Ignite Bend

WOW! We have so many great submissions for Ignite Bend 2… now we need your help. Please tell us who you would like to see on stage at Ignite Bend 2! There are two ways to share your opinion:

First … fill out our online ballot.

Second … cast your vote in person at the Ignite Bend 2 “Selection Election”
Join us for a no-host mixer and cast your ballot at our “Selection Election” at The Wine Shop (55 NW Minnesota Avenue, Bend) on Friday, May 22 at 4:30pm. We’ll be collecting ballots until around 6:30pm but you are welcome to stay and mingle. There will be beer and wine specials and… of course lots of socializing! For more information and to RSVP visit the Facebook site for this event!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. See you at the “Selection Election” or at Ignite Bend 2!

~Mark Twain

Ignite Bend 2 is less than three weeks away. The deadline’s approaching, but there’s still time to submit your proposal for Ignite Bend 2!

Ignite Bend speakers don’t just get five minutes of glory. We are pleased to announce that the speakers selected to present will also receive a gift from the Ignite Bend planning committee and Mug Revolution. Owen Dearing created an exclusive handmade coffee mug for the presenters, which bears the Ignite Bend logo. The only way to get one of these beautiful and useful mugs is to be selected and present at Ignite Bend!

After submissions close, we hope you will help us by telling us who you want to see on stage at Ignite Bend 2. There are two ways to participate in this process. First … this Thursday online polling will open so watch this website for a link. Second … here’s something we think you’ll really like!

Ignite Bend 2 “Selection Election”
Join us for a no-host mixer and cast your ballot at our “Selection Election” at The Wine Shop (55 NW Minnesota Avenue, Bend) on Friday, May 22 at 4:30pm. There will be beer and wine specials and… of course lots of socializing! For more information and to RSVP visit the Facebook site for this event!

Thanks for helping make Ignite Bend 2 a success!!

There’s less than a week left to submit a proposal for Ignite Bend 2. Have you told us about your burning idea?

Ignite Bend Why Present from Matthew Hand on Vimeo.

by Megan Slick

Husband – What is Ignite Bend anyway?
Me – It’s an event where community members speak for 5 minutes with 20 automatically rotating slides on any topic they choose.
Husband – I still don’t get it. Is it like… for networking?
Me – Sure. You meet lots of people. Ignites have been going on all over the world, like: Portland, Seattle, Boulder and Paris to name a few. Some of them draw crowds of thousands! You can check out the videos online.
Husband – Huh.
Me – So I volunteered to write an article to get people psyched about submitting topics for Ignite Bend #2. You want to help?
Husband – Why would someone what to submit a topic? [Oozing with skepticism]
Me – Hello? Tons of people like to be in the spotlight! One word – karaoke. There’s really no comparison though – hands down Ignite is more fun & interesting. Topics range from tech to gardening to current events. It’s fast, it’s fun, it’s theater/concert/stand-up all rolled into one! At Ignite Bend #1, speakers talked about Legos, social media, karma, acronyms, and one guy played a song about how Bend is a dirty wicked town – it’s awesome!
Husband – That does sound interesting.
Me – FINALLY! I’ll get on the website and get us tickets. It’s free but seating is limited. It’s on June 4th at the Tower Theater, doors open at 6:00pm, show stars at 7:00pm – put it in your Blackberry.
Husband – What about topic submissions? I might have a friend who is interested.
Me – Sure you do, a “friend”. You just don’t want to admit that this is super cool and now you want a piece too.
Husband – Whatever…
Me – You can submit your topic online at www.ignitebend.com before Thursday, May 21st at 5pm. Tell your friend that we need more sponsors too. They can get information about sponsorship on the website.

Note: The day before the above conversation occurred my husband and I saw Wolverine. Just like the leading lady, I have the power of suggestion. I have convinced my nemesis (aka editor husband) to do my bidding [sinister laugh]. Now I’m setting my sites higher – the Bend community. Submit your topics to www.ignitebend.com, sponsor Ignite Bend and attend on June 4th. I look forward to seeing you there!

~Frank Scully

Have you been thinking about submitting your idea for Ignite Bend 2… but just not sure about it yet?

Get off that fence!

There’s still time to submit your proposal! If you need ideas, be sure to check out the websites for other Ignite events around the world… and the outstanding talks that were given at Ignite Bend 1! You can also take a look at – and comment on – the proposals that have already been submitted for Ignite Bend 2… here!

Ignite Bend speakers don’t just get five minutes of glory. We are pleased to announce that the speakers selected to present will also receive a gift from the Ignite Bend planning committee and Mug Revolution. Owen Dearing created an exclusive handmade coffee mug for the presenters, which bears the Ignite Bend logo. The only way to get one of these beautiful and useful mugs is to be selected and present at Ignite Bend!

