Networking is another great case of "be normal." A lot of marxist orgs do it really badly. SAlt is a great example. They'll come up to you agitating on an issue and then pitch joining SAlt or coming to a SAlt-members-only rally. If you push them outside of their rapport structure they'll try to steer you back into it and it feels like you're talking to a salesman. Or like, a lot of Marxist orgs will just ask you to join or hand you a leaflet or newspaper and by the end of most protests I've got a stack of socialist pamphlets to throw away.
I think the best way to do it is "if you're interested in organizing on this particular issue, we're the folks to do it with" or "if you want to use this particular approach, come talk to us"
Protests aren't just networking events, they're also a show of power. If you're also organizing, the a protest is a way to say "these are all the people we can mobilize to fuck with you."
If you're doing direct action, a protest can be a way to do it en masse as propaganda of the deed. The anarchists who organized protests during the UC strikes and then took over buildings and erected blockades are a great example. By the end of the strike, many non anarchists were using the same tactics (much to the picket Marshall's dismay)
anti-work is right. Working (or volunteering) should not be a prerequisite to being in community. Even if you're getting all your surplus value. Shirking work under capitalism is a great way to keep yourself sane and healthy. That said, if you want to organize effectively, you've got to get people's respect, and that often means working hard.