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Top Networking spaces

SuperHost
A trendy space for every event in West Orange
  • $125/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (2)
  • 2
  • Instant book
  • Responds within 1 hr
  • West Orange, NJ
SuperHost
2nd Floor Studio Loft at Loft39
  • $600/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (1)
  • 1
  • Instant book
  • Responds within a few hours
  • New York, NY
SuperHost
Masonic Lodge
  • $300/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (0)
  • Instant book
  • Responds within a few hours
  • Boca Raton, FL
SuperHost
Filming/Photos/Gallery/Dance/Fitness/Event Space
  • $115/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (1)
  • 1
  • Instant book
  • Responds within a few hours
  • Los Angeles, CA
SuperHost
Multi Purpose Venue With Skylights
  • $95/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (7)
  • 7
  • Instant book
  • Responds within a day
  • Brooklyn, NY
SuperHost
NYC SKYLINE VIEW ROOFTOP
  • $1000/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (0)
  • Instant book
  • Responds within a few hours
  • Brooklyn, NY
SuperHost
MX Club
  • $1000/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (0)
  • Instant book
  • Responds within a few hours
  • Brooklyn, NY
SuperHost
Well-Kept, Serene Yoga Studio in Santa Clara
  • $117/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (1)
  • 1
  • Instant book
  • Responds within 1 hr
  • Santa Clara, CA
SuperHost
Bright Open Multi Function Event Space
  • $150/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (1)
  • 1
  • Instant book
  • Responds within a day
  • Ottawa, ON
SuperHost
Versatile Event Venue & Studio in Los Angeles
  • $300/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (0)
  • Instant book
  • Responds within 1 hr
  • Los Angeles, CA
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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an average Networking space cost to rent?
Networking space rates typically average $380 per hour.
What is the attendee limitation of average Networking spaces?
Attendee limits often vary with the size and features of a Networking space, but average 98 people per booking.
What is the average hourly minimum of Networking spaces?
The average minimum booking time for Networking spaces is 4 hours.
What is the average square feet of a Networking space?
There's a great range of Networking spaces available, with an average size of 3990 square feet.
What are the most popular Networking spaces on Giggster?

Find Networking spaces

About Networking

Young entrepreneurs often face the challenge of breaking into their respective industries or getting attention from their seasoned peers. It's the same case for a business trying to venture into a new market or attract more investors. Sponsoring a networking event is a great way to break these barriers.

The process of keeping a business afloat is ongoing and companies have to consistently find ways to stay ahead. Professional networking events bring entrepreneurs together to essentially talk shop and size up the competition. The business that hosts the event gets credits for positioning itself as an authority or leader in the industry. Hence the more reason why you should locate and lock down a venue that will knock everyone's socks off.

The goal is to find a suitable location for the function that means business but is also impressive. Get the process started by browsing through the selections of networking spaces on Giggster.

The Best Networking Venues

Whether you have just gotten your startup going and want to get the word out or you want to expand your business by bringing strategic partners on board; you can't go wrong hosting a networking event. It's not enough to simply put together one of these occasions but you also want to give the invited guests a compelling enough reason to attend. Booking an impressive networking venue is undoubtedly the first step.

  • Shopping Centers and Malls
    Retail businesses or online stores can decide to come together and host a networking event. In such a case, it makes sense to host the function at a shopping center or mall with other businesses operating from the locations invited to the occasion. You can make arrangements with the management to lock down the entire space or use designated areas.

  • Rooftop, Lobbies, and Terraces
    Most hotels have rooftops, lobbies, and terraces that they allow businesses to use for networking events. Typically, such establishments will have food and drink minimums that you should meet in order to use their event spaces for free. Such venues are also ideal for hosting non-business-related networking events.

  • Lofts and Warehouse Spaces
    Lofts and warehouses convert well into networking spaces. Most of these locations come bareboned allowing you to bring in necessary additions to spring your event to life. At the very least, you want a loft or warehouse venues that provide event rentals and catering services as extras.

  • Upscale Bars and Jazz Clubs
    Upscale bars and jazz clubs are perhaps the most popular networking locations. The challenge is to find one that exudes the right atmosphere for your specific occasion. A majority offer catering and bar services as well as in-house entertainment. A majority also provide planning packages.

What To Look For In Networking Spaces

Organizing a networking event shouldn't be stressful and the work is half done with the right location booked for the occasion. There are still certain factors that you should keep in mind when browsing through selections of networking spaces.

