Your one goal at a networking event is to make a friend, because referrals come from knowing, trusting and liking each other.
The idea
Set one goal for any networking event: make a friend. It's easy to trade elevator pitches and walk out remembering "I met a designer tonight." The referral or gig comes because you know each other, trust each other, and maybe even like each other a little. That can start in a few minutes.
How to do it
Open strong. Skip "heyhowzitgoin" and ask about the highlight of their week.
When work comes up, ask for the story behind it.
Learn who they are as a person: the show they just binged, the book or podcast they're obsessed with.
Pay attention to your energy. How you feel meeting them tells you whether you just met a lifelong collaborator or another fish in the pond.
Example
Early in my career I dragged myself to two or three of these a week, some of them Tweetups, gatherings of local Twitter early adopters. These days I give keynotes at networking events, and I try to give the audience the guidance I wish I'd had back in 2007: make a friend.
Script
"Hey! So what was the highlight of your week so far?" "So what made you decide to become a vegan cheese YouTube star?"