Helen Lewis

The events now attract more than 200 people, from all kinds of media and media-related jobs. We hope they provide a relaxed setting in which to make interesting and useful contacts, without the awkward silences and enforced jolliness of more formal networking.

Most of our events are open to all, although they are targeted at youngish media types, who are starting out in the industry - and, of course, anyone in a position to employ them.

Because people are interesting, and you never know what’s going to happen when you meet someone new. It keeps life exciting!

Try to be interested in people for themselves, not just in what they can do for you. It’s a much better strategy in the long-term anyway!

I’m a real child of the MTV generation, I’ll play with any new networking toy. I run Schmooze and Booze entirely through the website and via email and I’ve never spent a penny on advertising - it’s all been word of mouth. The other major tool I use is Facebook, which is becoming a bit of an obsession. I’d consider using other social networking sites, but they make me feel old.

I’ve met some really great people through Schmooze and Booze - it’s hard to single anyone out.