Host the Party, Don’t Chase the Room

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Networking feels like something you should do, doesn’t it? Show up, make small talk, collect a few business cards, hope someone important notices you. But let’s be honest—it’s exhausting. And if you’re not the life-of-the-party type, it’s downright painful.

So here’s a different idea: stop chasing rooms where you don’t feel like you belong. Instead, host the party. Create the space.

When you’re the one inviting people in—whether it’s to a table read, a backyard screening, or a virtual brainstorming session—you’ve flipped the dynamic. You’re not awkwardly trying to wedge yourself into conversations. You’re setting the tone. You’re creating a place where people want to be.

This doesn’t have to be big or flashy. A handful of collaborators working on a short film. A group chat about shared challenges. Even an Instagram Live where you talk about your creative process. Small is good. Small builds trust. Small means you’re talking to people who actually care.

The best part? When you host, you’re not playing by someone else’s rules. You’re not competing for attention or trying to fit into a world that wasn’t designed for you. Instead, you’re building your own space—a space where you feel comfortable and where others want to join.

Networking doesn’t have to feel like a hustle. It doesn’t have to be about chasing. It can be about creating. And when you’re the host? The right people will show up. They always do.