Ignite Corvallis- Powerpoint doesn't have to be lame.

Last fall, Jason Prothero of Proworks Corp, emailed me and asked if I wanted to be involved in the upcoming Corvallis Ignite. Not knowing much about the whole Ignite concept, I googled it and found a bunch of Youtube videos from the Portland event.

I perused the videos, and frankly was a bit intimidated. Many of the presentations were hilarious and had the audience roaring. I wasn't sure if I could pull something like that together at all, much less with all the other things I was busy with running a new start-up. I already told Jason yes though, so I was committed. I would look pretty lame if I backed out now.

First bit of advice- start mulling over your slide deck as soon as possible. Don't wait until a few days before the event. It is much more challenging than I thought, to put together a compelling/funny/persuasive deck of slides, when you've got exactly 20 to work with and they're auto-advancing every 15 seconds. So take your time, review it with friends or your spouse, and you're guaranteed to change it up at least 10 times before the event.

There were a ton of people at the event, and yet there was a great (dare I say) forgiving tone to the room. Everybody was excited, and in a way, living vicarously through the presenters. They're less spectators, and more participants. But it is a spectacle none the less. I was scheduled right in the middle of the roster. Fortunately, before my turn, there were several funny presentations to loosen up the room and also calm the nerves in the dugout.

I think my presentation went o.k. It was a bit dry, I wandered off script a bit, and got lost in some "uhs, ahs, and umms". Overall I'd give myself a B-. The cool part about it, was it really didn't matter how I did. People remembered the ones they loved, and the other ones just sort of faded into the background. It was a great platform to practice a skill that has enormous value to any artist, entrepreneur or technologist.

For those of you waffling a bit- Just go for it. Ignite is not only a great way to meet new people, but a safe venue to stick your neck out a bit and have fun trying something new.

I plan on presenting again, if the organizing group will have me. Maybe not this next one, but definitely in the future. I think I'll probably title my next presentation "Why Guy Kawasaki Rules", or maybe "How Local Biz Can Twitter their way to a Profit".

See you at the next Corvallis Ignite.