The Elephant in the Ignite room

on Nov 08 in Bristol, Culture, Digital, News, Projects tagged by Peter Blackman

Why do I support Ignite? In the aftermath of another successful evening of Ignite Bristol at the Tobacco Factory Theatre, I’ve been asked that question a couple of times.

Here’s the official answer, if it were asked of me in a professional capacity.. “Double Art supports Ignite because it replicates, in a real life event, the very best kind of networking for information, expertise and idea sharing that you find online. It’s open and non hierarchical as well as being sharp, opinionated, and to the point.”

A more personal answer is that it is the very antithesis of virtually every awful networking event you have ever been to. At most networking events everyone is in ‘sell’ mode. The elephant in the room is that everyone is there, ultimately, for professional and financial gain. Which makes the atmosphere about as comfortable as it would be if there was an elephant in the room, about to start a stampede after gorging on bar snacks, drinking too many free lagers, and then having its credentials as a social media expert challenged.

At Ignite, everyone is in ‘buy’ mode. Meaning that everyone comes ready to buy into new ideas. But not to buy anything. Of course you get some shameless individuals who try and sell themselves or their businesses. Especially the self styled life coaches and social media experts. You have no idea how many life coaches we get submitting talks about life coaching. There should also be a law against PR people who have reinvented themselves as social media gurus. Thankfully their talks are always terrible because they feel out of step with the spirit and ethos of the night, and the individuals in question just end up looking sad and diminished.

The other great strength of Ignite is that some of the speakers are awful*. It’s unfortunate, but true. It’s inevitable when you consider the format and openness of the submission process. So some of the people who speak are incoherent, but in a befuddled and charming manner. Others clearly haven’t prepared enough, and as a result, get spooked when those charts start to fly by behind them. It’s all part of a good Ignite evening. We all want the speakers to do brilliantly - but, well, sometimes they don’t. Which is OK. Because nobody gets ‘flamed’ or booed at Ignite. It also makes those who have taken care, rehearsed, and are in command of their subject all the more enjoyable.

So come to Ignite. It’s free, and  the next one in Bristol will be in February 2011.  You won’t be sold to - by which I mean that we’ll do our best to ensure that you’re not. You’ll meet some interesting new people - on stage and in the bar. You’ll learn a little bit about a range of different subjects - some of which you might want to follow up. Ignite - it’s a blast.

*I should know. I spoke at Ignite London and was really quite poor.