Am I networking wrong?

My area is quite specialised (factual presenting), so I go to networking events to meet producers/directors working on documentaries or commercial projects which require voiceovers or on-screen presenting (not acting).

Much of my networking experience consists of having a lovely conversation with wardrobe/makeup/VFX people where we talk about what we do but realise we can't really give each other any work but politely exchange details and nothing happens. People will often say that it's just getting to know people, and that six months down the line the random sound guy you chatted to will pass your name on to someone he knows, but in my experience this just isn't the case. This feels like advice you tell young hopefuls even though you know it isn't true.

So to counteract this (and perhaps because I'm autistic) I'm super direct. I go "Hi, my name is X, I'm a presenter. What do you do?" and in 5 mins of chatting I can get a pretty good idea of who that person is and whether they're going to be a useful contact.

9/10 it's someone else looking for a job - photographer, composer, camera op etc, and we might have a nice time chatting but we both realise that this is not what we came here for.

So yes, I treat networking like speed-dating, because there's nothing worse than being trapped in a conversation with someone dull, or who finds you dull, and you realise you're wasting your time. I realise this might sound very harsh, but let's be real. This isn't like going to a wedding or a party where you're chatting to random people to be polite. Everyone is here because they want a job. That's the truth. We all go to networking events hoping to meet that person who will give us a job or pass our name on.

My friend said that I can be brusque, which is a fair critique, but I just view it as being honest. I've been disappointed and ghosted and let down by enough people that I don't want to have my time wasted, and I don't want to waste anyone else's time.

So I'm asking because I want to know whether my friend is right and I just need to chill out and stop being so mercenary about everything.