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Buzz Feed
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
25 Side-By-Sides Of Famous Actors Vs. The Actual Musicians They Played, And Some Of Them Could Literally Be Twins
1. This is Bob Dylan, who's widely known as one of the best songwriters of all time. Here's Timothée Chalamet as Bob in A Complete Unknown (2024). Searchlight Pictures And here's a side-by-side of Bob Dylan and Timothée Chalamet in the movie. 2. This is Amy Winehouse, who was best known for her deeper-sounding voice and jazz influence. Here's Marisa Abela as Amy in the movie Back to Black (2024). And here's a side-by-side of Amy Winehouse and Marisa Abela in the movie. 3. This is Bob Marley, who is best known as one of the main pioneers of the reggae genre. Here's Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob in the movie Bob Marley: One Love (2024). And here's a side-by-side of Bob Marley and Kingsley Ben-Adir in the movie. 4. This is " Weird Al" Yankovic, who is best known for his songs that parody other famous musicians'. Here's Daniel Radcliffe as "Weird Al" in the movie Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022). And here's a side-by-side of "Weird Al" Yankovic and Daniel Radcliffe in the movie. 5. This is Elvis Presley, who was dubbed "The King of Rock and Roll." Here's Austin Butler as Elvis in Elvis (2022). And here's a side-by-side of Elvis Presley and Austin Butler in the movie. 6. This is Elton John, who is one of the most influential singer-songwriters in pop music history. Here's Taron Egerton as Elton in the movie Rocketman (2019). And here's a side-by-side of Elton John and Taron Egerton in the movie. 7. This is Whitney Houston, who is considered to be one of the best entertainers ever and simply dubbed "the Voice." Here's Naomi Ackie as Whitney in the movie Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022). And here's a side-by-side of Whitney Houston and Naomi Ackie in the movie. 8. This is Freddie Mercury, who was a singer-songwriter and the iconic lead singer of the band Queen. Here's Rami Malek as Freddie in the movie Bohemian Rhapsody (2018). And here's a side-by-side of Freddie Mercury and Rami Malek in the movie. 9. This is Aretha Franklin, who has been dubbed "The Queen of Soul." Here's Jennifer Hudson as Aretha in Respect (2021). And here's a side-by-side of Aretha Franklin and Jennifer Hudson in the movie. 10. This is Tina Turner, who's dubbed the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll." Here's Angela Bassett as Tina in the movie What's Love Got to Do with It (1993). And here's a side-by-side of Tina Turner and Angela Bassett in the movie. Getty Images / Buena Vista / Everett Collection 11. This is James Brown, who's dubbed the "Godfather of Soul." Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images Here's Chadwick Boseman as James in the movie Get On Up (2014). Universal / ©Universal/courtesy Everett / Everett Collection And here's a side-by-side of James Brown and Chadwick Boseman in the movie. Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images / Universal / ©Universal/courtesy Everett / Everett Collection 12. This is Tommy Lee (and Pamela Anderson), who is a founding member and drummer for the metal band Mötley Crüe. Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic / Getty Images Here's Sebastian Stan (and Lily James) as Tommy in the limited series Pam & Tommy (2022). Hulu And here's a side-by-side of Tommy Lee and Sebastian Stan in the series. Getty Images / Hulu 13. This is Jonathan Larson, who was a composer and lyricist best known for the musicals Rent and Tick, Tick... Boom! Here's Andrew Garfield as Jonathan in the movie tick, tick... BOOM! (2021). Netflix And here's a side-by-side of Jonathan Larson and Andrew Garfield in the movie. / Netflix 14. This is Jim Morrison, who was a songwriter, poet, and lead singer of the band the Doors. Picture Alliance / via Getty Images Here's Val Kilmer as Jim in the movie The Doors (1991). Tristar Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection And here's a side-by-side of Jim Morrison and Val Kilmer in the movie. Getty Images / TriStar / Everett Collection 15. This is Selena Quintanilla, who's dubbed the "Queen of Tejano Music." Arlene Richie / Getty Images Here's Christian Serratos as Selena in the TV series Selena: The Series (2020–2021). Sara Khalid / ©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection And here's a side-by-side of Selena Quintanilla and Christian Serratos in the series. Arlene Richie / Getty Images/ Sara Khalid / ©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection / 16. This is Jimi Hendrix, who was a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and "the most gifted instrumentalist of all time." David Redfern / Redferns / Getty Here's André 3000 as Jimi in the movie Jimi: All Is by My Side (2013). Open Road Films / Everett Collection And here's a side-by-side of Jimi Hendrix and André 3000 in the movie. Getty Images / Open Road Films / Everett 17. This is Buddy Holly, who was a singer-songwriter and one of the most influential artists in mid-1950s rock 'n' roll. Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Here's Gary Busey as Buddy Holly in The Buddy Holly Story (1978). Columbia Pictures / Everett Collection And here's a side-by-side of Buddy Holly and Gary Busey in the movie. Getty Images / Columbia / Everett Collection 18. This is Johnny Cash, who was a singer-songwriter and an influential figure in American country music history. Michael Ochs Archives / Getty This is Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny in the movie Walk the Line (2005). 20th Century Fox / Everett Collection And here's a side-by-side of Johnny Cash and Joaquin Phoenix in the movie. Getty Images / 20th Century Fox / Everett Collection 19. This is Sid Vicious, who was an English musician best known as being the bassist for the band the Sex Pistols. Roberta Bayley / Redferns / Getty Images Here's Gary Oldman as Sid in the movie Sid and Nancy (1986). Samuel Goldwyn Films / Everett Collection And here's a side-by-side of Sid Vicious and Gary Oldman in the movie. Getty Images / Samuel Goldwyn Films / Everett Collection 20. This is Judy Garland, who was an actor and singer, best known for starring in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Keystone / Getty Images Here's Renée Zellweger as Judy in the movie Judy (2019). Roadside Attractions / Everett Collection And here's a side-by-side of Judy Garland and Renée Zellweger in the movie. Getty Images / Roadside Attractions / Everett Collection 21. This is Ray Charles, who was a singer-songwriter, pianist, and composer often regarded as "The Genius." Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images Here's Jamie Foxx as Ray in the movie Ray (2004). Universal / Courtesy Everett Collection And here's a side-by-side of Ray Charles and Jamie Foxx in the movie. Getty Images / Universal / Everett Collection 22. This is Joan Jett, who is a singer best known for the group Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and a founder of the band the Runaways. Roberta Bayley / Redferns / Getty Images Here's Kristen Stewart as Joan in the movie The Runaways (2010). Apparition / Everett Collection And here's a side-by-side of Joan Jett and Kristen Stewart in the movie. Getty Images / Apparition / Everett Collection 23. This is Édith Piaf, who was one of France's most popular singers internationally. Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images Here's Marion Cotillard as Édith in the movie La Vie En Rose (2007). Picturehouse / Everett Collection And here's a side-by-side of Édith Piaf and Marion Cotillard in the movie. Getty Images / Picturehouse / Everett Collection 24. This is Brian Wilson, a singer-songwriter and cofounder of the Beach Boys. Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images Here's Paul Dano as Brian in the movie Love & Mercy (2014). Roadside Attractions / Everett Collection And here's a side-by-side of Brian Wilson and Paul Dano in the movie. Getty Images / Roadside Attractions / Everett Collection 25. Finally, this is Ian Curtis, who was the lead singer and lyricist for the band Joy Division. Rob Verhorst / Redferns / Getty Here's Sam Riley as Ian in Control (2007). Weinstein Company / Everett Collection And here's a side-by-side of Ian Curtis and Sam Riley in the movie. Getty Images / TWC / Everett Collection
Metro
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Wuthering Heights casting director says her friends 'rampaged' over the actors
Casting director Kharmel Cochrane is one of the biggest names in her field in the UK, having worked on the likes of Nosferatu, Saltburn, Bob Marley: One Love and – most recently released – the highly praised military drama, Warfare. She's worked in casting for nearly two decades – scoring her first gig street-casting kids for her older cousin's director pal at £50 (an upgrade from the £10 she usually made cleaning his bedroom) – and has now formed key collaborations as the go-to for filmmakers including Robert Eggers, Emerald Fennell, Alex Garland and Lena Dunham when they're recruiting on-screen talent. Cochrane, 39, makes for a very candid interviewee, not afraid to share her thoughts on the industry, divulge past mistakes or respond robustly to backlash over a Full English at her hotel – she's responsible for the much-discussed casting of Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi in Fennell's forthcoming adaptation of Wuthering Heights, of which more on that later. For her, the role is not about being a gatekeeper against upcoming actors trying to break through, as many may assume. 'I like to call myself a fairy job mother, I help people get the jobs. I think our role is to help curate the process,' she tells Metro at the Sands International Film Festival of St Andrews. Some of the most prominent parts she's been able to bestow include Anya Taylor-Joy's debut film role in Eggers' The Witch, as well as Barry Keoghan in everyone's non-family-friendly Christmas 2023 obsession, Saltburn, and Lily-Rose Depp in Nosferatu – although later that day at a Sands 'in conversation' event, she admits she didn't think Depp could act and was adamantly against seeing her… only to text an apology after her audition. In turns out there was a mortifying 'misunderstanding' with Taylor-Joy too before she landed her breakthrough part as Thomasin in the folk horror after 'a massive mix-up where someone in my office had told her she got a job and she hadn't'. 