What I Learned Hosting My First Paid Event

2 min read

I just hosted my first paid event. I had no idea anyone would actually show up. They did, and that alone meant a lot.

But I was nervous. Would people actually connect? Because that was the goal. Not “networking.” Not trying to meet someone to date. Not a polished TED-style production. Connection.

The Principle

I designed the night around one principle: make it easy for strangers to feel comfortable.

We started with light icebreakers: “What’s your favorite breakfast?” It’s innocent. Low pressure. Surprisingly effective.

Then we tried something new: shared learning. Two guests told short, unpolished stories about traveling to Cuba and Mexico. No slides. Just real experiences. The room leaned in. People asked questions. It felt human. Another guest shared his advice for becoming an entrepreneur.

Lesson One

Later, we split into small groups by name tag color for deeper conversations. That’s where I learned my first big lesson.

Most people stayed in those groups the rest of the night. Which meant fewer cross-room connections. Next time, I’ll run two structured group rotations instead of one. Same depth. More mixing.

Lesson Two

Test everything.

The QR code for live feedback? It worked the day before the party but during the event it didn’t work. I hadn’t tested it. So no real-time feedback. That’s on me.

Lesson Three

Make the events longer.

The event was supposed to end at 8pm. Many people stayed until 9. Some stayed for karaoke. One guy absolutely crushed three songs and got a full-room ovation.

What Worked

  • Light icebreakers

  • Short, human storytelling

  • A clear structure

  • A great venue with mics

  • Interesting people from LinkedIn, Facebook expat groups, Instagram and past connections

What’s Next

What I’ll improve next month:

  • Two group rotations

  • Test everything the day of

  • Start the event a bit later and make it 3 hours instead of 2

Biggest Takeaway

You don’t need a master plan to build something meaningful. You just need the courage to take action. If you’re curious about why most parties suck and how not to ruin yours, the answer often comes down to intentional design.

This was the first Third Space Bucharest cocktail party. And I’m excited about the next one on March 16th!

If you’d like to learn more or join, get on the waitlist here: https://lnkd.in/dCDw78Z4