Archive for March, 2011

Ramp up your Ignite Waterloo 6 game with our speakers’ workshop

Posted by Melanie Baker in Speakers' Workshop, Upcoming Events on March 21, 2011

Planning and preparations are well under way for our sixth event, tentatively scheduled for June. As with previous events, we’re holding a speakers’ workshop for those planning to speak, or who are just interested in speaking and learning more about presenting at Ignite Waterloo.

The first speakers’ workshop will take place at 7pm on April 6th in the boardroom at The Barley Works (upstairs at the Huether Hotel). The boardroom is at the top of the stairs (and there may be snacks…)

We will also be adding second speakers’ workshop that will take place in May, and we’ll publicize those details a little closer to the chosen date.

This workshop is a casual get together to meet and greet, discuss ideas, and for those who’ve been on the stage before to share tips and tricks and whatnot to help in presenting. Are you interested in giving an Ignite talk? Then come on out and get to know everyone. Your presentation will benefit from the tips, tricks and conversation. And, of course, don’t forget to submit your presentation application.

We’ve had some fantastic presentation submissions to date, and we can’t wait to see what you’re passionate about!

Speakers’ workshops are also an opportunity for those selecting the presenters to get a feel for the applicants and their talks in person. Sorry, but we can’t just wave a magic wand and approve everyone; there’s a bit of a process! Help us get to know you and your talk and we’ll be that much more likely to add you to the lineup. (And if we have concerns about your topic or style we can work on them right there in person.)

If you have any questions, please let us know in the comments, or send us an email. If you know others who’d be interested in giving an Ignite talk, do pass along the speaker info page and invite them to join you at the speakers’ workshop.

Additionally, we’re looking for a new and bigger venue, so if you have ideas about a new home for Ignite Waterloo, we’d love to hear them.

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We’re looking for a venue

Posted by Mark Connolly in Organizing, Upcoming Events on March 15, 2011

One of the challenges that Ignite Waterloo faces is the growing popularity of our events. We try to accommodate as many attendees as possible, and we still sell out. As a result, some people can’t get in, while many attendees find the events too crowded. We’re trying to address these issues, and this post is a way of asking the community for help.

For our first five events we’ve enjoyed some wonderful spaces: The Museum, The Conrad Centre, and the event space at the Tannery. We may well have outgrown their capacity, though. Where in Waterloo Region should we hold our next event?

Here’s what we think we need in an ideal event venue, in order of priority:

  • Seating for all attendees
  • Space for socializing/mingling for all attendees
  • Clear sight lines to the speaker, and to screens showing the visuals that accompany a talk
  • Room for our Ignite Contest
  • Comfortable access to food and drinks
  • Easily accessible via public transit
  • Capacity for 300–400 attendees

If you’ve been to any of our events, these requirements shouldn’t be a surprise. Note that the capacity is the lowest priority requirement in the list above. That is, we need to address the other issues, and if we can’t do so in a  larger venue then we’ll need to somehow manage with a smaller venue.

Please let us know about any venues that you think we should be considering. You can let us know by contacting us via Twitter, or by sending an email to info@ignitewaterloo.ca, or by commenting on this post. Those of you who know any of the organizers can, of course, approach us directly.

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