'I wrote her a letter because she was only 19 at the time, and I thought, 'How awful, totally my mistake'. I wrote and said, 'Hopefully the next thing that I get you will be huge' – and it was The Witch,' she recalls. Morfydd Clark was an unsuccessful auditionee for that film, but Cochrane later fought for her to star in 2019's Saint Maud – 'somebody who shall not be named said, basically, 'On my head be it',' she divulges later at her Sands talk, which Cochrane took in her stride. Clark, who received accolades including a Bafta Cymru award for that performance, has since seen her career soar even higher as Galadriel in Prime Video's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. These are just two examples of Cochrane keeping actors in the back of her mind that later came into play for other things, backing up her process of curation. 'You don't need to see 1000 people [for a role]. What we've been doing recently is seeing 10 and then saying, 'Okay, well, these are the 10 that I think can do it', and if that process doesn't work out, then we'll open it up,' she explains. 'I want to dispel the idea that everyone is famous,' Cochrane also points out, revealing that last night she simply saw 'six people that I know who I thought could really do the part' for a male lead role, one of whom landed it. 'You've just got so much more of a hold on the process and a transparency that way. You're doing what you're paid to do, which is give your opinion and curate it, rather than just getting self-tapes and shoving them in the direction of whoever.' After years in the industry, Cochrane says she's now cultivating the ability to speak up for herself and her process more, so she can feel comfortable and safe in her work. 'I'm finding it so much easier to just be like, 'No, this is how I want to work, and you've hired me for what I do', so this is how I do it.' And that's even if it comes at the expense of being fired, which recently happened to her on a bigger studio project. She's also making a concerted effort to be more public in the industry, such as through Sands, as a naturally 'really private' person. However, her work has been making huge waves of late, largely thanks to Wuthering Heights. First, there's the good: Adolescence breakout star Owen Cooper is playing the young version of Elordi's Heathcliff, with a large chunk of that recent Netflix show's press tour dedicated to how proud star and co-creator Stephen Graham is, alongside the wider Adolescence team, of Cooper breaking into the Hollywood leagues already. Cochrane laughs because she and her team knew nothing about Adolescence when they cast him – there was no buzz and he just auditioned like every other boy, she confirms. 'But I did say to Emerald and Josey [McNamara, producer] the other day, I don't know who is now going to get more excitement, Jacob or Owen in terms of… he's a star as well,' she smiles. Now we come to the bad and the ugly, with fans fierce in their criticism as they attack the casting of Robbie, 34, and Elordi, 27, as tormented young (she's a teenager) lovers, Heathcliff and Cathy. 'I have really had to hold back on Instagram after a glass of wine, because I think someone was like, 'The casting director should be shot',' she replies as we broach the topic. Her comments at the Sands talk that afternoon, also attended by Metro, have already been cited in multiple outlets as she defended the choice with her argument that 'it's a book, these people aren't real'. She said she also didn't feel the need to be 'factually accurate' because 'it's all art, it's all creative'. 'There's definitely going to be some English Lit fans that are not going to be happy,' she added to the audience, before continuing with a hint of glee: 'Wait until you see the set design, because it's even more shocking. And there may or may not be a dog collar in it.' 'Nobody moaned that Dick Van Dyke wasn't really great and British. We had millions of British actors that could have done that part [Bert in Mary Poppins] much better. That's Hollywood,' Cochrane argues in our chat, claiming that she's 'not fussed' by any of the furore. We get into the issue most frequently raised by fans, that of white actor Elordi's casting – she's seen all the comments complaining that he should have been Romany after being described by author Emily Brontë as being 'a dark-skinned gypsy' with black eyes. 'You can read anything into a book and make it your interpretation. And it's really easy to sit online and say things, but just wait until you've watched it, and then you can say – maybe not that I deserve to be shot – but you can say what you want!' Cochrane suggests. The casting professional also brings up the politics of funding and star power – Robbie is producing the film through her company LuckyChap, which was also a producing partner to Fennell on Saltburn. 'There's also the reality, and I think people don't understand, that in order for any studio to pump millions in, you have to… I can't go and find a true Romany actor. Well maybe I could, but it wasn't a conversation. 