AMS Fest is one of those events where some of the best conversations happen before the programming even starts. Breakfast is informal and unstructured. For a lot of people, including self-described introverts, it can feel like the hardest part of the day.
I’m one of those people. And over the years, here’s what I’ve found actually works.
Tip 1: Get There Early
I know this sounds counterintuitive. The introvert instinct is to sneak in quietly after everyone is settled. But arriving early is what works.
When you get there before the room fills up, you can take a breath and get your bearings before it gets loud and crowded. Walk the tables. Notice who’s already there, which systems are represented, which consultants you recognize. Pick up some swag — it gives you something to do with your hands and a perfectly natural reason to move through the space without having to talk to anyone yet.
Come with your list. Systems you want to see. Consultants you want to connect with. Knowing what you’re there for makes the whole room feel more manageable.
Tip 2: Pick the Right Table
This is the most important decision you’ll make at breakfast. It can feel intimidating, but it’s actually simpler than it sounds.
Not a full table. You’ll be walking into an established conversation and spending the whole meal feeling like you’re on the outside of it.
Not an empty table. You’ll sit there alone waiting for people to join you, which is its own kind of uncomfortable.
Look for the sparse table. One or two people, open seats, open body language. That’s your table. The people there are in exactly the same position you are. They’re still getting settled, still open to a new conversation. You’re not interrupting anything. You’re joining something that’s just getting started.
Tip 3: Have One Opener Ready
You don’t need to be charming or clever. You just need one question.
The best one I know: “What system are you currently on, and why are you moving from it?”
It’s specific, it’s relevant, and it immediately signals that you both know why you’re in the room. It also tends to get honest answers. People have feelings about the system they’re leaving, and they’re usually willing to share them.
A few other openers that work well:
- “Do you know which systems you’re planning to look at today?”
- “What systems do you think I should avoid?” — bold, but it gets real answers fast.
Come prepared to answer the same questions yourself. Have your own honest two-sentence answer ready. What are you on, and what’s driving the search? Knowing your own answer keeps you from getting caught off guard and makes it easier to keep conversations moving.
Tip 4: Make It a Two-Way Conversation
Listen as much as you talk. The people at your breakfast table will tell you things about systems, vendors, and implementations that you won’t hear in any demo. This is when you hear what’s really working, what isn’t, what the sales process glosses over.
If you find your people, and you will, make a plan. Suggest meeting up at lunch to compare notes on the morning’s demos. You’re building your own informal cohort for the day, and that’s worth more than any session on the schedule.
Tip 5: You’re Not as Alone as You Think
If you’re coming to AMS Fest without knowing many people, here’s something worth remembering: almost everyone in that breakfast room is figuring out where to sit too.
Look for the person at that sparse table who also looks like they’re still deciding. That’s your person. Walk over.
And if you want a familiar face to start with — find me or Rhoni. We’ll be there, and we’re genuinely happy to introduce you around or just be a familiar face while you get your footing. That’s not a polite offer. We mean it.
The goal isn’t to work the room. It’s to have one good conversation.
The Breakfast Is the Conference
The formal sessions are valuable. The demos are useful. But the breakfast table is where you find out what’s really happening in the field. This is where you learn what systems people are leaving in a hurry, what’s working for people just like you, what nobody mentions in the demos.
Come with your questions, not your answers. Leave with at least one new connection and one new piece of information you didn’t have before.
That’s a successful breakfast.
And if you want to make sure you have a familiar face waiting for you when you walk in — we’re using a WhatsApp group this year to connect with folks before and during AMS Fest. Scan the code below to join, and we’ll see you at breakfast.
