1664: Authentic Networking Dinners with Brandie Weaver

Robert Plank 0:00 Networking is getting noisier, colder, and more automated. And Miss Brandie Weaver from the Listening Table decided that the answer was to get people back around a dinner table. And you can find all about this at thelistening-table.com. And they combine intentional conversation, chef-led dinners, and live music to build relationships that actually matter, and we're here to talk about it on the Marketer of the Day podcast with Robert Plank, brought to you by dfypodcast.com, where we handle the back end of your podcast so you can focus on the interview. And the interview we're chatting about today is to navigate this crazy AI world where it's perhaps possible to send 100 personalized-looking emails before breakfast, but how do we make sure we turn those real-world relationships into a valuable business advantage and listen to people and make these connections and so much more? So, Miss Brandie, how are you?

Brandie Weaver 0:57 I'm good, how are you?

Robert Plank 0:59 Not too bad, it's just like really, I can't tell if I'm like more productive than ever or more scatterbrain than ever. I'm just trying to like stay like deliberate and mature and being an adult, have my goals and write them down and follow up. And there's so much, but also squeeze in some extra. I don't know what you'd call like the the margin space or the important long-term activities, such as chatting with you, so just doing my best to hold it all together.

Brandie Weaver 1:26 It's more challenging by the day, I totally get it.

Robert Plank 1:30 Yeah, and I can't tell if it's more challenging because of the technology or the competition, or I'm just older. I always have more responsibilities, probably all of the above.

Brandie Weaver 1:39 Yeah, I think it's all. I mean, it's more. Like we're living. I think after COVID, we we sped up, and we're living even faster. And there's just more, more, more, more.

Robert Plank 1:51 Yeah, and it guaranteed won't slow down. Like that's the one we we don't know what the future holds, but that's what we can be sure of: is that we we're at the the least busy than we ever will be. It'll only get crazier, and so sometimes we need to figure out how to how to take some of those next steps, right? How to grow the business, how to maybe stop being on the roller coaster so much, whatever analogy, and like get back to the good old fashioned networking or the you know figuring out who I can have in my orbit, and so I'm curious how all this relates to what you built because you have the listening table. It seems really cool, and so you know what are you on track to do, and what have you created?

Brandie Weaver 2:32 Yeah, so I spent the last 10 years producing large scale music festivals and fell in love with Americana music in the in the meantime during doing all that, and I I love I I love the fast pace of all of it. But really, when I thought about it, my favorite part was the fans and who you know just the type of people they are. They these fans are diehard. They drive all over the United States. They sing the lyrics. They follow. They buy the T-shirts. They support these artists wildly. And but as as I was going to all these festivals, I'd go to you know the VIP sections, and they were just. I'm grateful for the nice bathrooms, but at the end of the day, there might have been a little bit better of a view, a nicer bathroom, but not too many other amenities. So, as I'm aging and I'm having conversations, I, you know, we we start to talk about how some of the best nights of our life have happened at dinner. So I started a traveling supper club to target these Americana music fans, and a lot of these fans are also business owners, entrepreneurs, and they're having to go to networking events all year, conferences, different things. So I'm like, what if I create a supper club where we travel between Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, and we are still getting to see the music? But before before we get to the music, we we connect and we you know we get to know each other past the what do you do for a living. We we talk about things we're passionate about, like music. We leave all the the politics, religion at the door, and we just come in and we share our passion and get to know each other and and connect. And so many people have met at the table, and they begin to start traveling to other music events. Some of them have done business together, new friendships. We know as adults, it's sometimes it can be hard to make new friends, and this is just a very easygoing setting. Where we kind of we curate each table. We've researched a little bit about everybody, and we've kind of placed everybody at tables. We think that they kind of have some things in common, and we kind and we just help them because I know sometimes when we go into networking rooms, it's not easy. Even when you're an extrovert, you're like, okay, where do I where do I start? And we kind of take that all away by just introducing people and making the the structure laid back and and enjoyable. And we try to put those phones away and just stay present for the night.

Robert Plank 5:37 Very nice, it's, it's very important and understated and kind of magical too. So it seems like you went to these music festivals, and the the amount of love and obsession that it seems like the VIP participants, especially had for the the music and the band, it seemed like that was not reciprocated as much by the event promoters. Right, there wasn't as much like two-way thoughtfulness, it seems. So you say, "Hey, this this kind of irritates, aggravates me just enough to figure out my own solution and work to get the magic back. And so I'm I'm really curious about like this idea of the like the socializing and the networking because like I don't think my I think my my logical brain understands it, but I don't think my emotional brain will ever fully like get my head wrapped around it because like it's awkward, right? And it's like whenever you you think even think about or go into a any kind of group situation like this, it's so easy to like have the negative self talk and talk yourself out of it. But once you push through, and then you kind of you make those connections, those friendships, you get those ideas, you have those conversations. Like, oh, now I get it, but it's just so it's so weird that you don't really understand it until you get to the other side.

