Since Rickey, Jenni and I appeared in that Sun Times article last week, I’ve been thinking a lot about networking. Coincidentally, I’ve just returned from a major networking extravaganza. And it took me totally by surprise. Here’s what happened.

One of my clients is Lakland Musical Instruments, a bass guitar manufacturer located here in Chicago. And I’m a bass player as well as a writer. Handy, hunh?

Anyway, I was invited to go with Lakland to the winter NAMM show (National Association of Music Manufacturers) Jan. 17-20 in Anaheim, California. I went because I wanted to take a bunch of pictures for the Lakland Web site and MySpace, meet some artists and set up some interviews. Plus I’d heard it was a lot of fun. I did not go to “network.” I went for a little vacation. (Yes, I went to a trade show on my vacation. That makes me a geek. I know.)

I met more people in those three days (Thu. - Sat.) than I have all year. I met people on the shuttle to and from the hotel. I met people at the Lakland booth. I met people standing at a counter eating a plastic hamburger at the convention center cafeteria. It was wild.

And I think I know what happened — and why. I love music, music stuff, gear, music people, and artists. I love every aspect of the business and everything in it. And you can tell from the picture — I was lit up like a Christmas tree, exuding happiness and contentment. Being in my element turned me into a people magnet.

So next time you want to network, forget about where the “best” or “right” people are. Figure out where there are a lot of people doing things that you love, and join in. And then just watch what happens.

This is what happens when you’re a busy networker: You become a resource on, what else, networking. Rickey Gold, Helena Bouchez and I are in the Chicago Sun-Times this morning as part of an article by Sandy Thorn Clark on networking strategies. Enjoy. And feel free to share your own networking strategies in the comments section!

In addition to the ideaXchange blog, does anyone belong to an industry-specific online social networking community, such as MyRagan? What about your clients, e.g., for those of you in healthcare, SocialMD? Benefits? Drawbacks? Please share!

Meet Your Neighbors, but Just Not in Person

is the title of an article in Monday’s NY Times about socializing close to home….real close, like in your neighborhood..or closer yet, in your apartment building. Two companies appear to have captured the market there to date. One has been around since 2004. The other only since March of this year.

I think it’s a pretty clever concept. Am curious as to what everyone else (well not everyone else, but lots of folks) think.

Could something like this fly in Chicago? Would anyone use it….maybe in the dead of a Chicago January when you had a craving for some great Thai food and were tired of all the neighborhood places you knew.

Hey high rise dwellers…. would you use a network like this?

The Chicago Center for Literature and Photography (CCLaP) recently interviewed two of our members. We send a hearty thanks to Executive Director Jason Pettus for his fantastic podcasts!

Listen to Gapers Block Editor and Publisher Andrew Huff and me, Writing and Communications Consultant and mediabistro Chicago Host Chris Benevich.

Visit GapersBlock.com for all the coolest art and entertainment activities in Chicago, and come to mediabistro Chicago parties to mix ‘n’ mingle with your fellow creative, content, and media professionals!

There was a thread going on a week or so ago about LinkedIn, so thought this might be of interest. businessPOV has a video of the LinkedIn communications director showing how to do various searches within the program. Worth watching.

…by night, fine artist and greeting card designer. Actually, my three “professions” meld nicely together thoughout my day (thanks to a flexible freelancer schedule). Many of my fellow IdeaXchangers know about my side projects, some have even been customers at my art shows (you know who you are, thanks!) I have found that sharing these talents with my clients and business network has helped to create new opportunities in both areas. Examples: a client requested that I bring a style from my fine art into a design project; another client came to one of my art shows and purchased greeting cards. I have also gotten referrals for design projects while selling my fine art and cards. An informal poll (i.e. asking friends, reading design magazines) reveals that many designers have a hobby, side project or other talent that indirectly (or directly) helps them to market their design business — or vice versa. As for me, I’ll take this opportunity to plug my online shop, LSVGalleria on Etsy.com, where you can see the aforementioned greeting cards and fine art.

Check out this bit about Third Thursdays on the WCIU site. Third Thursdays, created by Don Pogany, president of Sticky Worldwide, is designed to be a convergence of Chicago’s creative talent. Check it out. Also interesting is this recent article by Media Post’s Video Insider:The Currency of Creative. (Note: MediaPost requires a log-in, but it’s free.)