  • Capacity
    The networking space should have enough room to accommodate your guests without feeling cramped up. On the other hand, it's never a great idea to choose a larger space than what's needed for the occasion. The overall goal is to settle for a venue that makes everyone comfortable and in the right frame of mind to mingle.

  • Layout
    It's better to go for a networking room with an open floor plan to encourage participants to freely move around. That means that the venue shouldn't be crammed up with chairs and tables but instead, the layout should keep the furniture to a minimum so that people move around more.
  • Catering
    Great appetizers are part of a good networking function. Depending on your preferences, you want to offer guests both non-alcoholic and alcoholic welcoming drinks. A sit-down meal doesn't quite suit the occasion and bite-sized snacks are preferable. It's best to go for a networking venue that provides catering services as well as in-house wait staff.

  • Valet Parking
    If there's a time you want to pull the stops and impress your guests it's during a networking event. Have valet parking for participants who choose to drive to the venue and provide rideshare discounts for those who choose alternative transport options. If the establishment can handle the logistics as part of the package, even better.

  • Amenities
    Beyond the basics, a networking location that provides extra amenities that directly benefit your function is an added plus. For instance, you might want to live-stream the function and a venue fitted with HD cameras will help. Lobby reception is equally beneficial for a networking function.

Networking Space Inspiration

With a networking location identified, the next step is to bring together the various aspects that will translate to hosting a successful event. Here are a few ideas that should help you think outside the box and organize a unique function.

  • Speed Networking Event at A Screening Room
    Folks won't outrightly start mingling and you'll need to encourage them to interact. Hosting a speed networking event as part of the function gives everyone a nudge in the right direction. It takes the format of speed dating but is structured towards going on professional mini-dates within the function.

  • Trivia Night at a Cafe
    Trivia nights merge the best of both worlds; they can be professional and fun. The trivia can be structured to be industry-specific or a combination of general knowledge to up the fun factor. Get participants socializing by making it a group trivia event with folks paired up randomly through a hat-pick selection process. A cafe serves as a great networking venue in this case.

  • Panel Discussion at a Gallery Space
    Keep it strictly professional by hosting a panel discussion networking event. Invite leaders in your industry to share their knowledge base as a scheduled activity during the occasion. The biggest takeaway is for participants to gain valuable knowledge and make new connections. A gallery space works as a perfect location for such an event.

  • An Interactive Salon at a Loft Venue
    Traditionally, salons were popular amongst European intellectuals and artists in the 18th-century. They were essentially TED Talk-type events of the past, and you can use the same format with a modern take. Have one keynote speaker or a group of them deliver a fascinating lecture related to your industry. Loft venues provide an ideal space for the occasion.

  • Wine Tasting at an Upscale Bar
    A wine tasting is a worthwhile choice for a social networking event. An upscale bar works as the backdrop for such an occasion, and the goal is to have everyone enjoy a new experience with the added benefit of having wine involved.

Man and woman shaking hands while sitting.
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

Author: Ali Hickerson

6 do's and don'ts of planning an unforgettable networking event

Networking events can elicit feelings of anxiety, awkward memories of canned sales pitches, forced schmoozing, and the need for lots of liquid courage—but it doesn't have to be.

Social events like these can help achieve many business goals, from finding a new job to identifying exciting collaborators. There are even experts who say that networking should be an ongoing career-long activity.

"[Networking] has value at all stages of your career, particularly when you aren't job searching," Demisha Jennings, career coach and founder of Career Moms in Command told LinkedIn News, "A lot of the time, people think that just because they're employed, they don't need to network, attend events or put themselves out there. But as far as I'm concerned, there is no job security ever. You always need to lean into networking opportunities so that when future opportunities arise, you are the top candidate."

For hosts of networking events, it can be difficult to balance being seen as a thought leader in their industry who can influence the biggest players in the room while also ensuring their marketing efforts aren't too overt and, as a result, off-putting.

To help organizers, Giggster conducted interviews with event industry experts to suss out how to plan an event attendees won't soon forget.

Business people interact at a casual networking event.
Canva

Do: Be clear about the event's purpose and goals

Since event planning takes up valuable time, resources, and budgets, businesses must have a clear purpose and goal in mind. Clear metrics for success help businesses determine whether an event was worth the effort—or if it should have been a curated virtual community or LinkedIn webinar instead. Set SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based).

