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How important are pre-OCI receptions biglaw firms have over the summer? I really want to go (it's good to get your name out there, obviously), but I'm not the best interviewer. I'm currently working on that by doing mock interviews, but given that I don't feel 100% confident yet, i don't want to potentially wreck myself at one of these things. Is it really super important that I go to these and not going would really hurt my chances of getting a summer SA there?

Not very important, in my experience. It's mostly for the firm to recruit you, not the other way around. The only way it's helpful is if either you get really lucky and interview with someone you actually had enough of a conversation with to remember you (doubtful) or that at least you can say "I was talking to XX at the reception about YY practice, and it sounded like your firm would be perfect for me." The second thing is nice, I guess.

I've never heard of someone really tanking their chances at one (you'd have to be pretty memorable), but I'm sure it's possible.

Certainly time/cost justified to attend if there is one in your city, the name dropping or even just having anecdotal info beyond chambers are potentially helpful. Not important in that not attending won't tangibly hurt you imo.

I went to a ton of these in the spring - they are fun if you like drinking and casually socializing with other corporate attorneys, and you can sometimes get a glimpse of the personality types a particular firm attracts, but otherwise not very much use. As someone else said, if its easy and cheap for you to go, why not? but otherwise not worth it.

It's not an interview though. Some people say, "think of firm receptions/networking like interviews;" that attitude just makes me uncomfortable. I just tone down my humor and crassness a little and try to have a good time, usually avoiding talking too much about law at all besides basic questions, and that makes for closer contacts than gunning out the competition or stressing about how you will come across and whether it will make any difference (it won't unless you're truly sloppy or stupendously awkward).