Where Austin Creatives Meet and Network Without the Meat Market Vibe

The first time my parents came to visit me as a student at The University of Texas at Austin, we hit up one of Austin’s many trendy coffee shops. My parents couldn’t help but be struck by how many people were humming away on their laptops in the middle of the week.

While they assumed these millennials were just perusing Facebook or Instagram, most of them were probably fighting to keep up with the rise of freelance work and the ever-exploding creative scene in Austin. In times when companies can get by staffing their entire company with freelancers, it can be easy to feel like just another creative.

To combat this, Chelsea Francis  — a photographer, editor, and everything in between — started the ATX Connection Mixer, a bi-monthly meet-up for creative-minded individuals in Austin to talk shop and network in a more casual way than stick-on name tags.

Francis started the mixer after moving to Austin and experiencing firsthand how hard it is to meet people in such a big city.

“It’s so easy to feel alone,” Francis tells PaperCity. “I wanted to create a place where anyone who wanted to network could come together and hang out in a space that felt accessible and not pretentious.”

ATX Connection Mixer recently celebrated its 2nd birthday at Nickel City. Over the years, Francis’ mixers have been hosted everywhere from Slow North to Weather Up bar.

To kick off each mixer, there’s a half hour or so of people arriving and making small talk. Instead of a hard start time, Francis welcomes the laid-back approach for people to start off with a cocktail or beverage of some kind to break the ice. Then, the event shares announcements, after which Francis asks if anyone’s working on anything they want to share with the group.

After thanking the sponsors, it’s go-time. Attendees are encouraged to talk to at least 5 to 10 new people during the rest of the event, over drinks and welcoming company.

“At the very first mixer, a few women decided to go to an aerial silks class together.” Francis says. “Yes, a few people got hired. Yes, a few people found new freelance work. But I loved that two people made friends and tried something new! It makes me smile to this day.”

Introverts Welcome

Traditional mixers often mean awkwardly networking, trying to toe the line between business and fun, with half the battle just psyching yourself up to attend, especially for many creative introverts. Francis assures us she would tell that to anyone who feels apprehensive about attending.

“I would tell them to work up to it, and feel free to reach out to me and ask questions!” Francis sats. “I never mind that. A few people with social anxiety have reached out and asked if they could come a little early so they could meet me first, and that’s always a big ‘Yes!’ from me.

“Do what you need to do to feel comfortable. The ATX Connection Mixer is very low key, and not stuffy in the slightest, so it’s a good event to give mixers a try. Also, you can always leave early if you need to! I’d just tell them to make space for themselves whatever that means.”