Brandie Weaver 6:53 Right, yeah, again, I don't care how extroverted you are. I think every time you walk into a room, there's, you know, a deep breath beforehand, and it's like here, here we go. But I, I think if, as event promoters and and things like, if there's some more intentional touch points, it's a way to ease some of that, and that's what that was really important to me because I do, I can get lost in a room and not and not know where to start and who to talk to. So we've researched like most of the people that are coming to the dinner. I've found photos. I kind of know what they look like. So that way, when they come in, I can just say their name and welcome them. And they're kind of like, how do you know who I am? I'm like, well, that's you know, that's what we're doing here is to know to know a little bit about them, and then like their favorite, some of their favorite parts are we don't just put you know the make you wear the name tag. We we do have place place cards at the table, and we have done our research on people, and we've come up with like funny sayings and funny topics based on what we've learned about each individual. So when they get to the table, they are supposed to kind of ask each other, like, "Well, who's you know gone to NASCAR 12 times? Who's done you know, done this or done that or hasn't done this, and that kind of gets the conversation started because it's always funny to hear when to see what other people are going to say or write about you, and so even the ones that are they're like, oh, this is my card about me, and then they kind of they chuckle about it, and I'm like, well, a lot of what we've researched is based on what we found online, so that can really make it comical. But it starts it with laughs, and I think that that's so important to help them through it. And like I said, by the end of the night, they're exchanging numbers, and you know, it's just they're so in love with the experience, and they're thanking us, and it makes it all worth it.

Robert Plank 9:08 Wonderful, so yeah, I'm a fan of having fun. I would hope that we all would be, but then also this idea of like some amount of preparation, and then like these kind of deliberate micro activities to break the ice and push back the awkwardness, and so you do these events and they sound amazing. But then the unfortunately we're adults, so it always comes back to well, well, how does it make money? So is this like a sustainable business model for you, or is this something where like you you struggle because there's there's the of course you want people to have a good time, but like I've when I go to do networking events or I go to events, sometimes I I kind of get little tidbits of like the event organizer kind of complaining that well the people doing the joint ventures are making more money than the person running the event, and so like has that been difficult or has that been a journey as far as like making money or making this a sustainable business.

Brandie Weaver 10:02 It's definitely you know anytime you're in the event industry, it's it's a gamble, and we are all somewhat gamblers when it comes to that. For me, when I created it, I also have Brandie Weaver Partnerships, which is an my experiential marketing agency, and I made it. I made this where it was it's feasible, and there is you know there is a per per seat ticket price, and we do have yearly memberships that our members are they purchase, and that way they get discounted tickets. They are for first access, that type of thing. But my my overall goal for that was really to meet more people, and I knew that it would organically kind of help me in my other business with experiential marketing because I'm creating an experience, and so naturally, other people are gonna see these dinners and and enjoy them, and you know maybe it makes sense for their company or their sponsors or something that they're a project that they're working on. So yes, it's it's always because the margins, the music music is growing really as fast, and it's expensive. The private chefs are not are not cheap, but I've just done it in a way where I'm I do a lot of negotiating behind the scenes, and I just try to make it affordable for for most people. It is it is a higher ticket price, but it again, if you go out and you're going to a concert and it's an intimate concert where you get to meet meet the artists and you're having a three or four course meal, you're having cocktails. I mean, that's a three $400 night anyway, so.

Robert Plank 11:58 Yeah.

Brandie Weaver 12:00 Yeah.

Robert Plank 12:01 Well, nice. So yeah, there's. It's just. It seems like there's so much that goes into events, and like I don't go to events as often as I used to. I used to do something like once a month, and usually fly across across the country and be in a hotel for two or three days, and it was always so much fun, and it always like it looks so easy as an attendee, but then I I found out, and I mean, I'm sure you know even on a way grander scale than me that like it's like planning a wedding each time, isn't it? It's like you have to think months ahead and have all kinds of ideas and all kinds of well, is the is the cost versus the the benefit of this this really cool experience? And so I'm curious about just about what you've learned, like I mean, there's kind of there's the obvious, but when you run these events, was there anything non-obvious or surprising? Just when it came to you know figuring out this this huge puzzle of like planning a huge event every time.

Brandie Weaver 12:56 I think for me, I really am into the details, and that's what part of the listing table is-is the details. The last one was called the next chapter. I had no idea at the time that I was going to be on my next chapter, walking away from from some clients and battling breast cancer, so but one of the details that I did that night was, and I had gone and sourced 1960s Reader's Digest, and we had I had an artist cut them out, and we placed a flask inside of there, and at the end of the night, the chef served a piece of I can't remember it was dessert it was cake of some sort and then we served these old fashions because that's the number one drink that our our fans enjoy and you were able to pour your own own old fashion and the the the flasks were all logoed, and that was just something that you could take home, and you could have it at your house. And that's the details. And I think what I've learned was it's not about the the item that you take home; it's about how how that detail makes people feel. And I think as an event producer going through the steps, and and was there a point in your event where you touched somebody or you made a person feel feel feel good? Because that's why we attend events in the first place. We don't just go to attend an event to wander around a room to never have anyone speak to us to to walk out of the event feeling more lonely than we did before we arrived. It's it's for something or someone or a moment to touch you, and I think that that's been the biggest takeaway: is making sure that I don't get so wrapped up in. Going, going, going fast. That I slow it down enough that I there. There are those moments and those details that I want them to walk out better than they were when they walked in.

