We always say that we take 2 nights "off"...Tuesday and Saturday. We have yet to have anyone want to see a house or list one on Saturday night so it's dinner out or friends in...and chill....BBQ now...or homemade soup starters when the weather dictates bone warming.
Tuesdays are different....they are by invitation to a little place not far from us....not glamorous...but good tasting nachos and tacos and always great company for an evening of network "exchange" in an informal atmosphere. We choose who we network with...it's not the group concept where you are supposd to refer to a person and have no idea of their reputation or abilities....it's who we choose. It might be a lender, a contractor, buyer, seller, lawyer....past client...former alum...one just never knows. It is 
conversation in an informal atmosphere and no pressure to do anything but exchange information about each other's business, interests, etc....and they are of course added to the mailing list of purple envelope fame.
Think about it...people refer business to people they like...and we have found this infomal sort of "getting to know you" atmosphere to be the very best way to get to know and learn about each other and become "referral partners."
We always include...as we do every dinner or happy hour a scratch off ticket that everyone gets ....it's fun and we enjoy thinking about the possibiities of what each of us would do with the "Big Prize"...the rule is if you win four figures...you have to pay for the nachos...so far that has never been a problem !
Make it fun...informal and memorable....let your creative juices flow and design your own traditions of what you do or where you meet...
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