This episode originally aired live on Jul 24, 2024 on LinkedIn.

Joseph and Ari break down a practical, low-budget playbook for launching small, high-impact in-person events that create trust, conversations, and real pipeline—without panels, pitches, or pricey venues.

This show is produced by Sell Through Social

Why This Matters

• Being the host flips you from attention-seeker to opportunity-giver.
• Curated rooms of like-minded pros produce warmer intros, referrals, and deals than big, noisy mixers.
• You can start with $200 and a free space, then scale with sponsors.

Key Ideas & Takeaways

• Host > Attend: As host, you choose the room, set the tone, and have more meaningful conversations.
• Give > Get: Design the event as a gift to your niche (no panels, no pitching, no promotion).
• Audience First: Define an IGP (Ideal Guest Profile)—narrow, shared goals/energy beat broad “SMB.”
• Start Scrappy: Free/low-cost venues (coworking, coffee shops off-hours, community spaces); barter your audience for space.
• Sponsors the Smart Way: Sell access + conversations, not stage time. Make sponsors group leaders in icebreakers.
• Repeatable Flow (2 hours):

1. Open mingle
2. Guided icebreaker #1 (small groups)
3. Mingle (now with context)
4. Group photo
5. Guided icebreaker #2 (new groups)
6. Final mingle

• Food & Bev: Simple, tested menu beats fancy spreads (skip pricey charcuterie).
• Outreach Works: Inner circle → curated cold email/DM → plus-ones (approved). Invite for their benefit, not your sale.
• Relationships > “Talks”: People remember how you made them feel—safe, seen, and connected.

Mini-Playbook: Your First Event in 10 Steps

1. Define the room: e.g., “Cincinnati consultants & boutique agencies (1–10 ppl), relationship-driven, family-first builders.”
2. Pick the slot: Weeknight, 6–8pm or 7–9pm.
3. Secure venue: Pitch a coworking space on “30 ideal prospects visiting your space.” Ask for a private area for 2 hours.
4. Capacity & target RSVPs: Want 30 attending? Aim for 50–80 RSVPs.
5. Name & promise: “The Cincinnati Consultant Circle — curated connections, zero pitching.”
6. Invite stack: Warm list (friends/clients/guests from your show), Handpicked LinkedIn DMs + targeted cold email, and Approved plus-ones (must fit the room)
7. Run of show: Print a simple agenda; prep two 5-minute icebreakers with 1–2 questions each.
8. Roles: Host/MC (you), Door greeter, Timer, Photographer, Sponsor as icebreaker lead.
9. Menu: Light, clean, easy to eat one-handed; water & a couple of crowd-pleasers.
10. Follow-ups (next morning): Send group photo, attendee list (opt-in), and “3 warm-intro templates” to encourage connections.

Icebreaker Prompts (steal these)

• “What’s one client win you’re proud of this quarter—and what unlocked it?”
• “What’s a service you don’t offer but your clients keep asking for?”
• “If someone introduced you to one perfect partner, who would it be—and why?”

Signs Your Event Succeeded

• Guests leave with specific next steps (intros, partner calls).
• Sponsors report quality conversations, not just badge scans.
• You receive inbound asks (“Can I help sponsor the next one?”).

Resources Mentioned

• The 2-Hour Cocktail Party by Nick Gray (framework for small, high-trust gatherings)

Memorable Lines

• “When you host, you’re the go-giver, not the go-getter.
• “People don’t want to be pitched—they want to be heard.”