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Networking is an important part of any business or project. In the music and entertainment industries, networking is a must-do. Modern technology has brought networking to the next level. Twitter Face Book, LinkedIn, Four-Square and even MySpace are all new and improved ways to network and get your product out there. When used correctly, the above mentioned are awesome and results are almost immediate. I can definitely co-sign the computer networking movement.

Even though the networking game has changed, the rules are still the same. There are a few things that people need to remember. My goal here today is to make people aware of the dos and don’ts of networking. There is nothing more solid then that face to face meeting and handshake to let you know what you’re dealing with. But since there are other factors thrown in, we need to keep a few things in mind.

1. While technology has turned networking into “social networking”, let’s not forget the importance of being professional. If your profile depicts you as a shirtless, big-breasted, half-dressed, booty-poppin’ chick or dude taking pictures in the bathroom, there is no way I or anyone else is going to take you seriously. First impression is still everything and if your profile tells that kind of story then, we have no business. You will attract lots of people I’m sure, but serious, business opportunists won’t be in the lots. Create a separate profile for personal or “fun” time on these sites.

2. Social networking does not translate into dating. This is not Match.com. Flirting and trying to win people over while pushing your product is lame. I can’t tell you how many people I see on these sites that jump at the chance to get “personal” with people. And it’s even funnier that folks bite the bait like fish. If we are discussing business and the conversation takes a turn for the personal, we have no dealings.

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Taking someone to dinner or telling them how pretty or fine they are is not going to get you a blog post, modeling contract or record deal. And offering sex for blog posts is an absolute no-no. Is it really that serious? People are actually are out here networking and pushing their genitals for promo. You need to stop.

 

3. Pretending to be verified on Twitter is just lame. With twitter, it’s about quality, not quantity. Following spam and creating fake accounts to follow yourself is not going to make you look any better. Knowing and interacting with your followers is what gets the job done. And pretending to be something that you’re not well, that is a FAIL all around. If you’re profile says that you are a super-producer but we meet up and you have a tape deck with cassettes, we have no business. Pretending on the internet is sooo much easier because people believe anything they read or see. It is best to come as you are and not what you pretend to be.

4. A lot of social networking events come equipped with an open bar. Please make sure you have circumnavigated the room before getting your drink on. I cannot tell you how many drunken “professionals” I’ve met and it is an absolute turn-off. Sitting at the bar capitalizing off the free drinks and then going out to network is a failure. I once met a dude who was a music exec; he was drunk and pulled out a business card… It belonged to a woman. #FAIL Now I am not saying that you can’t drink but trying to network wasted is a set-up for an unproductive night.

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5. Music emails have to be the most an