Yesterday, I worked flat out for eight hours in glorious Perth sunshine, amongst fun-loving company, in the beautiful vineyard covered Swan Valley, northeast of Perth City, Western Australia. This is my idea of freelance heaven. This is why people abandon their cubicles and steady income, come hell or paid sick leave, and throw their lot into a poky home office (aka the closet) and the uncertainty of bills piling high.

Who could imagine a day of wines, beer, cheese, sausage, nougat, and Margaret River Chocolate Company’s famous chocolate, in Perth’s Valley of Taste could be considered work? When was the last time you made an effort to be involved in work outside of your home office, outside of the drudgery of paperwork and away from your computer screen?

A Swan Valley Wine Tour Is Work?

While this sun shining Saturday hit my tax deductible expense account rather than my profits, the aspect of social connection and interaction involved has the potential to reap rewards well into the future. I might not have cashed a check for those eight hours but what I did cash was industry connections, job leads, and brand.

Who needs to invest several hundred dollars in a corporate advertising campaign when a day out amongst grape vines and exotic tea leaves offers a higher return on investment and fun!

Be Fun But Be Professional

One of the aspects I enjoyed most about this group of industry professionals is they are just that, professional. A wine tour could be the ultimate excuse to get completely trashed, throw up in the back seat of the bus and make inappropriate passes at women half your age, none of these things occurred because my twenty companions were professional. They were courteous, responsible, and considerate.

This is exactly what you must be if you want to make a good impression and experience a successful event. Yes, you can drink, in fact we all tried and tasted about twenty glasses of wine with various alcohol content over the course of a few hours, but you should be responsible. Remember where you are, who you are, and how you want to end your evening (preferably not with your head in a toilet).

Connections Are Key!

Finally, the greatest advantage an event like this provides is connection. Shoulder-to-shoulder with colleagues who have varying specialties and contacts. If you can be genuinely interested in your companions you’ll strike up conversations that naturally migrate to an opportunity to promote yourself and your business. Don’t forget to pass over your business card or collect contact details for followup.

Freelance, The Fun Way

Trust me, freelancing isn’t all about hobnobbing with the industry big wigs and drinking splendidly fresh, vine-ripened wines. These events come along once in a blue moon and the smart freelancer will pounce upon the opportunity and juggle their schedule to accommodate. Snap up as many chances to socialize in a relaxed setting because as freelancers we need to get out into the sunshine from time to time. As writers we thrive on human interaction. As business people we flourish in word-of-mouth functions.

It’s time to go hunting for the next great event! Did you say Christmas Party?

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