New players, new ideas, new answer

By JULIE MIDDLETON

It's not what you know, it's who you know. And taking that as its credo, Schmooze is the name of a new Auckland networking group aimed at professional 20 and 30-somethings.

Its first function, at new club Totem on the Viaduct in May, attracted 180 people. The second, in mid-October, featured ice-breaking games, drinks and live music, and drew 250 people from backgrounds ranging from teaching and engineering to design.

Organisers John McRae and Simone Williams, of the Employers' and Manufacturers' Association (Northern), are hoping for even bigger and better things from the third, to be held in central Auckland on December 5.

Schmooze arose out of the need for young professionals to have a place to meet and "network across networks", as 24-year-old McRae terms it, as well as develop their personal skills and careers.

It's not about pitting people against each other in competition, he says, but harnessing their collective talents and cultivating relationships across sectors, such as between the arts and cultural sectors and business.

He notes that despite national worries about how to retain our brightest young things, nothing's been done by the Government or business groups to "provide support for those who remain".

Those networks there are exist to cultivate potentially prosperous business partnerings, "benefit a few and cater for even fewer", he says. Baby-boomers' clubby ways of chatting each other up don't suit the younger would-be CEOs snapping at their heels. Many of those in established networking groups "don't recognise the changing face of business", says McRae.

"There are a lot of younger people who are moving on up fast and the events for them at the moment don't reflect changes in fashion and taste" - or the fact that younger professionals may still be learning the networking game.

Schmooze's creation was also fuelled by the fact that Kiwis, social though they may be, are not seen as clever builders on social contacts.

McRae puts it bluntly: "Kiwis are really bad at it! It's like the old school hall thing - girls on one side, guys on the other ... people tend to stick in groups at functions."

He points to a Science and Innovation Advisory Council report of August last year - New Zealanders Innovators to the World - which describes us as "less than effective at exploiting the power of networks ... there is a need for facilitators or brokers to assist people to form clusters, network across networks, and become skilled collaborators. We have to be more active in bringing players together."

The word about upcoming events is spread through email, and, virus-style, the circle of invitees widens. Schmooze doesn't require membership; people just register and roll up. The only cost is about $10 to cover costs for each function. Sponsorship is paying other bills, says McRae.

The most recent event was held at the Auckland Art Gallery, and featured Spin Doctors actor Mark Ferguson leading the crowd in Theatresports to get everyone engaged. Band the Relaxomatic Project played.

"We're trying to find elements that will put people at ease and encourage them to talk to people," says McRae.

In its aim to build bridges between people and business communities, Schmooze follows in the footsteps of overseas examples.

In Ireland, Zeriously (www.zeriously.com) kicked off at the beginning of 2001. Its members are aged 20 to 35, with an even male/female split. The open-age Washington Network Group in the US (www.washingtonnetworkgroup.com) has more than 3000 members.

The next Schmooze is on December 5, from 5.30pm to 9pm, with the venue yet to be advised. People were canvassed for suggestions about where they'd like to hold a talk-fest, says McRae, and the ideas are still being assessed.

Later, he'd like to set up an on-line virtual community of Schmooze-goers to keep the chat flowing.

* Dates to Schmooze next year are currently January 23, March 6, April 17, May 29, July 10, August 21 and October 2.

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