"See you next time!"

Trying a new approach and targeting organisations like the chambers of commerce was really a good decision. After some usual meeting, selling and follow up stuff we managed to get invitations to the business cocktail of the American chamber of commerce for Robert and me.
I think as young students with no experience in events like that we had a reason to be at least a bit nervous in advance about what there was to come.

We enter the lobby of the Hilton Hotel, give our jackets to the wardrobe-guy and shyly greet the woman that invited us here. Some words to express our deep thanks.
We pass by the securities and a waiter, which is almost blocking our way with his tablet. He enumerates some drinks he has on his tablet and looks at us hopefully. What the hell did he just talk about? I cannot identify any of the drinks, so I just say "Um... I'll take that one..." take one and go on.
We didn't expect so many small challenges for this evening.
How should this drink be drunk?
How could we best establish contact to any of these persons?
How should we treat a person in regards of respect and personal connection?
"And now...?" I ask Robert, who nervously takes a look around. "I don't know...". Well... no selling training prepared us for a situation like that. Most probably no training would anyway be able to do so.
An older man takes a seat near to me and thoughtfully starts sipping from his wine. I think I should approach him. "I think you should approach him..." Robert whispers. "Yes", I say and nod. "You are right", I affirm that after a couple of seconds. "Whew", Robert says, "good to know you are as shy as I am...". I smile. Well... what do I have to lose? I turn to the older man and greet him. He seems to be really glad to be approached. After a short introduction he starts telling me stories about his life and his work. After some minutes a second man joins us.
Within the next 40 minutes I'm getting a crash course in Austrian economic history and international relations. Countries, people and positions are whirring in my head as I try to keep pace with the stories of these two men. Their words speak of an incredible treasure of experiences in their working fields.
And that's just the beginning...

At the end of the event we gathered more promising contacts and proposals than after 100 cold calls or the last 15 meetings we went to. And we learned a lot about establishing contacts and how to behave in such occasions. How could we ever learn that in our studies? No course or training could truly teach you such a thing.

I take my jacket and approach the woman who invited us. I find her chatting in a bigger group of people. As she notices me, she smiles and turns over to me. "Just wanted to say goodbye and thank you again for the invitation to your business cocktail, Mrs. D.!". Her smile gets broader. "I hope you could get a lot out of it. By the way you can call me Veronica."
Well... ok...
I turn over to the marketing manager of this training company for teaching english skills. "I'm leaving now. Goodbye! I will call you within the next week about the possibilities for cooperation."
He smiles "Ok! Hope you liked it here. See you next time!"