Thanks to everyone here for making this such an educational venue and a place to ask all the right questions! 

Personally I like real estate clubs, since they provide a neutral venue and tend to attract those that are serious in the business.

Phenomenal speakers in a fantastic venue, with great people!

Super casual, at a brewery or someplace with an outdoor venue.  

If you can get enough names, then I would try to locate a venue...and then put it on Meetup.com.

Or are there any that are good venues for people to network?

White My understanding is that you could file suit where you do business (meaning TX) but the defendant can file a motion to have the venue moved.

Also, and not to suffer from “shiny object syndrome” but over the last 3-4 years have been in negotiation with venue rentals but have not created the deal that made sense to pull the trigger just yet.My Why: Short term; to not be reliant on “the man.”

The venue of the sale determines jurisdiction - which is a lawyerly way of saying that you're bound by the laws of the state the property is in.

https://www.newsandtribune.com/news/plans-surface-for-new-downtown-jeffersonville-entertainment-venue/article_e0195a4a-df37-11e9-9532-7b8896a1facd.html?