Networking Tips for Music Festivals

So, you're going to a music festival and you’re dreading it. Maybe you got tickets through a lottery, or as a 'thank you' from work for busting your ass on an important account. But you don't want to waste the experience listening to music and drinking cider. Well don’t worry, if you play your cards right, you can turn any hum-drum music festival into a goldmine of business contacts and opportunities.Let's say, for argument's sake, you're going to Glastonbury Music Festival, because that's the only one that's worth going to, because it's the only one that has non-stop TV and radio coverage, thus increasing your chance of super valuable PR exposure.(Sidenote: Make sure you have your elevator pitch tight and ready to go in case Jo Whiley pulls you out of the crowd to interview you. And let's face it, she probably will because you're the only guy wearing an immaculate Purple Label Ralph Lauren polo shirt and chinos with a crisp crease down the front).Some people call it 'Glasto' but you should never call it that because it will make you look lazy. People who call it 'Glasto' are wasters, who will never amount to anything.Here are my top tips for turning your music festival experience into the biggest networking bonanza of your business year.1. Reach Out to Your NetworkDon't make the mistake that most people make and switch off as soon as you reach Paddington. Maximise your train journey by reaching out to your extended network, to see if they are going to Glastonbury Music Festival. If there's a speaker or business guru you admire on the conference circuit, there's a good chance he's being dragged along by his girlfriend, who is half his age. Drop him an email and ask him if he wants to meet up for coffee. You should aim to send between 100-150 emails on the train.I call these emails "pingers", because they're short and they act like radar pings. You're letting your network know that you're alive and living a full throttle life. Aim to get a coffee booked in for every hour of Wednesday and Thursday with someone from your network. There is no music on those days, so people will find it hard to make excuses why they can't see you. Avoid vegan cafes, they're oversubscribed and you're unlikely to meet anyone who will be a value-add to your network. Bloody hippies.2. Business CardsTake business cards. I shouldn't have to tell people this, but the amount of times I've connected with someone queuing in the beer tent and they don't have a card is enough to make a grown MBA student weep. Take your business cards! Even if you have to tuck them into the waistband of your silver speedos.If you run out of business cards, I've found that the people in the EDM tents, after the headliners have finished, are really friendly. Even if you don't know them, they'll hug you and tell you that they love you, which is really nice. If you give them your phone, you can get them to add you on LinkedIn while they're dancing.3. Get Close to PowerGetting close to power is something that I'm passionate about. If I add megawatt star power to my network, it reflects positively on my personal brand. But how do you do that? The security for a band like Coldplay, for example, is tighter than the grip on Tony Robbins' handshake.In 2016, when I had tickets to Glastonbury, and Coldplay announced they were headlining with their "Head Full of Dreams" show, I immediately started researching their back-office operation. After some snooping, I printed out mugshots of Coldplay's business manager, accountant, and lawyer. I knew they wouldn't pass up free tickets for their families to go to Glastonbury Music Festival.On the Saturday afternoon I waited outside the compound where the band were prepping. If you were there, waiting for an autograph, you’ll remember me as the man in a button-down Oxford and a pair of suede Gucci loafers. At 3pm, three blacked-out Land Rovers drove into the compound. I thought I had missed my chance, but two hours later, the gates cracked open and someone slipped out. I instantly recognised the bald head and jowls of Peter McCleod, the band's accountant. He was probably looking for a pulled-pork roll.I followed him for forty minutes, as he picked his way through the camping fields. Eventually he came to a teepee. Smoking a pipe in a deckchair outside, was a guy who looked like Captain Jack Sparrow. He waved Peter McCleod inside. Five minutes later, Peter emerged, sweating and blinking in the sunlight.Shortly after, as he queued for a Red Stripe near the circus stage, I saw my opening. I introduced myself: firm handshake, elevator pitch. He was nice, but distracted. He wouldn't make eye contact and he kept nervously patting his trouser pocket. It played into my hands though, because he took my business card and agreed to follow me on LinkedIn. A good salesman never outstays his welcome, so I let him buy me a pint and got out of there.That's pretty much it as far as networking tips go. Usually, I spend the day looking for business opportunities and I’m back at my tent by teatime. I'll listen to the headline acts on the radio, so I can make small talk about them with my clients. The BBC radio coverage is so good that you feel like you're actually there.A Word of WarningThe only time I stayed up late was when Coldplay headlined. After meeting Peter McCleod, I was pleased with myself. I went back to my tent to heat up a tin of soup. But after dinner, I was restless. I had achieved my stretch target and I still felt there was more out there for me. Maybe I was lonely.I set off in search of I don't know what. After some aimless wandering and a cider, I came across a group of old hippies having a birthday party. They were super friendly and, when they saw me watching, they invited me to join their circle. I had a square of chocolate cake and listened to them talk about their experiences. I didn’t understand a word they were saying.They didn't like Coldplay, so I left them and went to get a good spot near the stage. The atmosphere was electric. It was like a current was running through the crowd. Like, we were nodes and lightning was linking us together, out of the top of our heads. I felt a phenomenal sense of belonging and love for my fellow man and woman. Coldplay hadn't even started at this point!When the opening bars of Clocks trilled out across the sea of nodes, I felt like my heart was going to explode. It was the most wondrous three hours of my life. At one point I could see the music as colours, floating in front of my eyes.After a sublime encore (Fix You) I made my way to the exit. I bought a Coldplay t-shirt for everyone in my team at work. Then I got lost trying to get back to my tent. But I wasn't stressed about it, like you would be if you were lost, and you were trying to get to a networking event before the major players left. I was going with the flow. Everyone was so nice to me, I started thinking maybe I was Chris Martin. Crazy!Finally, my intergalactic journey ended - after watching the sunrise with a girl called Sarah, a physiotherapist from Bridgewater - I flopped into bed about 5.30am.I slept all of Sunday and when I woke at teatime, I packed up my kit and made for the train. For one night I had experienced what 'Glasto' must be like for the average Joe or Josephine; led by their carnal impulses, fuelled by the next pleasure hit. And I didn't like it one bit.It was an aimless existence, ill-disciplined, trading future financial security for immediate gratification. No thank you. I'll stick to my grind and my hustle and the pursuit of my first million.So be careful when you do go to your music festival. Set strong boundaries and keep yourself on a tight leash. And before you know it, you’ll be reaping the rewards of all your hard work.Words: Harry Carr
Wardrobe: Ralph Lauren (Purple Label)