'But there are other things at play. We've done other really interesting casting.' The supporting cast includes Oscar nominee Hong Chau as Nelly Dean and Shazad Latif as Edgar Linton. However, Cochrane reveals she's faced critique for it even from those close to her. 'I've had friends who have gone on these Twitter rampages about how awful it is and I'm like, 'Hi guys, that's my job, it's me!'' She'll also defend actor, writer and director Fennell to the bitter end as 'the most intelligent woman I know'. 'Her and Lena [Dunham], their brains are like no other. So when she's coming to you and saying, 'Well, this is what I think', I'm all in, I trust her.' 'I also think that they are both perfect examples of people loving to hate them and hating what they do without…' she begins, as we talk about tall poppy syndrome. 'But as women to work for, they are absolutely incredible. I will never hear a bad word.' And as Cochrane later puts it in her talk: 'I don't want to watch Wuthering Heights as a version that is as the book. I've read it six or seven times, I can imagine what that looks like. I want to see Emerald's version.' Moving onto other fertile territory for discussion, I beg her indulgence for a moment to talk about the still-vacant role of James Bond and how she would go about casting it. 'I'm slightly crying-slash-dying because I've had three calls in the last week asking if I'm casting it and I'm not!' she grins, citing Warfare's release – and its male cast of a very 007-appropriate age – as the likely reason. 'I've never watched a single Bond in my life. I just am not the kind of… I wouldn't be able to [comment]. It's just not my thing.' She also's really happy working with her core collaborators in a space where feels protected enough to be her 'creative, kooky self' – and reluctant to go 'into a system', requiring more time away from home, while her children are young. 'My daughter was livid that I wasn't doing Harry Potter [the HBO reboot series]. But in my mind, maybe I'll still be doing this job in 10 years' time, and once they're through school, I think that's when I will maybe do something [big like Bond]?' she ponders. Cochrane also describes herself as 'a cool cucumber' and mentions she 'recently worked on something where it was clear that [my] process is not… very simpatico'. I assume this was the gig she shared she was sacked from in her talk. More Trending She then warms up to Bond, brightly adding: 'I've had a thought though, Daniel Kaluuya for Bond, which will be controversial. And I would also be the kind of person to say cast Bond as a woman and then mic drop… Margot Robbie for Bond!' I point out that she's a rather more likely suggestion now Amazon has creative control of the franchise and is widely expected to go ham on commissioning spin-offs, and that she wouldn't even be the first Australian 007 (that's George Lazenby) either. 'Or the first person who was not as the book,' Cochrane counters. 'I feel like saying that to all the Wuthering Heights naysayers – well, read Bond and tell me who was the perfect casting?' Wuthering Heights will be released in cinemas on February 14, 2026. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: 'Masterpiece' TV series lands on Prime Video – but bad news for UK viewers MORE: Boris Johnson's ostrich-like response to Adolescence was inevitable MORE: Maura Higgins downs shots with Margot Robbie during boozy lunch in London
Buzz Feed
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Initially Against Casting Lily-Rose Depp In "Nosferatu," This Casting Director Got Real About Why She Owed The Actor An Apology
Renowned casting director Kharmel Cochrane is opening up about some of her casting decisions, including one she was strongly against and another she fully supports. If there was a popular project out in the last few years, Kharmel might have had something to do with it. She casts for film, TV, commercials, music videos, and shorts. Some of her most popular work includes Nosferatu, Saltburn, A Quiet Place: Day One, Bob Marley: One Love, The End of the F***ing World, Rye Lane, The VVitch, The Lighthouse, John Wick: Chapter 4, and more. Over the weekend, Kharmel participated in a Q&A session at Scotland's Sands Film Festival where she explained why she needed to apologize to Lily-Rose Depp after initially dismissing her as a serious contender for the leading role of Ellen Hutter in the 2024 American horror gothic film Nosferatu. 'I had to text Lily-Rose Depp and say I'm sorry,' Kharmel said per Deadline, before shedding light on the casting process. "I had said absolutely no way to Lily-Rose Depp. I didn't think she could act." "I hadn't seen anything that I thought showed she could act. And I'm not even bothered by the nepotism thing. I think that's a whole other conversation. And then she auditioned. I was wrong. And I've got no shame in saying if I'm not right.' The 25-year-old actor went on to prove a lot of the naysayers wrong with this film. She starred alongside Bill Skarsgård, Emma Corrin, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Nicholas Hoult, and Willem Dafoe. The film raked in over $100 million worldwide, becoming Focus Features' second highest-grossing movie at the domestic box office, behind Brokeback Mountain.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kharmel Cochrane Talks Casting Lily-Rose Depp In ‘Nosferatu' & Teases Emerald Fennell's ‘Wuthering Heights': 'Some English Lit Fans Are Not Going To Be Happy' — Sands Film Festival
