I was recently having a great catch-up phone chat with a long-time friend and industry colleague, and at the end of the call he said “We should have done this over Clubhouse, you brought up some really interesting ideas.” My immediate first reaction: oh no, not another social media platform!

What Is Clubhouse?

Clubhouse is an iPhone-only chat app. To join, you require an invitation from a current user. The exclusivity makes it feel very exciting for those privileged to receive an invite. Once you get the invite, however (unless someone has explained Clubhouse in advance), you really have no idea what you’ve been invited to. So let’s try and break it down for you here:

The platform is a hybrid between a pod-cast and a conference. Like a podcast, someone has to create a topic and be willing to moderate the conversation with insights and ideas worth listening in on. But like a conference, participants wander into the space (“rooms”) where the chat is being held, and can stay for as long or as brief a time as they feel the topic is relevant. If the moderator wishes to allow the listener to speak, they are invited up to the virtual podium and can share with the room by un-muting themselves. Otherwise, they are listen-only, so you can be doing other things while listening in.

Why Should I Join?

Rooms are being held at all hours of the day from all around the world. Topics range from personal wellness to business entrepreneurship, with everything in between. You can select topics that are of interest to you, and the algorithm will start suggesting rooms in progress you might find interesting.

Since I joined a few weeks ago, I’ve learned a lot about how Clubhouse etiquette works from jumping into a few rooms and observing. For starters, its a pretty good replacement for in-person discussions during the pandemic. We are all equal on Clubhouse, and many celebrities and high-level executives are taking advantage of this platform to share their view that they may have otherwise only shared in their inner circle. Even rooms where the topic wasn’t specifically relevant to me I’ve found it informative to hear what others are experiencing during this challenging time.

As a networking tool, it’s quite exciting. With everyone’s profile in clear view, as someone is speaking you can click on their profile and learn about them while listening to their story. Currently the app does not have a chat function, so users are required to link their Instagram and/or twitter for messaging purposes, which in-turn creates the bonus opportunity to create more followers. 

If you have a topic you want to discuss with anyone, whether locally or around the world, you might just find a room of like-minded people that is already in talks. If not, it’s incredibly easy to start your own and build an audience.

What Has Clubhouse Done For Me?

I am still a newbie to the platform, but I can already foresee benefits I have derived personally and for my business. It has given me a chance to connect with industry friends about common concerns, and those of us in the events industry have many at the moment.

While listening in on an industry room, I heard an event planner in my area I’ve never met before join the conversation. When the room ended, I looked up her web site and emailed her directly, and now we are connected on Instagram as well as through emails, with hopes of meeting in person when the pandemic is over.

Most of the relevant rooms about DJing, weddings and events are currently hosted by American groups. While listening in has been very informative hearing how our industry struggles have been similar and different from nation to nation and state to state. What became quickly evident was our national representation needed a boost, and we identified a need for a Canadian-based club on the platform and created the Canadian Events Industry group. If you are on Clubhouse, or are inspired by this article, we welcome you into the discussion.