Announcement – Ignite Seattle

See new comedy show with speaker coach Andrew Spink, June 5th

If you’ve loved the talks on our stage, our speaker coaching system is a major reason why. One of our fantastic speaker coaches, Andrew Spink, is performing next week on Thursday June 5th and you don’t want to miss it. If you love storytelling you need to go.

It’s called On Earth As It Is In Hell. This comedic, true-life story, is about Andrew’s young daughter and how she is afraid of going to hell. This brings Andrew’s worst fears to life.

He grew up afraid of Hell, preached about Hell, and left Christianity over Hell. And now, Andrew was struggling to help his daughter feel safe. In mostly funny ways he shares how he learned just what the hell it is we believe anyway, and how our actions are often scarier than our beliefs.

When: Thursday June 5th, 7pm (doors open at 6pm)
Where: Here-after theater (inside the Crocodile on 1st ave, Belltown)
Tickets: $24.59 on sale now

He’s been on tour in Boston, Chicago, Denver, Atlanta and NYC and this is his one show here at home. Don’t miss it!

AMA with the Ignite Seattle Team (Thurs. Jan 25th, 7pm PST)

Come meet the Ignite Seattle organizing team for a fun and informal AMA (Ask Me Anything) session. Our speaker coaches and producers will be there to answer whatever questions you are curious about. Or maybe you have an idea or suggestion for us to consider.

This free event, open to all, will take place next Thursday, 1/25 at 7 pm PST on Zoom (Register Here).

Do you want to learn our secrets for organizing such great events? Want advice on pitching us your Ignite talk idea? Curious about what it’s like to be part of the Ignite team and want to join us? Or want public speaking tips from people who’ve literally walked the walk and talked the talk? This is the event for you.

We’ll be hosting this AMA (ask me anything) style where you’ll get to go behind the scenes of one of Seattle’s most popular live storytelling events. Speaker submissions are due in less than a month, so this is the perfect opportunity to get our feedback if you’re even just starting to brainstorm – you won’t want to miss out!

Next Ignite Seattle: Thurs. April 29th, 7:30pm (Charity Champions)

Ignite Seattle is back. We’re hosting a special online event focused on great storytelling and giving back to the Seattle community.

$3,000+ giveaway to local non-profits. Many local groups are doing so much to help the people of Seattle and we’re going to help them. We will put on our virtual stage the best personal stories about local charities and non-profits. The organizations showcased the night of our live online event will receive grants totaling $3,000 or more!

When: Thursday, April 29th, 7:30pm
Talk Submissions: Open until March 22 (see below)
Tickets: Required, but it’s free or donate to the cause ($15-50)

Tell your story about a local organization
Submit YOUR story related to a charity by March 22. Has a local non-profit helped you? Or have you observed how they’ve supported a community? Tell us the story. If selected, you’ll be assigned a mentor who will help you with your talk. This is your chance to show up for a nonprofit that’s been meaningful to you! We can’t wait to hear about it.

Free online storytelling workshop
To help you develop your story idea and sharpen your presentation skills, we are hosting a FREE Online Storytelling Workshop on Monday, March 15 at 7:30pm. Scott Berkun, professional speaker coach, former Ignite MC and long-time Ignite Seattle co-organizer, will be your teacher. This online workshop will give you his time-tested advice on short-form (remote) public speaking, and some students will get live feedback. Scott rocks. He will help you rock. Register now.

Join the live online event
Hosted by the dynamic duo of Marice Sy and Sumit Basu. By attending YOU will help determine how the grants are allocated to the organizations showcased. Tickets are “donate what you can” ($0-$50), all ticket proceeds will be added to the Charity Champion grants.

Spread the word
Submissions are open to anyone in the greater Seattle area and the more people who attend the event means more money will go to good causes. Help us get the word out? Thanks.

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW.

Stay safe, do good, tell stories,
The Ignite Seattle Organizing Team

Re-Ignite Seattle: Sept 24th @ 7:30pm PST

We miss you. And while we can’t return to Town Hall any time soon, we have something different in mind. We are going to Re-Ignite Seattle on Thursday Sept 24 at 7:30pm and we would love for you to join us from wherever you are.