'I had to text Lily-Rose Depp and say I'm sorry,' casting director Kharmel Cochrane explained this afternoon during a Q&A session at Scotland's Sands Film Festival. The apology was on account of Cochrane dismissing Lily-Rose Depp as a serious contender for a leading role in Robert Eggers's Nosferatu. The vampire remake is one of the many buzzy titles Cochrane has cast in recent years. Her other credits include Saltburn, Rye Lane, and Bob Marley: One Love. More from Deadline Sands International Film Festival Opens With Raucous Homecoming Screening Of Carey Mulligan Comedy 'The Ballad Of Wallis Island' Sands Film Festival To Close With John Maclean Survival Thriller 'Tornado' Starring Tim Roth, Jack Lowden & Kōki Sands Film Festival To Open With Carey Mulligan Flick 'The Ballad of Wallis Island'; Speakers Include Joanna Lumley & Kharmel Cochrane 'I had said absolutely no way to Lily-Rose Depp,' Cochrane continued, breaking down the Nosferatu casting process. 'I didn't think she could act. I hadn't seen anything that I thought showed she could act. And I'm not even bothered by the nepotism thing. I think that's a whole other conversation. And then she auditioned. I was wrong. And I've got no shame in saying if I'm not right.' Cochrane ultimately cast Depp alongside Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Nicholas Hoult, and Willem Dafoe. The film went on to become a surprise box office hit, crossing the $100 million mark and becoming Focus Features' second highest-grossing movie at the domestic box office, surpassing Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain. During this afternoon's session, Cochrane described Eggers as one of her staple directors with whom she feels most comfortable collaborating. 'It's Emerald Fennell, Alex Garland, Robert [Eggers], and Lena Dunham,' Cochrane said of her favorite directors. 'We've just got a really good thing going. And I genuinely feel safe in my workplace with them. I feel like I can say to them, 'Oh, look what if we do this,' and I'm not worried about getting fired, because that is a real fear, especially when you're on some of the studio stuff. I got fired recently. I don't want to work like that. I can't do my best work if I'm scared to offer an opinion.' Cochrane also gave the audience at Sands an insight into her unique casting process, which has often been praised as dynamic and diverse. The casting vet said she never lets her work be entirely dictated by a film's script or a director's casting brief. She used the idea of a character's race to illustrate her process. 'If something is clearly written as white, for example, a script reads 'she tied her blonde hair back,' but there's no specific reason for it, I will just put people on tape,' Cochrane said. 'And then it's almost like I dare someone to question why I've done it, and they don't. So then it just becomes normal. Years ago, I would get people saying, 'did you read the brief?' And I'd say yeah, and this is my interpretation of it, just like when you can read a book.' The casting vet said she is currently catching a lot of heat for her work on Fennell's forthcoming Wuthering Heights adaptation. Aussie-natives Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi have been cast in the film's central roles. 'There was one Instagram comment that said the casting director should be shot,' Cochrane said. 'But just wait till you see it, and then you can decide whether you want to shoot me or not. But you really don't need to be accurate. It's just a book. That is not based on real life. It's all art.' Further teasing Fennell's Wuthering Heights, Cochrane said, 'there's definitely going to be some English Lit fans that are not going to be happy' in reference to the film's artistic interpretation of the source material. 'Wait until you see the set design because that is even more shocking,' Cochrane said. 'And there may or may not be a dog collar in it.' Sands Film Festival runs until April 27. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About The 'Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping' Movie So Far Everything We Know About Netflix's 'The Thursday Murder Club' So Far TV Show Book Adaptations Arriving In 2025 So Far
Forbes
24-03-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Why There's No Substitute For The Power Of In-Person Networking
