, ask your own questions, and participate in person? Subscribe now to watch live! (We’ll remind you of upcoming episodes.) We would love for you to join us LIVE and bring your questions for our icons. This is all for you! And now for the main topic in the episode below, Networking vs Braindates!

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Follow our iconic guests on Twitter:
Christine Renaud of e180 (@christinerenaud)
Sophie Silkes of e180 (@SESilkes)
Brandt Krueger of Event Technology Consulting (@BrandtKrueger)
Check out the epic resources mentioned in this episode:
We Seek (e180 Blog) – Learn Constantly. Become Future-Proof.
An Everyone Culture: Becoming a Deliberately Developmental Organization by Robert Kegan & Lisa Laskow Lahey – A Radical New Model for Unleashing Your Company’s Potential (Book)
Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us by Seth Godin – This book will make you think (really think) about the opportunities for leading your fellow employees, customers, investors, believers, hobbyists, readers… (Book)
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain – The book that started the Quiet Revolution (Book)
Gamestorming: A Playbook for Innovators, Rulebreakers, and Changemakers by Dave Gray, Sunni Brown & James Macanufo – This book includes more than 80 games to help you break down barriers, communicate better, and generate new ideas, insights, and strategies. (Book)
Community: The Structure of Belonging by Peter Block – Explore a way of thinking about our places that creates an opening for authentic communities to exist and details what each of us can do to make that happen. (Book)
Facilitator’s Guide to Participatory Decision-Making by Sam Kaner – Unleash the transformative power of face to facegroups. (Book)
The World Café: Shaping Our Futures Through Conversations That Matter by Juanita Brown & David Isaacs – Filled with stories of actual Cafe dialogues in business, education, government, and community organizations across the globe, this uniquely crafted book demonstrates how the World Cafe can be adapted to any setting or culture. (Book)
The Change Handbook: The Definitive Resource on Today’s Best Methods for Engaging Whole Systems, by Peggy Holman, Tom Devane & Steven Cady – The Change Handbook features chapters by the originators and foremost practitioners of such high-leverage change methods as Future Search, Real Time Strategic Change, Gemba Kaizen, and Open Space Technology. (Book)
Open Space Technology: A User’s Guide by Harrison Owen – Open Space Technology: A User’s Guide is just what the name implies: a hands-on, detailed description of facilitating Open Space Technology (OST). (Book)
The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of The Learning Organization by Peter Senge – Describes how companies can rid themselves of the learning “disabilities” that threaten their productivity and success by adopting the strategies of learning organizations. (Book)
The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever by Daniel Maté – Takes your work–and your workplace–from good to great (Book)
Cultivating Communities of Practice by Étienne Wenger – Essential reading for any leader in today’s knowledge economy; the definitive guide to developing communities of practice! (Book)
Reinventing Organizations, by Frederic Laloux and Ken Wilber – This book describes in practical detail how organizations large and small can operate in this new paradigm (Book)
Reality is Broken: Why Games Makes Us Better and How They Can Change the World by Jane McGonigal – A visionary game designer reveals how we can harness the power of games to boost global happiness. (Book)
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman – The book covers all three phases of Kahneman’s career: his early days working on cognitive biases, his work on prospect theory, and his later work on happiness (Book)

What are your favorite tips and tricks for using event furniture to engage? Comment below and let us know.