So I haven’t been to anything that you might call your typical “cocktail party” (well that’ll change tomorrow night :-)), but a lot of the gatherings I’ve would be considered a business networking gathering (the Cal engineering alumni events or the 20s/30s socials yahoo group thing I monitor).

When I’m there I’m trying to develop friendships, it just so happens some of those friendships and acquaintances happen to have some interesting potential business relationships to them. I’m quite sure at least a few of these people I’ve met are eventually going to be at startups, and I now know some realtor and financial advisor types, but it’s not the primary reason I’m going to these things. I doubt it’s the primary reason anyone else is going… it’s just like any party: food and booze and good conversations (and for a few people, meeting potential tennis partners or drinking buddies).