At least Thursday won’t be Thirsty!
Thirsty Thursday is back, this thursday, at My Bar at Dusit Thani Hotel!
Dusit Thani Hotel has become famous during the unrest for being attacked with grenades and shootings. Obviously My Bar hasn’t been damaged and we’re going to celebrate this, on Thursday, from 6:30 to 9pm, before heading home nicely for the curfew.
All details and events on the Bangkok Networking Calendar.
Why should I go to the Networking Events?
In this time of fights and curfews, Networking Events are canceled or postponed one by one. That was the case for all the events next week (for a reason!) and that will probably be the case this week. It’s going to be quiet.
This is a good opportunity for me to explain a bit more about Networking Events: What is it? What is it for? Who attends? Why not me (you)? Etc. I will try to answer to all the questions that people usually ask me when I talk about Networking Events. I am now almost a “specialist”: I attend several of them and I launched the Bangkok Networking Calendar.
Networking Events
Networking events are events organized either by the Chambers of Commerce (American Chamber’s Young Professional Committee, British Chamber of Commerce Thailand’s Networking Evening, etc.), or by independent organizations (InterNations, European Young Professionals, etc.). These events are either free or not free, depending on the organization (Chambers of Commerce events are usually not free, except sometimes for members), and usually happen from 6pm/6:30pm/7pm till 9pm/9:30pm.
Networking Events usually happen in bars, hotels bars, restaurants and clubs. Sometimes a good way to discover places where you haven’t be to before.
What is it for?
Networking Events are organized with professionals in mind, and you’d better bring along a few business cards, however this is not the only purpose. It’s also a good opportunity to meet other expatriates that you wouldn’t meet else, to make new friends or new contacts. For instance, even if you don’t work in the Real Estate business at all, it may be a good thing to know someone who’s a Real Estate professional.
Networking Events are also a good opportunity to have a drink and spend time with friends and contact who also attend steadily the same events as you and that you will meet there.
Your contacts will then introduce you to new persons and with no effort you will extend your network of contacts or friends.
Of course, people will talk about work and ask you what you are doing for a living, but except a few people who always want to sell you their stuff (Asset Management for instance), every one will be happy to change subject and talk about life in Thailand, nightlife, sports or movies.
Who attends?
Even if the word Young is often mentioned in the Organizations names, you will meet people of all ages, from 25 to 60 and over. Most of them are expatriates (but also a few Thais), often independent workers (as opposed to large company employees or embassies employees who probably have other network circles) and of all nationalities.
Of course, if you attend to the event of a Chamber of Commerce, the nationality of this Chamber will be a majority.
Why not me?
Yes! Why not you? If you are willing to meet other expatriates, other nationalities and other professionals, you should attend. It’s easy to meet people and to talk to them. Nobody will criticize you for starting a conversation (except the boyfriend of this pretty girl you are trying to chat up for a warm up!).
Where to start?
Events from independent organizations like InterNations are easier for a start, because it’s a more relaxed atmosphere and the attendance is more diversified (people from different countries and different backgrounds). You can start with checking the websites (most of them are listed here) and register when needed.
What to wear?
Business casual. No shorts and flip flops, but a pair of jeans and a shirt will do it. Some wear a suit and a tie, but apart from a few higher end events (like events when the ambassador attends), the atmosphere is usually very relaxed, kind of an after work drink at the Pub in London.
Where to go?
All the events are in the Bangkok Networking Calendar. Click on an event and you’ll get all the details: time, location, website, etc.
And if you run short of business cards, give your Facebook login!
See you at the next Networking Event!
Bangkok Networking: May 3rd – May 9th, 2010, and Cinco de Mayo!
After 2 weeks very busy in term of Networking for End of April, this first week of May is very very quiet.
Nothing actually.
With 2 public holidays some people will not work until Thursday anyway.
Monday May 3rd is a recuperation public holiday from the 1st of May (Labor Day) and Wednesday May 5th is Coronation Day, which commemorates the coronation of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1950.
But the good thing for us expats is that May 5th is also Cinco de Mayo, “the day of Mexican cultural pride”, that you can celebrate at all the good places recommended by BK Magazine, but also at Coyote Restaurant Sukhumvit (see below!), where you’re going to drink FREE Margaritas from 6:30pm to 7:30pm! Isn’t that just great???
InterNations Networking Evening: Postponed
New date for InterNations Networking Evening: moved from April 22nd to April 28th. See you there!
Bangkok Networking: April 19th – April 25th, 2010
This week in Bangkok, on the networking side: Tuesday, Bangkok Business Beat is back. But still at Dream Hotel 
Can’t change the location?
Wednesday, Canuck rhymes with Sanook.
And Thursday? Internations of course!
TDA… next week! More info soon…
All events and details on the Bangkok Networking Calendar.
Bangkok Networking: March 22nd – March 28th, 2010
The Networking night that you don’t want to miss this week is the German Open Young Professionals (GOYP) on Tuesday at Spanish on soi 4 (on Silom soi 4) with German food and Spanish drinks… wait a minute, wouldn’t that be better to get Spanish food and German drinks??? Maybe they’ll have it all.
Else, AmCham is at Embassy (near the trendy Funky Villa) on Thursday. And if you are a Kiwi, try to find out where the New Zealand Thai Chamber of Commerce Networking night is, because they don’t tell on their website. All we know is that it’s on Thursday too.
All events and details on the Bangkok Networking Calendar.
Bangkok Networking: March 15th – March 21st, 2010
This Week:
- New Networking Event to check out: Bangkok Business Beat, on Tuesday at Dream Hotel, Sukhumvit soi 15,
- Go-Kart Racing with the Finnish Chamber of Commerce, on Wednesday at RCA,
- Networking events in Phuket and Pattaya,
And of course, a sea of Red in Bangkok! 
All events and details on the Bangkok Networking Calendar.
Bangkok Networking: March 8th – March 14th, 2010
This week among all the events, note:
- Meet the Premier (Prime Minister Abhisit) on Monday!
- Bangkok Young Professionals on Tuesday.
- And then relax till the end of the week!
All events and details on the Bangkok Networking Calendar.
Bangkok Networking: March 1st – March 7th, 2010
This week you don’t want to miss:
- Bangkok Trader on Tuesday. Free for all!
- Web Wednesday on… Wednesday. A true Thai event!
All events and details on the Bangkok Networking Calendar.
Bangkok Networking
Busy week this week with a lot of Networking Evenings, including the now famous Thirsty Thursday.
+ for the Happy Few, the Coyote Sukhumvit Restaurant 2nd anniversary.
You can find the details of all the Networking Organizations here and a list of all the Chambers of Commerce here.
