Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated 18 November 2010

• Membership
• About Schmooze
• How Guest Passes Work
• How to Get Involved
• Our Policies (new page) 

Membership

How do I join?

Just complete the online form you create your entry for online member database and log-in. Then you pay your membership fee and we'll then contact you with confirmation via email. Your membership will start and be granted access to the resources in the Members Lounge area of the site once your membership fee is paid.

One of our team is also available to meet with you and advise you on which membership package is best for you, and suggest ways to get the most from your membership at any time.

There are four membership packages to choose and you can choose from a six or 12 month period.

Can I try Schmooze first?

Absolutely- we often suggest this for the last thing we want are people who join then don't get any value from it.

You can purchase Guest Passes (value $55 each) to our events (except for member-only events. One of our Members Relations Managers will contact you after the event and see if you want to sign up and answer any questions you may have.

If you are attending a Schmooze event for the first time, please let us know and we'll introduce you around to ensure you feel welcome.

What's your typical member like?

The majority of our members are in the 30's to 50's and either own their own company or a manager with a national company. The other 20% come from non-profit sector, government or young professionals.

We bring together a very wide cross section of professions ranging from restauranteurs to film makers to lawyers and consultants, making for a unique range of possible contacts and viewpoints. You can read profiles of some of members here, and view a list of recently joined members here.

Generally, 70% of our members are Professionals over 30, 10% join for Social reasons and 20% are young professionals under 30.

Can I advertise my events or services or be a guest speaker at one of our events?

We only use our own members (with the exception of government departments or charities) as speakers at our seminars or workshops to enable them to share their expertise. 

Likewise, only members (except social members) can advertise through our enews, website and social media.

What happens if I don’t like it?

If you are unsatisfied with your experience within 30 days of joining, we will refund you on a pro rata basis, no questions asked.

I’m only starting my career, is Schmooze for me?

Yes, it is- we offer a Young Professional branch which to any young professional in their 20's and has range of monthly workshops and networking events. We offer great events that are designed to give you key skills to support the early stages of your career.

You can attend the monthly events on a casual basis or you can join as a young professional and get full access to ALL our program.  We also offer a special program just for tertiary students, Schmooze@Campus.

Our young professional program also provides the ideal environment for owners and managers to develop their younger staff.

What about just socialising?

There is a social membership option and we offer members a range of exclusive social events ranging from wine dinners, hair styling and fashion masterclasses and activities hosted by our members.

Members also receive offers for a range of services including travel, acommodation, dining, and more.

Why can't BNI members join or attend Schmooze?

Alas, we found the two groups are mutually incompatible in philosophy and their approach to networking and business relationshis.

After many complaints from members and guests on the way some of the BNI members were behaving and breaching our Policies, we asked those individuals to leave (with a pro rata refund) and now no longer do not accept BNI members at our events. 

We felt we had a duty of care to both preserve the culture of our community and the comfort level for our members and guests who didn't appreciate the approach these people were taking. We later tried a few exceptions to the rule and had the same result, so that's why BNI members cannot join Schmooze or attend our events.

Can I take my membership with me if I change jobs?

If you paid for it, absolutely. If your company paid for it, then the membership stays with them and they appoint a replacement(s).

How can I promote my expertise or business?

You need to be a Professional, Associate or Young Professional member of Schmooze to do so, but you can advertise your events or expertise to the network via the website and our enews for free.  We'll also support your business through our social media channels, so if you've something going on you want to advertise we'll help!

Or you can host or sponsor an event, or be a presenter at a professional development workshop, or contribute articles to the website. In addition, members can extend special offers or exclusive services to the network. Professional and Young Professional members can also get referrals and business leads via Schmooze as they arise.

Our team is available to meet with you to provide advice on how best to introduce your expertise to our members and guests.

Selected members are also invited to be guest speakers at our workshops and seminars, and be featured members on our website.  Members can also promote their company through our Notices pages, and website calendar.

If new staff join my company can they be members?

The Professional and Associate packages cover full-time staff of the same company from a particular office. Each Package can be shared by up to five staff, and as new staff come on board they can become members automatically- just let us know. 

If you're already a member in one location, then your sister offices can join at the special Associate package rate.

For details of inclusions, please see this page.

What about colleagues in offices interstate?

As Schmooze expands to other locations, our program is open to all our members. So if your company has an office in Melbourne are are members already- that can come along to our Canberra events under their membership, and vice versa.  Additional locations for organisations already members can join at the reduced Associate member rate.

back to top

About SCHMOOZE

Is this a hard sell / referral business network?

No. Whilst we just take it as read that everyone who joins is interested in furthering their business and professional goals, we keep the tone light and welcoming. Schmooze designs its programs in response to the interests and expectations of its members to ensure they get the maximum benefit.

At all times the staff at Schmooze strive to deliver first class networking events in a comfortable and relaxed setting. Just because we want our members to enjoy themselves doesn’t mean we aren’t serious about the outcomes or the service!

You can read more about us on this page, and see footage of past events and what our members think on our YouTube Channel.

Why the name Schmooze?

To schmooze someone means to sweet talk them into getting what you want. So for those in PR, sales and marketing it’s a bit of in-house joke. It is also intended to be a little cheeky so that people approach the network with an open mind and more relaxed than a more formal approach. We aim to foster the conditions for great networking, and to do that you have to be relaxed.

What are your events like?

We believe in quality not quantity at our events. We’d rather 20 great contacts rather than 80 people in the room for the sake of it. Our professional development and member dinners attract 12-30 participants with the seating arrangements carefully considered to maximise the networking potential.

We choose the best venues and aim for a comfortable environment with premium quality food and wine. 

The Monthly Schmooze's are relaxed cocktail party style affairs  with about 80-120 participants with very little in the way of formalities (you won’t hear for 20 minutes from our sponsor for instance) and everyone makes each other welcome, especially new faces.

You'll find an overview of our program here.  You can view some footage of our events on our YouTube channel and our Schmooze TV page.

Who’s behind Schmooze?

Schmooze was founded in 2003 by Phillip Jones with the aim of developing a network based on collaboration, openness and delivered with style. Phillip owns the company and is assisted by a great team in Melbourne and Canberra with other locations to follow in 2012.

back to top

How do Guest Passes Work?

All members receive virtual Guest Passes when they join which can be used to bring colleagues or friends along to a Schmooze hosted event for free!
For example, six months membership comes with one Pass and 12 months, 2 Passes. Each Guest Pass is worth $55 inl GST.

Here are some things to remember:

• If you want to use a Pass just let us know when you RSVP and your guests name
• You don't have to accompany your Guest to the event
• If you want to bring several colleagues from your organisation to an event, you spend your Passes (one per person)
• Example: a Professional Package member wants to come to a Schmooze event with two colleagues from his work, he/she comes for free as a member, and we deduct two Passes for his Guests
• You can transfer Passes to another member at anytime upon request
• They are forfeit in the event of a no-show (to avoid this just call or email us before the event as a courtesy)
• If you run out, your guests can pay as they go on a casual basis
• You can check how many Passes you have by logging in and viewing your Profile.
• Each Pass is worth $55 and you can purchase more if you run out.
• Once your membership expires they are forfeited and are not rolled over to a new membership if you renew. 

How to Get Involved

There are lots of ways to stay in the loop:

• Subscribe to our weekly e-news for events and opportunities from both Schmooze and our members
• Join us on Facebook and twitter at @schmoozecbr and LinkedIn (see our Contacts page for the links)
• Give us a call to arrange a chat over coffee about how we can assist you
• Buy a casual Guest Passes and try us out - see our calendar here.
• Contact us

 back to top