Robert Plank 15:12 Oh yeah, slow thinking. Well, you're asking the right questions, right? What? Why do people go to this event in the first place? What do they want to get out of it? And how do we want to make them feel? And I just love the attention to detail and the personal touch, and researching these guests and having the fun activities. It sounds like a whole lot of fun. And so we've been discussing about this a really cool concept you have: the listening table, the events you run, the business that you've grown. Do you think there might be a missing question in this conversation we're having right now that I should be asking you. I just don't know what to ask you.

Brandie Weaver 15:52 That's a tough one, it's something that you're missing asking me, now I feel like I've covered a lot here.

Robert Plank 16:02 Okay, well, in that case, what do you have planned for the future? Like you've been running these events, but do you have like grander ambitions? Are you going to do anything like crazy? Any new upcoming project to share?

Brandie Weaver 16:16 No, I think so, we have we have our next dinner october 8 in Driftwood, Texas, and then we have one in Bentonville on november 5, and that kind of closes out our year again. I I have some medical things I need to take care of, and so then 2027 we're just going to come on strong with eight to 10 events for next year, and again every every event that we or every dinner we have, we learn from it. And I think the the biggest project is just to make the one the next one better than the one before, and to grow our community, and like I said, make our own impact.

Robert Plank 16:59 Very exciting, well, this is important stuff. So, if someone is curious about these events in Driftwood or Bentonville, like what's kind of the the elevator pitch about it? Like, if someone is like shy about attending or they just want to know more details, what should we know?

Brandie Weaver 17:15 The elevator pitch is I created this traveling separate club for Americana music fans, business owners, and entrepreneurs. We gather around a three or four course meal at the table. We finish our evening with an incredible artist that maybe you haven't seen or you've seen a million times, but the night will be special all on its own, and before before all of that, we're going to make sure that you've met some new people, you have some new friends in your life by introducing you to new people that share some of your passions. And again, it's it's it's really hard when we talk about it because it doesn't do it justice. I think every time someone comes, they're like, "I don't think I understood it. I didn't understand what you were doing. And and so all I can say is, you just have to come, come to a dinner and experience it, and you'll you'll understand, it's magic.

Robert Plank 18:16 Very nice, yeah, it's it's like if you explained Disneyland to someone that had never been, or if you explained playing kickball, it's like what you just you kick a ball around. I don't get it, but if you play it, like you have fun, and then that's the explanation. And so it is very important because I think if we leave ourselves to our own devices, we'll just remain in our bubble, right? The same geographic people, same family, same friends, same thinking, same results. So it's so important, especially because we have the resources now to talk to new people. So we definitely owe it to ourselves to get outside our comfort zone and look up and attend these networking events, such as the listening table, and to take that next step and find out about these details. What's the website? Where should we go?

Brandie Weaver 19:03 It's www.thelisting-table. com. We have an events tab, and all of our current events are right there. And then we have a tab. It's join the community if you just want to stay updated. That way, when an event comes close to you, you'll know when the table's coming.

Robert Plank 19:22 Very good. So thelisteningtable.com, where you can click and join the community, get that update. And each evening with the listening table is a tapestry woven from culinary artistry, melodic inspiration, and thoughtful conversation designed to resonate well beyond the last course, that's thelisting-table.com; put on by Brandie Weaver. It's an invitation-only dinner series where there are the celebrated chefs on the rise, musicians, and visionary leaders converge. It's more than an evening out. It's a rare space for meaningful connection, soul. Storytelling and opportunities that linger long after the last course. TheListening-Table.com. Check it out right now. You'll be so glad you did. And before I let you go, Miss Brandie Weaver, it's time for the scary part of the podcast where I try to stump you or try to put you on the spot by asking you about a fun or interesting quote or lesson that has served you. So, what comes to mind as far as a fun or interesting quote or lesson?

Brandie Weaver 20:28 Lesson, I'm going to go back to the lesson. The lesson that I really I think as you operate with humans, you need when you're thinking about you need to think about details and how your actions make a human feel, and I think it's just so it's so important as we disconnect in order to bring us all back together for connection that we are just nice to one another and and think about these things.

Robert Plank 21:04 What a concept! Being nice, having that attention to detail, thinking about your actions and how you make people feel. Great advice from Miss Brandie Weaver from . And thank you so much, Miss Brandie, for showing up, stopping by, and educating us, I'm very grateful.

Brandie Weaver 21:21 Thanks for having me. I really appreciate it.