What are you waiting for? Proposals are being accepted for Ignite Bend 2 NOW! What’s your burning idea?

If you had five minutes on stage what would you say? What if you only got 20 slides and they rotated automatically after 15 seconds? Around the world people have been putting together Ignite nights to show their answers.

Ignite Bend 2 is coming… June 4th at the Tower Theater! Ignite Bend 2 speakers will receive an exclusive Ignite Bend coffee mug (from Mug Revolution) … plus the fame, glory, and nausea that are part of speaking in front of a large crowd!

Would you like to present at Ignite Bend 2? Submit your proposal on the Proposal Page! Tell us about your topic, and why you’re passionate about it. Tell us a little about yourself, and why you want to be part of Ignite Bend 2. Heck, give us links to your blog, a youTube video of yourself, your Twitter… any other info that will help us make our decision!

Ignite Bend Why Present from Matthew Hand on Vimeo.

Via O’Reilly…

The Ignite Show will feature a different speaker every Tuesday for free. It’s available on YouTube (user: Ignite), on our Ignite site and via iTunes. It is being released under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

The format of Ignite is 20 slides that auto-advance after 15 seconds. When you are on stage giving an Ignite talk this can be quite exhilarating (sometimes terrifying). The added adrenalin really adds to the presentation and I think that will come through on the small screen.

Ignite has spread to over 20 cities in the past two years. We want to highlight speakers from around the world with the show. If your town or city has lots of geeks throw an Ignite to bring them together!

Check out The Ignite Show here or subscribe! We’ll be watching, and will let you know if any “Bendites” make it onto a future show!

We know you can’t wait to hear more about Ignite Bend 2… but until then take a break and watch our first event!

If you are one of the lucky folks who managed to score a ticket for Ignite Bend 1… congrats! For those of you who didn’t get one… we wish you could join us but don’t want you to miss out on all the fun. This post is for you! If you don’t have a ticket, you have a couple of options…

1. You can come down and stand in line and if we have space available then we’ll let extra people in.
2. The Wine Shop (downstairs) will have a live feed event for “overflow” guests.
3. For those of you that wish to watch from home, or any other location with Internet access there will be a LIVE feed, which you can view here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ignite-bend

Of course, everything is being recorded and will be available shortly after the event. Thanks for your interest in Ignite Bend – we’re working on getting a bigger venue next time so more people will be able to come!

Ignite Bend 1 is only TWO days away! Portland blog rockstar, Rick Turoczy, put together a list of tips and tricks for enjoying Ignite Portland a while back. We’re sharing them with you now (with some minor edits) in hopes that the information will enhance your experience and encourage you to share with friends, family, and the world!

• » DO bring your camera, your phone, your sketchpad, or any other way of capturing the event.
• » DO bring your eePC, iPod Touch, or other wifi capable devices. Free wifi will be provided but we will NOT have power available in the audience seating area.
• » DO tag anything and everything (Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, etc.) ib1 and/or ignitebend. That way, we can find it.
• » DON’T forget your Eventbrite ticket or a device that will allow you to show your ticket electronically.
• » DO get there early. Really early. I’m serious. Early. Did I say “Early”? (And since you are early, be sure to check out the pre-Ignite specials starting 6pm at The Wine Shop.)
• » DON’T enter the tbd loft / PoetHouse until you are guided upstairs by an Ignite Bend volunteer. There will be a yoga class in session until 7pm and we don’t want to disturb their oooohm…
• » DO be prepared to give everyone and anyone your Twitter name. (Don’t use Twitter? Get on it.)
• » Now that you’re on Twitter, DO try to tweet about the event and hashtag it #ib1. That way, we can see what you’re saying.
• » DO be nice to all the Ignite folks and volunteers. (They’re all volunteers. And they’re doing this in their free time.)
• » DON’T be the assholes who heckle presenters. They’re volunteers (and people) too.
• » DON’T be a wallflower. Talk to people in line while you’re waiting to get into the venue. Talk to people while you’re waiting to buy a delicious homemade goodie from Ryan Di Spaltro (another volunteer, yo). The PoetHouse is a great venue, but it’s going to be PACKED so milling around and talking to folks will take some doing.
• » DO try to get in front of Scott and his (er, Jen’s) camera. Rumor has it the “On the Go-Go” gang will be there too.
• » DO take the chance to introduce yourself to Josh and tell him thank you for traveling all the way from Portland to give Bend’s FIRST EVER Ignite presentation. (And yeup, he’s a volunteer too!)

Thursday’s the big night! I hope everyone has a terrific time. We owe a HUGE thanks to all of the volunteers, speakers, and sponsors who made this first edition of Ignite Bend possible. This event would be nothing with the community behind it, and their love and effort.

Let’s have a great first Ignite Bend!