Networking Crash Course: The Grove at Ole Miss

The Grove.

I was in Oxford, Miss., last week speaking at a finance symposium, and I extended my stay to go to the Ole Miss-Auburn game. I was looking forward to the game, but I was more interested in witnessing The Grove firsthand.

For the indoctrinated, The Grove is a roughly 10-acre grassy plot in the center of campus. Heavily shaded by oak trees, the field is populated the night before home games by scores of pop-up tents as thousands mix and mingle before kickoff. The football team also passes through The Grove on their way to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

The Grove is a great place to hone your networking skills. For starters, people are extremely welcoming. Its true, even if you happen to walk into the wrong tent, as I did. You're going to meet people from so many backgrounds: finance, marketing, manufacturing, management. Because it is typical to pop in and out of the tents, you will also see a constant stream of new faces during a visit. 

Add big-screen TVs (tents can run power lines through the field), catered platters and a mix of beverages, it is easy to settle in and relax.

A few tips. It helps to meet folks ahead of the game. They can help you navigate the dizzying maze of tents that sprawl across the Grove, and they can direct you to a few specific groups.

At the game.

It also helps to have a short mental bio and a funny story or two in mind to break the ice with new acquaintances. You'll get asked about where you live, where you went to school and why you're in town so be prepared for small talk.

I always try and learn an interesting fact about everyone I meet. It could be an upcoming trip, which colleges his or her kids are considering, or a hobby. Names challenge me, especially when I'm meeting many new people. 

Learning facts helps you connect, and it shows the person, if you meet again, that you were paying attention the first time you met.

You can also try and find opportunities to start conversations with smaller groups. At its peak, The Grove is filled with people, which can make networking daunting, especially for introverts. So I suggest visiting smaller tents or walking up to groups of two or three people to talk.

And know your audience. I studied up on Ole Miss and the football team before heading to Mississippi and I spent time around campus the day before the game. Immersing yourself in the local environment can help feed conversation as well. I even bought an Ole Miss hat (I couldn't let anyone think I was there to see Auburn!)

Here's a quick aside for entrepreneurs, there's good money to make providing services to those who host tents. A banker I met during my visit told me about a client of his institution who pulls in six figures setting up tents and offering catering services. 

Another article I found notes that people charge $150 to $400 to set up tents. One guy said he sets up 60 tents a week at roughly $200 each, pulling in $12,000. That is amazing!