After the gig is the hang. Not the networking event, and not the after party. The hang is where the people can turn off. It’s where stories are shared, wisdom is imparted, and relationships grow. There's no pressure to present.
Being invited to the hang is a sign of trust and being brought into the inside of a particular community.
Good hangs are harder and harder to find. They take time, and lots of us are busy. It seems harder to find spaces that encourage intergenerational gathering, or are quite enough to have good conversation. But that’s not a good enough excuse to warrant the extinction of the hang.
Find the time. Find the people. Find the space. Call it whatever you want, but share the stories, impart the wisdom, and see the relationships grow.
P.S. If you’re a tap dancer looking for a hang, check out Open Door Open Floor.