This is essentially the last thing I see before I launch into the opener at each Ignite. I look over at Andrew, wait for my cue, try to forget that more than 800 people are staring at me – and put my withered heart and brittle soul into each note.

 Thanks to Matt Gist for the shot.

Ignite Boulder 7 was our most successful and feverish outing yet. If you aren’t aware, I’m one of a small group of organizers of the event. We work absurdly hard to keep the whole thing in one piece so that everyone can have a nice night of listening, learning and laughing.

Here are a few thoughts. If you were there, I hope you had fun. If you were not there and live nearby, please explain why you would hurt me so in the comments.

Artful heckling is rad; Clumsy heckling is bad
Not everyone is cut out to be a heckler. If you are clever and witty in real-life, you stand a good chance of being a good heckler. Bruce Wyman springs to mind. If you are only clever and witty online, odds are you’re going to be a lame heckler. Drinking exacerbates your shortcomings. So keep that in mind.

People need stimuli
I work in public relations. As a consequence, I think about people all day long. Audiences, demographics, consumers. I am paid to unearth ways to reach humans with something that will trigger a positive reaction. So it’s pretty apt that I regularly open Ignite Boulder with a blast of jolly nonsense (known as “The Sacrificial Deck”) that sets the tone for the evening – expectation, curiosity and surprise.

Powerpoint is poison
Whenever I describe the event to people, I see them get apprehensive the moment I mention Powerpoint. Yes, the event is essentially comprised of 15 or so Powerpoint presentations (for the record, we convert them to Keynote because it’s oodles cooler), but I really must stop describing it that way. I fear that many people don’t give Ignite a chance because Powerpoint is innately boring and there’s no way they would pay $10 for something like that. Can anyone think of a better way to sell someone on Ignite?

(Photo credit: Jason Janelle)

My performance from Ignite Boulder 6 has been posted to the Internets. You can view it below. My voice cracks. I forget my lyrics. I look a little dizzy.

In short, I am a deeply flawed, deeply silly boy.

Big thanks to Craig Kendall for editing the video and adding the sweet graphics.

The next Ignite Boulder is on December 10 - mark yo' calendars!

In just one week, I have achieved the following:

• Made the front page of the Daily Camera.
• Made the front page of the Colorado Daily.
• Performed live at the Boulder Theater.

The cause? Ignite Boulder, a local event that blends slideshow presentations with humor, social value and geek power. I had the honor of being on the planning committee for our 5th outing and pushed myself to make it our finest effort yet. That included amazing local media coverage, a concerted social media push and enough good ideas to make it work.

In all, 741 people packed into the Boulder Theater last night to hear presentations about corn, bacon, and magic. My contribution was a soaring musical opener that set the tone for the rest of the evening: energy, creativity and luck.

I still haven't come down from the high caused by performing for 741 people. I love Boulder and every single person that made it down to the theater for Ignite. I have seldom been in such a good mood.

Now here's a pic of me dressed as an "Igknight of the Round Table," taken only hours ago from the stage:

(Photo credit: Yann Ropars)