The PlayDate - Unplanned Networking Working

Why the Unplanned Moments Matter Most

There’s no denying the value of structured networking events. Hosted buyer sessions, cocktail hours, industry panels—they all serve a purpose and are often where the groundwork gets done. To be perfectly clear, I’m not knocking them.

But I’ve been thinking a lot about a word we heard endlessly during the pandemic—serendipity. You probably remember those wistful phrases like, “We’re missing the serendipity of in-person interactions.” And I couldn’t agree more. There’s a certain magic in those unscripted, never-saw-it-coming encounters that just don’t translate well to virtual formats—or even sometimes to heavily scheduled, structured events.

If we only rely on planned networking sessions, we might miss out on the kind of organic connection that happens when you’re just… being human. Enter Tamar Beck and Leanne Velky 's PlayDate, which had “serendipitous networking” written all over it—though I don’t think anyone who attended saw it that way at first.

This wasn’t tied to a conference. No one had prepped discussion points. No one was squeezing it into a packed day of sessions. It was just an open invite to have fun with some really wonderful people in the events industry. And the magic? It happened naturally.

Take this as an example. I introduced Tamla Humphrey and Will Custard —they instantly hit it off, brainstorming ideas for a project The Ops Nest was working on. Johnny D. Martinez - EWD introduced me to Cat Kevern ⚡️ from Electric Cat (talk about a brilliant addition to a group of creative eventprofs!). Then there was the candid conversation I had with Joe Atkinson and Abi Cannons about the challenges of running a business. Or the chat I had with Beverley Honey who then shared some wonderful funding opportunities for my charity. We swapped ideas, shared some laughs, and if no one else did, I certainly left with some inspiration for what's next, all without it being framed as a “session” or “panel.” There were many more fabulous conversations of course!

And Tamar and Leanne? I won’t give away all their secrets we discussed (well, probably not secrets, I'm just trying to add suspense to this article ;-), but they knew exactly how to keep things relaxed and fun, with discussions flowing freely. No pretense, no pressure, just pure fun.

The beauty of true networking—if we can even call it that—lies in exactly these sorts of moments.

The ones that don’t come with name tags or agendas, where no one is trying to “leverage” their connections but instead just showing up as themselves - introducing people because it's nice to do and "we" may be able to help each other. It’s in those unscripted conversations where people feel comfortable tossing out ideas, asking questions, or, frankly, just being people, that the real magic emerges.

Now, don’t get me wrong—there’s a time and place for structured networking. Those moments are still vital for our industry. But don’t underestimate the power of stepping outside of that structure occasionally without having to prove any form of ROI. Sometimes, it’s those unforced interactions, those unplanned detours, that spark the biggest ideas, the best collaborations, and the most memorable connections.

If you take one thing from this, it’s this: think about how you can create or seek out moments of unstructured connection with whatever work you do. Whether that’s hosting a casual PlayDate of your own, saying yes to the next informal coffee meet-up, or simply making room for open-ended conversations in your busy schedule, lean into the serendipity. You might be surprised where it leads.

And who knows? That next chance encounter could be the one that changes everything.