Tower Theater packed for Ignite Bend 11

Does giving a five minutes speech to a big crowd sound fun? How about having 20 PowerPoint slides that change every 15 seconds? Then Ignite Bend is the event for you.

The now-annual event has been growing in popularity over the last few years. Wednesday night’s event was the 11th in Bend.

“Presenters have five minutes to talk about whatever,” Ignite Committee member Michelle Roats said. “The slides change every 15 seconds, and we get a new perspective.”

The topics this time ranged from “Being Kind” to “Word from your Mother.” The latter talk was by Bend City Councilor Jodie Barram, who joined in on the fun for the first time Wednesday night.

“My heart just started pounding,” Barram said. “It’s that anxious nervous energy, hoping you are going to do a good job and that the crowd responds to what you are going to say.”

Barram’s entire family was on hand to watch her take on a new and different role and possibly learn a thing or two, as she told the crowd phrases that moms use and what they really mean.

“This is out of that element, so it’s different for sure — and a lot of fun,” Barram said.

Ignite Bend organizers say the event is free, but tickets go very quickly.

“We sell out our tickets online in about 10 minutes,” Roats said. “We also have a limited number of tickets at the door, and as you can see probably when you walked by, there was a line going down the street.”

The words and slides shared with the audience inspired some, made others think, and got a laugh out of many.

“Just having fun — I think that’s what a lot of the people noticed tonight,” Barram said, “All the presenters were having fun.”

For more information to Ignite Bend CLICK HERE