What is Re-Ignite Seattle? It’s an experimental online event where we will revisit 3 past talks from our wondrous library. Our hosts, who are Ignite Seattle alumni as well as organizers, have picked 3 of their favorite talks. They will re-watch them with you and chat about what makes each of these talks great.

Re-Ignite Seattle will be hosted by:

Sumit Basu – Sumit did a fantastic job hosting our most recent Ignite Seattle event. He is a scientist, an artist and an Instant Pot expert. He is insightful, funny and kind.
Zachary Cohn – Zachary is a long time Ignite Seattle organizer. He wrangles cables, speakers, slides and anything else that has needed wrangling. He is smart, witty and thoughtful.

When: Thursday Sept 24 at 7:30pm PST.
Where: Anywhere on any device with internet access.
Tickets: Tickets are free. Register here to receive the event link.

Talks to be Re-Ignited:

Saving the Planet With Your Fork – Mary Purdy
So, You’re Black in Tech – Rovina Broomfield
How My Life Changed Over the Skies of South Korea – Craig Plain

Whether these talks are new for you or you saw them live, our hosts will help you have a great time and appreciate the work of these fantastic storytellers.

See you online soon,
The Ignite Seattle Organizing Team

P.S. we don’t know when the next in-person Ignite Seattle event will be held however you can submit an idea whenever inspiration sparks.

FREE FREE DELICIOUSLY FREE

Ignite Seattle #41 is SOLD OUT, but we still hope you’ll join us!

Exciting news, Ignite Seattle fans, our show on February 27, 2020 is now SOLD OUT! No tickets will be available at the door.

Didn’t get your ticket, and still want to see the talks? Don’t worry! We’re providing a free livestream of the night. Tune in to get:

A professionally produced livestream from our friends at Punch Drunk.
The best seat in the virtual house to catch 12 funny, inspiring, and otherwise amazing five-minute talks.
A Livesteam-exclusive look into Ignite Seattle before the show and during intermission, produced by Reel Grrls.

Announcing speakers and stories for Ignite Seattle #41 – Feb. 27th at Town Hall Seattle

We are excited to announce our speaker lineup for Ignite Seattle #41, with guest host Sumit Basu. We had over 80 (!) submissions from which we picked our lineup of fantastic talks (thanks to everyone who took the time to share their story with us).

Get your tickets now – just $10 at the early bird price, which ends soon. ($5 more after that).

The speakers and topics are fantastic. See the list below.
We will sell out. We almost always do.
You save $5 now. Buy tickets before 2/13 and you get Early Bird pricing.

Here are our evening’s stories and storytellers (order is to be determined):

The Most Glad You’ll Be All March, Gavin Verhey
Lessons From a Billboard, Willie Weir
Horny and Hooved Fur Babies: Why Goats Are the New Dogs, Susan Fergason
The Struggle As An Emotional Man (And Asian American), Victor Ung
The Wheel Deal with Suffrage, Haley Shapley
The Day My Heart Stopped 14 Times, Jana Morrelli
Co-Living the Dream, Syd Fredrickson, M.Ed.
How My Life Changed Over the Skies of South Korea, Craig Plain
Nobody cares about drowning polar bears, Nicole DeNamur
22q11 Deletion Syndrome: The Most Common Birth Defect You’ve Never Heard Of, Ramon Arjona
Worldschooling: Bringing It Home, Alex Alviar
Shirro’s Plate – Eating Fresh, Mercy Kariuki-McGee

What to expect at the show on Thursday, Feb. 27th:

Doors open at 6:30pm – get a drink, a snack, and play a game
Show starts at 7:30pm – with an intermission in the middle
After party at 9:30pm – celebrate the show with the speakers and organizers

$10 until Feb 13 – $15 after

Announcing Guest Host Sumit Basu – for Ignite Seattle #41

At our last event, we had our second guest host Rovina Broomield. We’ve done this twice now (first was organizer Nicole Steinbok), and it’s been so much fun and they’ve done so well, we’re having one more.

