The Short Guide to Networking
Play the RoomThe Short Guide to Networking
Play the Room is a short networking book by Dagan Martinez-Vargas for people who want practical ways to stand out, build business relationships, get more referrals, and grow sales.
By Dagan Martinez-Vargas Austin, TexasA quick, practical read
Endorsed by leaders at
What is Play the Room about?
Be intentional, memorable, and useful in the rooms where relationships create opportunity.
Play the Room is about becoming more intentional, memorable, and useful in the rooms where relationships create opportunity. It is a quick, practical guide for people who network to build trust, promote a business, create referrals, and increase sales.
Nearly everyone Dagan has met in twenty years of promotions and networking could use more practical tips, whether they are quiet introverts, extroverts, rookies, or long-time networkers. Play the Room turns that experience into a short guide for improving how people show up, connect, and follow through.
Drawing from twenty years of experience in promotions, events, sales environments, Austin tech networking, digital branding, and relationship-driven conversations, Dagan wrote Play the Room to share the networking lessons he has taught to individual networkers and groups.
of promotions, events and business networking distilled into a quick read.
What readers will learn
Practical networking tips you can use at the very next event
Play the Room focuses on the habits that make networking produce relationships, referrals and sales.
Read the room
Notice who is in the room, who needs an introduction, and where the real relationship opportunities are.
Stand out without forcing it
Become memorable in networking settings by being useful and intentional, not loud.
Build relationships before asking
Give before you get. Lay the groundwork for trust so the business conversation comes naturally.
Turn conversations into referrals
Follow up in ways people appreciate, and become the person others send business to.
Promote your business the human way
Talk about what you do in a way that invites the next conversation instead of ending it.
Network as yourself
Practical approaches that work whether you are an introvert, an extrovert, a beginner, or a veteran.
Who this book is for
People who know networking matters but want it to feel practical and human
Play the Room does not assume a personality type. It gives each reader a game plan for showing up as themselves.
Quiet introverts
Network without pretending to be someone else.
Extroverts
Become more intentional and memorable, not just present.
New networkers
Get practical guidance before walking into the room.
Long-time networkers
Sharpen how you build and keep relationships.
Business owners and sales professionals
Depend on referrals, trust, and repeat conversations to grow.
Get the book
Available now on Amazon
A short guide you can finish in one sitting and put to work at your next meeting, mixer or sales call.
- Practical tips, not theory
- Written for introverts and extroverts
- Ideal for teams, chambers and networking groups
Quick facts
- Book
- Play the Room
- Subtitle
- The Short Guide to Networking
- Author
- Dagan Martinez-Vargas
- Category
- Networking and business relationships
- Best for
- Introverts, extroverts, new and experienced networkers, business owners, sales professionals
- Core outcomes
- Stand out, build relationships, get referrals, increase sales
- Length
- A quick read
- Where to buy
- Amazon
Readers playing the room
Copies in the hands of Austin's networkers, founders and sales pros
Dagan hands out and signs Play the Room at chambers, networking groups and events across Central Texas.
Dagan Martinez-Vargas
Author | Keynote Speaker | Networking Advisor
About the author
Meet Dagan Martinez-Vargas
Dagan Martinez-Vargas is the Austin-based author of Play the Room, a short guide to networking. His experience includes promotions for global alcohol brands, networking in Downtown Austin's tech scene, digital branding consulting, insurance industry networking, and years of sharing practical networking advice with individuals and groups.
- 20+
- Years of promotions and networking
- Austin
- Born and based
- SXSW
- Accelerator pitch finalist
- 1
- Short guide to networking
Free audio chapter
Listen to a free audio chapter
Try before you buy. Listen to a chapter of Play the Room read for you, then grab the full book on Amazon.
The audio chapter is on its way
Request it below and Dagan will send you the free chapter as soon as it is published.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about Play the Room
Short answers about the book, the author and how to get a copy.
What is Play the Room?
Play the Room is a short networking book by Dagan Martinez-Vargas. It shares practical tips for standing out, building relationships, getting referrals, and increasing sales.
Who wrote Play the Room?
Play the Room was written by Dagan Martinez-Vargas, a native Austinite with experience in promotions, Austin tech networking, digital branding, insurance industry networking, and relationship-driven business development.
Who is Play the Room for?
The book is for people who want to improve their networking, including quiet introverts, extroverts, rookies, and long-time networkers. It is especially relevant to people who want to stand out, promote their business, earn referrals, and grow sales.
What will I learn from Play the Room?
Readers learn practical networking tips for reading a room, standing out, building relationships before asking for business, getting referrals, and increasing sales.
Is there a free audio chapter?
Yes. A free audio chapter is available on this page so you can listen before you buy the book.
Where can I buy Play the Room?
Play the Room is available on Amazon. Use the Buy on Amazon button on this page.
Does Dagan speak to groups or teams?
Yes. Dagan delivers keynotes and workshops based on Play the Room for conferences, chambers, networking organizations, and company teams, and offers private consulting for individuals and businesses.
Beyond the book
Bring Play the Room to your team or event
The book is the foundation. Dagan also teaches it live and works privately with professionals and teams.
Keynote speaking
Keynotes and workshops
Practical, high-energy sessions on networking, referrals and relationship selling for conferences, chambers and teams.
Learn more
Private consulting
One-on-one and team consulting
A networking game plan built around your business, your market and how you naturally connect.
Learn more
Contact Dagan
Contact Dagan about Play the Room
Questions about the book, the free audio chapter, or sharing Play the Room with a group? Send a message and Dagan will get back to you.
- Questions about the book
- The free audio chapter
- Bulk copies for your team or group
- Speaking and consulting inquiries
Prefer LinkedIn? Message Dagan directly