Professional Networking: Any Tips?

[StrangeFruit]

Calling all professional networkers!!

I'm rather shy until I get to know you and/or feel comfortable around you, but I realize for the business I aspire to get into I need to change my ways and come out of my shell.

I've been to a couple of networking events that ended well, but started off very slow. I have this "fear" of looking crazy or something.

For instance I went to an event in Philadelphia where initially most of the people in attendance were black women. That was cool, but a lot of us had "bacl-offish" type body language going on. I went alone, so I didn't have a partner with me to chill with, which is probably better b/c I wouldn't want to be in someone shadow.

I met with a sistah that I was in contact with via email and after noticing that she was alone and sitting (she organized the event) I introduced myself to her and tried to establish some small talk. You know like "How are you?" "How can I get involved with the philly chapter?" "How many people are currently involved?" etc. Well one of my pet-peeves happened, happened, and happened again. Since she knows a lot of people, so the conversation was interupted several times, thus her carrying on a convo with me and everyone else that rudely interupted.

Don't get me wrong interupting is not really the issue, it's how we were interupted. People would just approach her and start talking without the slightest "exuse me," "pardon me," etc, etc. It was as if I wasn't there or what we were talking about was less important than what they had to say.

What do you do when that happens? And how can you teach yourself to be a professional networker?

Thanks in advance for suggestions/advice.

Peace, Power & Luv