There's no denying that we live in an increasingly digital age. For many, this has had a direct influence on how they approach networking. One need only look at the growth of LinkedIn, which now claims over 1 billion members in over 200 countries and territories. Many professionals now use LinkedIn or other online resources as their primary networking method, whether they are joining industry groups, looking for jobs or reaching out to potential collaborators. While such resources have definitely opened up new opportunities and connections for many, they are still no substitute for in-person networking. Quite frankly, in-person networking has key advantages that can never be fully replicated in a virtual space. Online networking events have certainly come a long way, but they still tend to focus on efficiency rather than true opportunities for connection. As Aneta Pawlik, marketing communications manager at Female Founders, writes, 'Online events are organized to accommodate presentations and question time – and they tend to strip the social parts because, historically, it has been very difficult to connect with other people during webinars or live streams. And let's be honest; we have all been part of events where other attendees are happily not turning their cameras on and staying silent in the chat. This attitude makes it difficult to truly build relationships with other participants or speakers compared to in-person interaction.' As a result, online networking events often result in one-way communication rather than true connections. Networking through social media can take time due to delayed responses. On the other hand, in-person events allow for more spontaneous and natural conversation. Body language, tone and other factors enable more natural conversation that build rapport and make interactions more meaningful and memorable. Because of this, in-person networking lets you demonstrate your authentic personality and expertise. Your demeanor during these conversations can create a lasting impression that builds trust and connection much quicker than if you were to connect exclusively online. Even if you don't immediately start doing business with someone, that in-person connection will help you remain in their memory for when they need to consider business partners in the future. Another advantage of in-person networking events is that they often provide unexpected opportunities to connect with people you wouldn't have met otherwise. These unplanned interactions can sometimes lead to the most important partnerships and connections — whereas online, you are generally limited to connecting with the people you originally planned to connect with. For example, Caribbean event-planning agency Mystique highlighted the power of in-person events through its work on the Jamaican premiere of the Paramount Pictures film 'Bob Marley: One Love.' The event brought together 900 VIP guests, including the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Ziggy Marley, Rita Marley and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. For the guests of this premiere, attending an in-person event provided the opportunity to meet actual royalty. While you probably won't encounter royalty at your next industry-specific event, in-person networking opportunities can still provide chances to meet with similarly important people in your niche. You might bump into a presenter and get the chance to ask more in-depth questions about their area of expertise. You might meet a manager for a different company who is looking to partner with someone with your own skill set. These spontaneous meetings can often be more worthwhile than planned activities and meet-ups, leading to lasting partnerships. On the other hand, simply attending an online webinar with little to no opportunity for interacting with other attendees will completely eliminate these kinds of opportunities. In that case, you aren't really networking at all, and potential partners may never even learn you exist. Perhaps the most powerful advantage of in-person networking is that it is generally more likely to serve as a breeding ground for collaborating with others. As you connect with other businesses and individuals in a natural, in-person setting, these conversations that build rapport can also help you and others recognize common goals and interests. Having time to talk together in-person can lead to more in-depth discussions where you share ideas and ways you can collaborate to make different projects a reality. And with in-person networking, it is much easier to find ways to continue the conversation even after the official portion of the event is over. This isn't to say that online networking can't help you discover these opportunities as well. However, the inefficiencies of online networking can make it much harder to get to this point. Case in point: A study from the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found that making a request in person is 34 times more successful than making that same request via email — largely due to the emotions conveyed during in-person conversation. Better communication is foundational for stronger collaboration, and in-person networking can lay the groundwork for these partnerships. Digital networking opportunities are undeniably powerful, allowing collaborators who are geographically distant to work together effectively. But don't neglect in-person networking. Meeting and networking in-person can help you build rapport and trust, while also creating unexpected opportunities that wouldn't have been available through a digital event. By strategically using in-person networking, you can create new connections that lead to even more powerful collaborations.
