How to make the most of summer parties

For public affairs practitioners up and down the country, June hails the start of summer party season. Whether it be an agency do, a professional network gathering, or a successful infiltration of some of SW1’s hottest events, our diaries start to fill up – and quickly. 

But amidst the political stardom and the free drinks, how do you know if you’re actually making the most of these events? Whether you’re a seasoned public affairs pro, or just starting out in your career, these events can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming or potentially even daunting. Below are some top tips as we head into the peak of the summer party season. 

1) Looking in the right place
One of the biggest challenges is simply how much choice is out there. Look for organisations you regularly engage with, are they hosting? If not, are they advertising speakers at parties hosted elsewhere? What events are those in your professional network heading to? Lots of these events will almost always be guest list only, so a DM or email to enquire about spaces should start to build you a list of potential choices. 

2) Pick your battles
Once those invites start to land in inboxes, it’s always wise to take a pause and evaluate what works for you. There’s always the argument, particularly for those early in their careers, that you should attend everything and anything. But whilst this may be the preferred methodology for some, it can become draining quickly. Evaluate what your top priorities are; is that hearing from a particular speaker, or are you wanting to focus on expanding your professional network? 

3) Working the room
Whilst some are partial to some Dutch courage in the form of a lukewarm glass of wine, it won’t be the most effective use of your time to hang round the drinks stand all evening. It’s almost always easier than we think to strike up a conversation with someone new – even if its just a simple ‘so where do you work’. If you’re coming with colleagues or friends, take the time to split up and do a lap of the room and mingle. The wine will almost always still be there by the time you circle back. 

4) The art of the subtle follow-up
There is little that causes more second hand embarrassment than someone making a beeline for a politician or stakeholder and giving them chapter and verse of their latest public affairs campaign. Summer parties are fantastic opportunities to build informal relationships, even if that’s complaining about the heat. Grab as many emails and LinkedIn connections as physically possible, and drop new connections a line in the following days to establish that relationship. 

5) Sharing is caring
Who doesn’t love a post-party debrief whilst nursing coffees and potentially fuzzy heads. Once back with your colleagues, share pictures, stories and any juicy intel from the night before – and obviously draft that LinkedIn post about what a fantastic night you had. The post-mortem of a summer party is often the key to capitalising on your new found intel and connections. 

All of this aside, the summer party season is a core part of the public affairs engine – so enjoy it! But what works for some may not work for others, so be judicious in what you choose to attend, and most importantly prioritise your own wellbeing.