[HTML2]Sometimes this content is so easy, it practically writes itself. Especially when I’m just repeating stuff I’ve written before. But it bears repeating.
So you’ve reached that special time in your life. And you’re headed to Ignite Portland 6, tonight. Exciting isn’t it? You may be experiencing some funny feelings about Ignite. That’s natural.
Rest assured, we want your Ignite experience to be as fun and rewarding as possible. So whether this is your 23rd Ignite event or your first, here are some tips and tricks for getting the most out of Ignite Portland 6.
First, the venue info:
3702 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.
Portland, OR 97214
7:00 – 10:00 PM
Doors open at 5:00 PM.
Admission is always FREE.
Tips and tricks
Here are some “Do”s and “Don’t”s that will help you get the most out of your first, second, third, fourth, or fifth Ignite Portland experience:
- DO bring your camera, your phone, your sketchpad, or any other way of capturing the event.
- DO tag anything and everything #ip6 and/or igniteportland. That way, we can find it.
- DO get there early. Really early. I’m serious. Early. Did I say “Early”? Early.
- 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 #ip6. That way, we can see what you’re saying.
- DO be nice to all the Legion of Tech folks and volunteers. (They’re all volunteers, actually. And they’re doing this in their free time.)
- DO try to get in front of Aaron Hockley and his camera. I swear, that guy even makes me look good. If not him, look around for other people hauling around big unwieldy rigs and try get in front of them. Pro tip: Pay particular attention to the people who like to look at the back of their camera after shots, because they will likely keep taking shots of you until they get a good one.
- DO take the chance to introduce yourself to anyone and everyone.
- DON’T forget how hard it is for some of these folks to get on stage.
- Still DON’T be the assholes who were heckling presenters and sponsors that one time. The presenters are taking a nerve wracking risk and the sponsors are paying for your ass to be in that seat for free.
- 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 in the food line. The Bagdad is a great venue for presenting, but talking to folks at breaks will take some doing.
- DON’T claim to be tired and skip the after party. You’d be amazed at the cool discussions you’ll miss. And of course, the after party is always much better for socializing than standing in the aisles at the Bagdad.
- DON’T have so much fun at the after party that you wander home and submit some crazy Ignite Portland 7 proposal. I mean, that’s why half of those people are up there, tonight.
Need more tips? Right this way, my friend. The Legion of Tech has a list as well.
Here are some of my favorites:
- Overflow at Back Stage. Just in case we do reach capacity at the Bagdad, and for people who want to hang out and watch in a more, um, bar-like atmosphere, we have overflow seating at Back Stage Bar, literally right next door to the Bagdad, which can hold about 150 people. You’ll be able to watch the show and avail yourself of all the services Back Stage offers. Back Stage opens at 5PM. Some people are so excited about this option, they’ve said “I’m going straight to Backstage.” They’ll have a head start on the after party…
- Please, No Seat Saving. We know you’re excited to watch the show with all your friends. And maybe they couldn’t make it down as early as you did. But it’s not fair for one person to squat on a whole bunch of seats with coats, etc. so their friends can saunter in late. Please don’t be a jerk about this. We’ll have ushers milling about to help you remember. We want everyone to have a fair chance at getting a good seat. It’s fine to hold a seat for yourself, so you can get up and order drinks/food, but if your friends come a little later, there’s plenty of room in the balcony, and next door at Backstage. Thanks for understanding.
- Live Video Stream. We experimented with a live video stream at the last Ignite Portland, courtesy of Joe at Blaze Streaming Media, and it worked great. So well, in fact, that we’re doing it again. Come back to this site, IgnitePortland.com, on the day of the show, and you’ll see a streaming player where you can watch LIVE and hang out in the chat with the other cool kids who are watching. This is for our friends who couldn’t make it in person to the Bagdad, and for any Ignite Portland fans outside of Portland.
Luck, luck, break a leg, and luck
Best of luck to tonight’s presenters:
- Tips on How to Be a Gentleman From a Guy Wearing Jeans and a Tee Shirt by Chris Alan
- Derailing the Train: How to stop Ignite Portland in its tracks by Reid Beels and Amye Scarvada
- My Updated and Revised Commencement Speech to the Graduating Class of 1989 by Andrew Berkowitz
- The Webcomic Age or, A Young Geek’s Illustrated Primer by Ben Bleything
- Massage 2.0: Myofascia-The Real Interweb by Megan Bradley
- The Scandalous Lies I’ve Told My Children by Michael Buffington
- DIY Healthcare in Portland by Sandra Clark
- Everyone needs a little space by Noel Franus
- How to build and program a multitouch display by Todd Greco
- Critical life lessons learned from my four years as a hooker by James Keller
- The death of authority: a kind of elegy by Eva Miller
- You can stop S#$%#y Little Dog Syndrome by Bridget Pilloud
- The History of Magic and Technology by Seth Raphael (Seth will also be speaking at TED, so it’s like your free ticket is a $6000 value for this one alone)
- Sauna Etiquette: Proper Decorum Amongst Naked, Sweaty Strangers by Miki Tokola
- 10 Vegetables that Could Improve Your Sex Life by Jeanne Turner
- Seven lessons learned while trying to reinvent television news by Aaron Weiss (that’s @TheSquare, right there)
- It’s the End of the World As We Know It, and It’s About %#$@& Time! by Uriah Zebadiah
NEW! (sort of) Tips for presenters
No no no. I’m not writing new content, silly. I’m recycling recycled content. It’s all thanks to Jeff Hardison, who presented during Ignite Portland 4.
Last but not least: Party Party Afterparty
What’s a huge event without an afterparty? Well, it’s Ignite Portland 1 and 2, I think. But now, the afterparty is part of the fun.
Everyone loves a good after party. And you’re all invited to Back Stage Bar, right next door to the Bagdad Theater to compare notes with your friends about your favorite IP6 talk, and start rustling up ideas for the killer talk idea you’re going to submit for IP7. Or, just come hang out and have a drink. Back Stage closes at 12AM. Also, odds are that a few folks will make their way for a fried pie nightcap down at @Whiffies on 12th and Hawthorne.
And now for the sad news: Looking forward to seeing you there!
Yes, it’s a bit sad. But my loss, as they say, is your gain.
How you ask? Well—he says resisting the urge to make some self-depricating comment—you see, sponsors of Ignite get four golden tickets. Okay they’re not really gold. And they’re not really tickets. They’re in a PDF. And… I’m sorry where was I? Ah yes, I have four tickets each of which enable the bearer to skate past the line of would-be attendees and saunter right in the door. Furthermore, those sponsor tickets assure you a seat in the reserved seats area down front—so you’ll have a great view to boot.
Now, I was going to build this chocolate factory and line up distribution to a bunch of stores in Portland and put the golden tickets in there. But, quite frankly, I had some problems with the Oompa Loompa visas.
So here’s what we’re going to do instead: comment below.
Yes, that’s it. If you would like a golden ticket, just comment below. This afternoon, I’ll select four lucky winners who will each get a ticket. Should anyone decline their ticket, it will go to the next randomly selected person.
Winners will receive a PDF ticket to the email address they used when submitting a comment.
Sound good? Good. And good luck.
UPDATE: And the winners are…
And to all the rest of you, have a very, very happy Ignite Portland. I hope to see you for Ignite Portland 7.
[HTML1]