[ By Invitation Only ]

What I like about paid (in-person) industry conferences and networking events is their equalness (recognising the cost barrier). 

Socially capable or not socially capable, you can still go along to paid events, you can be seen, meet people, and practise your communication skills. 

In-person ‘invitation only’ (obviously size-limited) events associated with online conferences might necessarily become part of the future. These are good for the invited, but it leaves out those who are not.  If you’re not known (or are awkward socially), it’s harder to get invited.

There’s a real, unspoken, mental issue around ‘belonging’ (or not) to a group.