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Yesterday was the monthly UltraClean Smoke Out in Meridian, Idaho which continues to be the best large social-business networking event in the Treasure Valley. Please mark your calendars for the first Wednesday of each month but it does pay to watch for any changes to that schedule or to the designated location. This event originally began, I’m guessing, a couple of years ago and has morphed into something huge. While UltraClean remains the event’s key organizer, the venue has been changed to RedLine Recreational Toys on Locust Grove between Pine and Franklin in Meridian. It’s pretty tough to miss and if you plan on arriving late, you might also want to plan on parking in Nampa (smile). The event runs from 11:00 AM to 2:00 P.M.When this event first became popular it was an entirely free gathering. That’s right. Free food and drink and an opportunity to network with some really great folks. And, the numbers of those in attendance reflected this “high” cost of admission. Is it free for the organizers to put on? Of course not. I can tell you that the hard cost of staging this each month is several thousand dollars. That does not include the labor to get it advertised, setup, run it, or tear it down. This cost is after, I am certain, several services have been donated including use of the location. Each event does have a sponsor and this month it was Sonitrol/Verisafe and they will pick up maybe one half of that hard cost.
A couple of months ago it was decided that perhaps folks might be willing to help with the expenses involved and a $5 fee was requested or … become a V.I.P. member. How do you become a V.I.P.? It’s pretty simple. You either do business with UltraClean or refer them to somebody else who will do business with them. Who among us does not want and need clean carpets? Nobody. Still, and I am amazed by this, the number of folks who showed up and the number who were not V.I.P. members and who chose to attend but not pay, was staggering. How frickin’ rude is that! This month the fee was raised to $10 and I am not sure what the numbers were but if everybody paid their fair share, the event would probably break even at least in hard costs. Now please tell me, where can you get great food and a great networking experience and all for $10? From 11:00 to 11:30 each month you also get to attend a mini-workshop with a dynamic speaker and all this for the cost of admission. This month it was Dave Lakhani who is a well known author who travels the world where people are willing to pay him thousands of dollars for his wisdom and presentation skills. And you won’t pay $10? And get fed? Good grief!
Our many thanks to Brandon Wright who, incidentally, was named this week as the Meridian Small Business Person of the Year for all he does for this community! NetWorks! Boise Valley has always had strong ties to this event and has always paid their way even when the event was free because that is how our people roll. Brandon and UltraClean are NetWorks! Boise Valley members as is yesterday’s sponsor, Bill Lewis with Sonitrol, and 9 out of 10 of the people who served up the food yesterday. Many thanks again to Sa Wad Dee for the great Thai Food and RedLine Recreational Toys for the use of their location and all the other folks who make this monthly occasion possible including another NBV member, Jesse Hill with Event Rent.
Yesterday’s event had smaller numbers than previous months. I hope that is a result of people coming who not only recognize the great value presented, but who are also willing to help defray the costs. Myself, I like a smaller group. This allows all of us the time needed to effectively network with folks who get it and that certainly beats the alternative.
Thanks for visiting!
Craig
Update: Final numbers are not yet in but let’s just say that it appears that somewhere in the neighborhood of 25% of the attendees who were not V.I.P. members ponied up their $10. 75% did not. I will be the first to suggest that the organizers need to do a better job of publicizing this fee and making it more apparent to all attending just where they need to deposit their Benjamins. If having the continuity of this event is important to the community, folks need to step up and vote with their wallets and not just with their knives, forks, and plates.
Craig M. Jamieson is a lifelong B2B salesperson, manager, owner, and a networking enthusiast. NetWorks! Boise Valley is a business to business networking organization for the most serious sales and marketing professionals only.