If the purpose is to gain more awareness or be seen as an industry thought leader, it's useful to measure how many people attend and who they are (business prospects, customers, prospective employees, media, etc.). Surveys can help get a pulse on how attendees felt about the event, the amount of conversations they had, and new connections that were formed. If increasing social media presence is important, then activities tied to getting new followers or an increase in social reposts should be planned and measured.

If quantitative event evaluations are outside of the budget, companies can opt to have their staff mingle with attendees as much as possible to understand better how well the event is going and what attendees really care about, as well as to bridge connections between guests.

Two men speaking at a networking event.
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

Don't: Gloss over the nitty-gritties

Jessica Lore, director of events and customer advocacy at Visier, told Stacker that event organizers could plan a short program, such as a 30-minute panel, that would engage attendees and help set the agenda from the beginning. The choice of topic also shows that the brand understands the industry and its trends, but Lore cautions brands to not get too specific, for instance, by claiming to answer the one question that is plaguing the industry most.

Lore said having designated lounge spaces for people interested in discussing specific topics (like the future of artificial intelligence or how remote work is changing workplaces, for example) can also be effective for encouraging conversation starters with different groups of people.

"If you're not designing for the person that knows no one walking into that room, I think it's a huge missed opportunity," Grant Plotkin, co-founder and CEO of meet the edge, a design studio that helps create experiences, told Stacker. He recommended assigning "connectors" who know everyone's names and can make introductions from the onset of the event, for example.

Diverse people mingling at an event.
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

Do: Bring the excitement and personal touches

Plotkin said that networking event invitations could be as exciting as ones from a music festival. While keynote speakers can be central to an event, brands can set the tone by building a well-designed landing page that takes invitees on an adventure online or sending a physical item like a key in the mail so that people invited are motivated to join the event to see what kind of special space is "unlocked."

Name tags are another place to innovate. Rather than having stickers with names and company credentials, Plotkin once produced an event where attendees were given a photo with just half of another attendee's face. People who were at the event were then challenged to find the other half, opening myriad opportunities to engage in conversation throughout the room.

"I feel like people that are of a younger generation have a hard time talking to each other. We're so primed to be on the phone. It's a lot easier to DM [direct message] … email or text," Plotkin said. "Can you prime the space so you have that intentionality of different meeting points, whether it's at a bar or even an underutilized real estate like the bathroom?"

Group of attendees at an event networking.
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

Do: Use creative ways to connect attendees meaningfully

When faced with a room full of strangers, it may be daunting to start conversations. To help break the ice, event organizers can have attendees choose colored wristbands or pins that showcase their interests (e.g., "dog-lover!") at registration to make starting conversations easier for attendees, especially introverts.

Planners can also plan activities that ask attendees to create something together, Plotkin suggested, like adding their thoughts to a topic with sticky notes on a physical wall or perhaps giving every attendee a piece of a puzzle that the whole group then has to put together.

But whatever you do, don't use QR codes or encourage phone use at your event, Plotkin said, because "it automatically takes you away from the magic that's being crafted in that room."

Group of business people speaking in a group.
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

Don't: Think connection-building is over post-event

By providing ways for attendees to stay in touch, networking events don't need to feel like a blip in time, where attendees have only one shot to strike up a networking match that could bring mutual benefits.

Some organizers provide contact lists in advance with one-line bios and LinkedIn URLs to prepare invitees. However, that approach can feel overly intrusive. Others release personal information only upon the contact's approval, sometimes with the aid of a software platform.

Lore said since professionals tend to use Slack throughout the day, vendor-moderated or sponsored Slack channels are valuable for more frequent, peer-to-peer communication. This mode of communication also allows investors to participate without getting barraged by emails.

Overhead view of business people attending a networking event.
Canva

Don't: Make it all about your brand

It can feel cringey when consumers feel they're being targeted with sales pitches. Plotkin suggests that any advertising or branding used should be strategic and aligned with the brand's identity. "Let yourself be known by association; don't go in heavy," Lore said.

Lore also added a recommendation to avoid handing out marketing materials. Instead, brands can offer "swag" that keeps the event light-hearted and fun. Lore said attendees are looking for something that surprises, "something that's a little bit cheeky and relates to the topic." If someone is interested in marketing materials, they'll reach out to the event team, she said.

Branded swag should also ensure it impacts brand awareness and return on investment, and should be designed for the conscious consumer, said Plotkin. Or else, he said swag will "end up in a trash can. That doesn't help the Earth—and doesn't help move the needle."

Story editing by Carren Jao. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Clarese Moller.