Networking event provides purposeful experience
By: Eva Coleman
There’s a fee to enter “The Room” and from the smiles and multilevel conversations, it’s well worth it. The intentionality of Creatives Meetup Dallas founder, Adrian Lockett, was admirable as he floated throughout the crowd at Ven Aqui Cocina on Feb. 5, 2025 in Dallas, Texas.
“You guys paid to be in the room,” Lockett said. “You can do free things and people won’t show up, so that means that you want to be here and you’ll support what it is, whatever it is, that you see value in and grow.”
The ambiance was chic and deals were made as masterminds in media, film, journalism, finance, music, modeling, artist and talent management, entrepreneurs and more united for the third installment of the monthly networking mixer created by Lockett.
“I came up with Creatives Meetup Dallas because there wasn’t anywhere for us to go to be together and I said that I wanted to do something that’s aligned with my purpose, which is acting,” Lockett said.
With 11 years of film and television acting under his belt, he’s also a model with numerous campaigns displaying his towering physique and infectious smile. Lockett is quite humble and committed to helping others.
“I don’t ever want to be too famous where I can’t come in the room and put people together,” Lockett said.
Dressed in a red and white ensemble resembling one of Santa’s elves, Lockett delivered the gift of connectivity as he purposefully and physically introduced people to one another, oftentimes bringing attendees face to face. Some guests were specifically asked to attend Creatives Meetup Dallas by Lockett himself, and as he instructed, greeted with snaps in the air as he called them to the microphone to speak.
“I create a space so that the people that I personally invite out… I create this space for them to introduce themselves and put out their personal business card and say, ‘This is what I do,’ because I want y’all to know that it is important people that you can use in this room that can be beneficial to you in some part of your life.”
Lockett, an Alabama native, also shared a personal story of his own that he feels propelled him to his purpose.
“I got shot in November 2023 by a 15-year-old,” Lockett said. “God wasn’t done with my life so I feel like now, I’m doing exactly what it is that he kept me here for and that’s changing the lives of other people through people.”
Attendees at the February meetup event were wide-ranging, with some traveling from as far away as Los Angeles. The crowd was excited at the introduction of one of Kendrick Lamar’s music producers and childhood friend in the room. Local, PoJazz (Poetry + Jazz) artist Zemill attended the event as well.
“I thought it was an innovative and creative way for like minded creatives to mingle, collaborate and inspire one another,” Zemill said.
“I just give it up for everybody that came to be a part of this,” Lockett said. “It makes me feel good that I’m connecting people and I’m changing people’s lives.”
The next Creatives Meetup Dallas event is scheduled for March 6, 2025. For more information, visit creativesmeetupdallas.com
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