[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":160},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-your-first-business-event":3,"site:guide-live-good-first":100,"guides-rows":106,"site:og:\u002Fguides\u002Fyour-first-business-event":158},{"id":4,"title":5,"answer":6,"body":7,"crumb":14,"description":15,"extension":16,"formats":17,"heading":18,"hub":19,"kicker":20,"live":21,"meta":22,"mins":23,"navigation":24,"order":25,"parts":26,"path":80,"place":81,"questions":82,"reviewed":95,"seo":96,"stem":97,"template":98,"__hash__":99},"guides\u002Fguides\u002Fyour-first-business-event.md","Your first business event: what to expect","Pick a small morning event, go once, and leave when you like.",{"type":8,"value":9,"toc":10},"minimark",[],{"title":11,"searchDepth":12,"depth":12,"links":13},"",2,[],"Your first business event","Pick a small morning event, go once, leave when you like. What each kind is like, what to sort out before, and events coming up that suit a first visit.","md",null,"Your {first} business event","guide","A guide","good-first",{},5,true,1,{"lead":27,"kinds":28,"before":54,"steps":67},"Pick a small morning event, go once, and leave when you like. Here is what to expect, and what is coming up that suits a first visit.",[29,34,39,44,49],{"word":30,"format":31,"start":32,"line":33},"Breakfasts","breakfasts","07:15","Small and early. Coffee, a round of introductions, gone by nine. The easiest first go.",{"word":35,"format":36,"start":37,"line":38},"Lunches","lunches","12:30","Seated, so you talk to the people either side. Members’ clubs often let a guest come once.",{"word":40,"format":41,"start":42,"line":43},"After work","after-work","17:30","Standing, with drinks. People drift in and out, so arriving late or leaving early is normal.",{"word":45,"format":46,"start":47,"line":48},"Walks","walks","10:00","Side by side, not face to face. Good if rooms are not your thing; bring boots.",{"word":50,"format":51,"start":52,"line":53},"Talks","talks","12:00","Someone speaks, then questions. Sit and listen, then talk to one person after.",[55,58,61,64],{"t":56,"d":57},"Booking","Use the booking link on the event page. It opens the organiser’s own booking, which usually asks for a name and an email.",{"t":59,"d":60},"Who can come","Every listing says open to all, members only or invite only. Members-only events often take a guest once; ask the organiser how.",{"t":62,"d":63},"What to wear","What you would wear to work. Walks need boots, and for an awards night check the dress code on its listing.",{"t":65,"d":66},"Cards or not","Not needed. Most people swap details by email or LinkedIn now. A few cards in a pocket do no harm.",[68,71,74,77],{"t":69,"d":70},"Arrive ten minutes early","Three people by the coffee, not thirty. Tell the organiser it is your first time.",{"t":72,"d":73},"Ask one question","What brought you here? Everyone came to meet someone, so nobody minds being asked.",{"t":75,"d":76},"Say one line","If there is a round of introductions: what you do and who you would like to meet. That is enough.",{"t":78,"d":79},"Leave when you like","Thank the organiser on the way out, and follow up with one person the next day.","\u002Fguides\u002Fyour-first-business-event","Southampton",[83,86,89,92],{"q":84,"a":85},"Can I go on my own?","Yes, most people do. Tell the organiser it is your first time and they will usually introduce you to someone.",{"q":87,"a":88},"Do I have to pitch?","No. The better events ask you not to. Say what you do in a line, then listen.",{"q":90,"a":91},"What if I want to leave early?","Leave. Nobody minds, and at breakfasts and after-work events people come and go all the time.",{"q":93,"a":94},"Do I need to be a member?","Only for events marked members only, and many of those let you come once as a guest. The listing says which.","2026-11-12",{"title":5,"description":15},"guides\u002Fyour-first-business-event","first-event","xJkfBlXH-T-5NhuXq3cexOS3ewJo2F0Dy7poTFepfMk",{"rule":21,"from":101,"to":102,"asListed":103,"events":104,"count":105},"2026-11-13","2026-11-27","13 November 2026",[],0,[107,108,113,119,125,130,137,142,147,152],{"path":80,"title":5,"crumb":14,"template":98,"hub":19,"order":25},{"path":109,"title":110,"crumb":111,"template":112,"hub":19,"order":12},"\u002Fguides\u002Fmake-the-most-of-a-networking-breakfast","How to make the most of a networking breakfast","Making the most of a breakfast","written",{"path":114,"title":115,"crumb":116,"template":117,"hub":19,"order":118},"\u002Fguides\u002Fchoosing-a-networking-group","Choosing a networking group: the kinds compared","Choosing a networking group","choose-group",3,{"path":120,"title":121,"crumb":122,"template":123,"hub":19,"order":124},"\u002Fguides\u002Faccess-at-business-events","Going to business events with access needs","Access at business events","access",4,{"path":126,"title":127,"crumb":128,"template":129,"hub":19,"order":23},"\u002Fguides\u002Fgetting-people-to-your-event","Getting people to your business event","Getting people to your event","organiser",{"path":131,"title":132,"crumb":133,"template":134,"hub":135,"order":136},"\u002Fguides\u002Fhow-a-networking-chapter-works","How a networking chapter works: what to expect","How a networking chapter works","explainer","quick",10,{"path":138,"title":139,"crumb":140,"template":134,"hub":135,"order":141},"\u002Fguides\u002Fwhat-is-netwalking","What is netwalking? Networking on a walk","What is netwalking",11,{"path":143,"title":144,"crumb":145,"template":134,"hub":135,"order":146},"\u002Fguides\u002Fwhat-does-a-chamber-of-commerce-do","What does a chamber of commerce do?","What does a chamber of commerce do",12,{"path":148,"title":149,"crumb":150,"template":134,"hub":135,"order":151},"\u002Fguides\u002Fwhat-happens-at-a-business-breakfast","What happens at a business breakfast?","What happens at a business breakfast",13,{"path":153,"title":154,"crumb":155,"template":156,"hub":135,"order":157},"\u002Fguides\u002Fglossary","Business networking words explained, A to Z","Glossary","glossary",20,{"file":159,"alt":17},"\u002Fog\u002Fguides\u002Fyour-first-business-event.png",1794576682395]