I’ve hosted a lot of cocktail parties. But this was the first time I tried this format at this scale. And honestly, I wasn’t sure how it would land.
So I focused on one thing: make it easy for people to feel comfortable and actually connect.
Table of Contents
Light Icebreakers
We started with light icebreakers. Not the cringey kind, just enough context so you could quickly understand who was in the room.
The interesting part? Instead of spending the whole night talking to one or two people, most people ended up connecting with 7 to 10 people, naturally.
Shared Learning
Then we layered in something different: shared learning.
A few attendees, Alexandra Carmen Buza, Anca Constantin, and Alexandru Anghel, gave short 5-minute stories. Nothing polished. No slides. Just personal stories about traveling through Mexico and Cuba, and what it’s really like to start your own company.
Memorable Moments
One detail that stuck with me: when I asked Alexandra what’s one thing you must do in Mexico, she said visit a cenote, which is an underground cave lake.
I lived in Mexico and somehow never went to one. Still thinking about that.
The Format Works
And by the end of the night, one thing was clear: this format works.
People stayed. Conversations flowed. And a bunch of us hung out two extra hours talking, laughing, and eventually singing karaoke. That’s usually a good signal.
Thank You
Huge thank you to Raluca Andreea Popa, PhD, Alexandra Roxana POPA-ISAC, Daniel Deaconu and everyone else who showed up open, curious, and willing to participate. You made the first 3rd Space Bucharest social in person connection something special.
What’s Next
The key takeaway from this event is simple: when you create the right environment for connection, people naturally open up and build meaningful relationships. Light icebreakers, shared learning through personal stories, and a relaxed atmosphere can transform a typical cocktail party into something truly memorable.
If you’re curious about how to throw better parties that actually bring people together, this format is worth trying. The proof was in the extra two hours of karaoke and laughter.
More in person events like this are coming. The March event is already 40% full. Get on the waitlist at https://lnkd.in/dCDw78Z4