2025 Networking Events

Over the course of WMA's 2025 Annual Meeting and 90th anniversary celebration, attendees will attend a fantastic lineup of engaging and informative sessions at the headquarters hotel, and will be transported outside, into the vibrant city of Reno for a variety of networking events.

You'll find descriptions, dates, and times on all ticketed events below. There will also be free networking opportunities to take advantage of throughout the Annual Meeting, detailed here.

In addition to these outside gatherings, attendees will have opportunities to experience the annual Poster Session, Activity Stations, Roundtable Discussions, and other social functions at the hotel. More information on these can be found in our Preliminary Program!

How-to Add Tickets

WMA's Guide to Networking at Events

Download the WMA 2025 Preliminary Program Program

How-To Add Tickets

To Add Additional Tickets to your Registration:

In the upper right corner of the page in RegPacks, there is a "My Application" section with a progress bar. Click the "down arrow" next to the percentage complete and select "Add Ons." Add the additional tickets desired, continue through the system, and process payment for the newly added events.

For questions about adding tickets to an existing registration, please contact Jason B. Jones, WMA's Executive Director, at wma@westmuse.org or 707-433-4701.

WMA's Guide to Networking @ Events

While events may seem pricy, they are well worth the cost for networking opportunities. Being visible and active at the conference and using social events to meet like-minded individuals is super beneficial for growing your career. For general recommendations and planning tips for WMA 2025, visit our Attendee Guide page.

Preparing for Networking Events

• Determine what you want to learn or get from the conference
  • Are there specific people presenting at the conference that might offer guidance in your field?
  • What opportunities are there to leverage your knowledge or interests during a session or event?
    • Use these prompts to set a schedule for the conference in advance and prepare discussion topics
• Plan for sessions and events with like interests and those that will broaden your knowledge in the field
  • Use the 2025 Annual Meeting Agenda to sort sessions and events by specific tracks
  • Read through WMA's Benefits of Seeking Professional Development Outside of Your Content Specialty
• Share your experiences on social media using #WMA2025 to let others know you're active at the conference
• Take advantage of coffee and exhibit hall breaks to check-in with new contacts or chat with presenters after a session
  • If you don't have a specific question for a presenter, find them afterwards to thank them for their talk
• Practice chatting with people in the exhibit hall
  • Exhibitors are there to talk to conference attendees and provide a great opportunity for networking
• Accept that you will make mistakes, it’s okay!
  • WMA is a safe space for emerging professionals to meet others and learn from the conversations you have
  • Networking is time and energy intensive; be sure to make time to decompress throughout the day so you don't overwhelm yourself

Networking Conversations at WMA Events

• Starting the conversation...
  • Always wear your name tag so others can identify you and the organization you represent
  • Switch from a "guest" mindset to a "host" mindset; try to engage those who are standing alone
  • Avoid talking exclusively with people you already know and try not to spend more than 10 minutes with a single person
  • To enter a group conversation, make eye contact and look for a physical space to stand in the conversation
    • Join the conversation after you have been acknowledged and stay on topic
    • You can help others join the conversation by making eye contact and space for them to join as well
  • Emphasize positive experiences and what you’ve enjoyed about the conference so far
  • Know who you are networking with; start by asking about their experience in the museum field to help guide the conversation in the right direction
• During the conversation...
  • Balance enjoying food and drinks at the event with networking
    • Don't speak while chewing
    • Don't rely on "liquid courage"; rather, drink moderately to get the most out of your event experience
    • Hold you cup or plate in your non-dominant hand, leaving your dominant hand free for handshakes and greetings
  • Once you’ve started the conversation, focus more on listening and finding commonalities or points of interest in their words
  • Be curious and courteous, ask questions, and always listen
  • Be positive, confident, and authentically you
• Exiting the conversation...
  • Good moments to exit are when others enter a conversation or when you introduce someone else into the conversation
  • When exiting—smile, make eye contact, and say something positive in closing
    • Thank them for the conversation and indicate your interest in talking in the future
    • Don’t feel the need to justify your exit—the point of the event is to talk to multiple people
  • After the event, reflect on your experience or jot down notes from the conversations you've had
    • Follow up with new contacts through email or LinkedIn and include a detail from your previous conversation to indicate your engagement

Conversation Starters for Networking (Adapted from AAM's Blog)

At a session or keynote:

• "What did you think of that session?”
• “Is this your first time attending this conference?”
• “What drew you to this topic?”
• “I’m looking for a good session on [topic]—have you attended anything great so far?”

At a networking event or casual setting:

• “Hi, I’m [Name]. What brings you to this event?”
• "Did you travel far to get here?"
• “Tell me a little about your work—what do you love most about what you do?”
• "Where did you study to prepare for your work?"
• "What’s the funniest issue you’ve encountered in your work?"
• “Have you connected with anyone doing work similar to yours?”
• “What are you hoping to take away from the conference?”
• "What's the best thing you've learned so far today?

For first-time conference attendees:

• “Is this your first time attending a professional conference? What are you most curious or excited about?”
• “As a first-time attendee, what’s one thing you’re hoping to learn or experience?

Registration for WMA's 2025 Annual Meeting is NOW OPEN!