This time, we’re very excited to announce it’s Ignite Seattle alum Sumit Basu. He’ll be the host (formerly called MC) for the evening, introducing the audience to the Ignite format and inviting our speakers to the stage.

Tickets are on sale now (early bird price of $10) and as usual, we expect to sell out, so don’t wait. And talk submissions are currently open, if you have a story or lesson you’d like to share with your city (and the world).

Sumit spoke at Ignite Seattle #37 at the Egyptian about “De-Mystifying The Instant Pot” which you can (and should) watch below.

Announcing Guest MC: Rovina Broomfield – for Ignite Seattle #40

At our #39th event, it worked out so well to have Nicole Steinbok as a guest MC, we’re doing it again for #40.

This time it’s Ignite Seattle alum Rovina Broomfield. She’ll be the master of ceremonies (thats what MC, or emcee, means after all) introducing the audience to the Ignite format and inviting our great lineup of speakers to the stage.

Tickets are on sale now (early bird price of $10) and as usual, we expect to sell out, so don’t wait.

She spoke at #37 at the Egyptian about “So You’re Black In Tech”.

Announcing speakers and stories for Ignite Seattle #43 – March 16th, at Town Hall Seattle

We are excited to announce our speaker lineup for Ignite Seattle #40. We had over 60 submissions from which we picked our lineup of fantastic talks (thanks to all who took time to share their story with us).

Our speaker lineup (not listed in order):

You Don’t Just Need A Friend, You Need A Community! by Christiana Birkeland
Start a Sexual Revolution But Don’t Tell Your Mom by Alisa Eddy
Surviving the Swimmer’s Cemetery by Kate Curtis
Cut My Life Into Pizzas by Tricia Aung
How To Understand Patents – Using Frisbees by Adam Phillipp
Protein polymers and yeast farts: a scientist becomes a baker by Sam Blackman
How Masculinity Culture is Killing Men by Annie Kuo
Online Dating for Men Who Are Not Quite Dead by Eric Holdeman
The Holiday Card Dies with the Horse. by Nancy Hostert-Ruiz
Deal’n Drugs & Save’n Lives in the ER by Fay Hosseini

What to expect at the show:

Doors open at 6:30pm. Get there early for an optional pre-show activity!
Show starts at 7:30pm
One intermission halfway through
Show will end around 9pm

Doors open at 6:30pm (as does the bar). Talks start at 7:30pm, with an intermission.

Buy tickets now.

Announcing speakers and stories for Ignite Seattle #39 – June 6th at Town Hall Seattle

We are supremely pleased to announce our speaker lineup for Ignite Seattle #39. We had over 70 submissions of which we picked 12 fantastic talks (thanks to all who took the time to share their story with us). And we’re excited to return to Town Hall Seattle on Thursday, June 6th, now that their major renovations are finished.

Get your tickets now – just $10 at the early bird price, which ends tomorrow ($5 more after that).

The speakers are amazing. See the list below.
We will sell out. We are currently over 55% sold.
You save $5 now. Buy tickets before May 9 and you get Early Bird pricing.

Here is our excellent lineup (order is to be determined):

Cats, Rats, A.I., Oh My! – Ben Hamm
I’m the weirdo who left the elevator note – Sixta Morel
Design for Conflict – Bonnie Toland
Oh, You’re a Mommy Who Wants to Work. How Sweet. – Nancy Jensen
Fix Evy-thing – Evy Haroldson
An Immigrant’s Battle – Salome Munyaka
You can’t ask a choking man for instructions – Christin Boyd
A transgender band walks into a rural Olympic Peninsula bar… – Ginger Chien
Growing Up Un-Special – Leah Scherschel
Forgive and Remember: How Forgiveness Really Works – Susan Fee
Retiring My “Best Idea” – Emoji Pillows – Roberto Hoyos
Teaching the components of music to autistic people through multiple senses – Kent Godfrey