I originally envisioned this blog as a way for me to share my experiences about networking events and rate events I attended. As you’ve probably noticed from my last few posts, I’m also sharing info on upcoming events as well as those in the past. What are your thoughts? What is most helpful to you as a fellow networker? I welcome your comments.
Happy networking!
-Katharine
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August 25 Ivy Plus Society at Covet Lounge (137 E 55th St, New York, NY)
I first heard about the Ivy Plus Society in an article mocking it in the Maroon, the University of Chicago campus newspaper. I thought I should check it out, so I signed up online (it’s free) to join this social/professional network of Ivy League schools and other (“plus”) graduates (including UChicago, MIT, Stanford, Duke, and a few others, can’t remember all of them).
This event was at Covet Lounge, an underground bar in midtown Manhattan that doesn’t even have a name on the door – you just have to know where and when to go, it’s that exclusive. There were (faux?) fur throws on the (leather?) couches, dim lighting, and the usual trendy room accoutrements. The fact that there were bars at both ends of the large main room was useful as things got crowded and moving around became more difficult. A coat check was also available.
Some people go to Ivy Plus Society events to meet potential dates; some go for networking, some for both. In my opinion, it’s so-so for both. There was one really interesting guy – an anesthesiologist who went to Mt. Sinai for school, the same school as the friend I went with – and he had some funny stories about people under anesthesia. I also got some useful tips from a guy in VC. Other professions represented included corporate lawyers (drink in one hand, Blackberry in the other), a software engineer from Google, a few guys from Pfizer, a few in finance, and a few Internet media/SEO/video entrepreneurs.
Anyway, I couldn’t hear what people were saying half the time, it was so loud, so the real value in one of these parties is in follow up. Get those business cards and schedule some time to talk more about whatever it is that you really want to discuss, since even at this supposedly posh bar with “nooks” to “chat privately” in, it was still…just another loud party.
Ivy Plus Society NYC Event Ratings
Overall – 2.5/4 (Got a bunch of business cards, only talked to one or two interesting people; hard to hear what people were saying, so hard to make real connections)
Noise – 1/4 – very loud, hard to hear conversations
People – good breadth (variety of backgrounds), so-so depth (depending on how long you talk to people)
Food – 1/4 – eat dinner beforehand (this is a party at a bar)
Clothing – business casual (this is an after-work type event, but women can wear dresses or suits without jackets)
Approximate Gender Ratio – about 50-50
Age Range – late 20s-late 40s (mostly young, but not many recent graduates)
Cost – $15 in advance, $20 at the door, and you’re supposed to be an Ivy League or “Ivy Plus” college grad (although they really don’t check this very heavily and you could probably get in with a friend who went to the “right” school)
URL / More info – www.ivyplussociety.org
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