One of my promises to myself at the start of 2024 was to get out more. Left to my own devices, I will spend days writing, reading, working out, walking the dog, and nights home, watching TV. Socializing is usually spending quality time with family. Networking and industry events fell far off my to-do list during Covid, and I never got back in the swing of getting out there for industry lunches, benefit dinners, meeting for drinks, or coffee and the like. So instead of trying traditional networking (which feels forced), I decided to try having fun instead. That meant inviting seven other media women over for a casual, low stakes poker night.
Here is how it went. I put out the invite just about one week before the event. I emailed and texted about 12 people figuring not everyone would be able to make it, and got immediate “YES’s” from a few former colleagues and some quick “NO’s” as well, but most people who declined said: “Shoot I have theatre tickets, sounds fun, so invite me next time.”
Learning to Play Texas Hold’em While Listening to Beyoncé
Before the night arrived, I sent around an email with a “Who’s Who” of the guest list since the point was to play poker, specifically Texas Hold’em (yes of the Beyoncé song fame) and not talk work stuff or current events. We all need a break from that sometimes! I promised they would learn to play Texas Hold-em from a teaching pro, since I had done this at a recent gathering at my grade school, Spence. Learning from an entertaining and informative teacher makes it fun, and wanted to replicate that experience with friends in a more intimate setting.
Of the eight players who came, about half knew each other or had overlapped at our old magazine company, Condé Nast, and a few knew just me or one other person at the table, and no one else. That made it more social, so while some of the players went way back and were uninhibited about betting, bluffing, and ultimately sweeping their winning pile of chips into their stash, with flourishes like, Hoooooo-Ahhhhh! everyone else got into the action. The joyful energy of playing, betting and winning was contagious. Pretty soon all the players were hamming it up, bluffing, raising, eyebrow arching and driving the stakes up.
Hire a Pro to Teach Everyone How to Play Poker
One suggestion for anyone who wants to try this: Do bring in a professional poker teacher to facilitate and explain the games. We learned Texas Hold’em and Omaha (and even more free wheeling game of high bets and confidence since you can create your best hand out of a possible nine cards!) from a teacher named Mark Golden, who teaches kids and has just written a book on how to play poker, and works private events in the New York areas. Mark is an entertaining personality who knows historical facts about poker, and keeps it interesting as you learn the game. “Poker takes a few minutes to learn and a lifetime to master,” he explains.
We were in it for the fun, not the finesse, but the games were entertaining and after about two hours of play, the high-chips winner of the night, Cindy, took home the grand prize of a Sephora gift card. The night was a memorable one, that was more joyful and full of laughs than any networking event I’ve ever attended.
My proudest moment: No not winning. I lost drastically! Actually it was something that happened before the guest arrived: Art directing the table. I bought green felt and a poker placemat that occupied the center of our large glass table which made it look super official. I lost or folded every hand, but what gave me joy was seeing everyone have fun, make new connections, and get into it, since this was a different kind of event that people rarely get invited to.
Bottom Line: Ditch networking. Mix it up instead. Play games, have fun. We decided that we liked poker a lot more than any book clubs we’ve tried, or other social niceties. Why? It allows women to be bold, confident, cocky even. We all need that every now and then, since “politeness” is required most of the time. Play and competition in the name of fun and games shouldn’t just be reserved to kids. We all need to laugh and let loose sometimes! I highly recommend a poker night.
Leave a Reply