Rules and Guidelines

Here are the rules and guidelines that Ignite Barrie will follow. We don’t want it to become just another event, but something unique that reflects the spirit and creativity of Barrie.

This is subject to debate and change, so speak up if you have input!

Open and Community Based

Anyone who wants to can participate. As long as you have something interesting, and stick to the format (20 slides for 15 seconds each), you’re good. If you don’t like something about the way Ignite works, and want to change it, let us know. We’ll listen to you, but can’t promise to accommodate every request. We realize this format just may not work for everyone, and that’s fine.

Make it Interesting!

Final presentations will be judged first and foremost on how interesting they are. We’re not targeting a specific “theme” or “feel” for events, and prefer to let that form from the types of submissions received. We, the organizers, don’t pretend to know what “most people” would find interesting, and we don’t think the presenters should worry about that either. If your idea fits the format, and is interesting to at least one person (e.g., you), you’re in.

No Keynotes

All presentations will be given equal standing/billing. Let them differentiate themselves on their own merit and interestingness. We don’t want to have “featured” presenters, keynotes, or special slots for presenters.

Sponsors

We have a wide range of costs including the venue, advertising, and other materials and activities that support the events, and are looking for companies to sponsor upcoming events. Check out our Sponsors page for more details.

Bias/Pitches/Spam

We want Ignite to be about promoting and sharing burning ideas. If those ideas happen to take the form of the company you work for, the startup you’re trying to get funded, or any other self-serving commercial interest, then so be it. We’re fine with it, really. But whatever you present had better be interesting, because that’s what it’s going to be judged on in people’s minds. if you’re going to market to people at Ignite Barrie, you’d better be smart about it. Because if you’re not, it won’t be pretty…

The Rest of the Rules

I guess there have to be some “real” rules in here, somewhere. So, here they are:

  • Selected presenters shouldn’t do anything that’s going to get you or us in trouble. In short, keep your topic legal and don’t be stupid. We try very hard to keep the presentation at a PG-13 level and we ask that all presenters do the same. We don’t want a completely G-rated event, but this is open to the public and presenters should avoid using language and visuals which are graphic, disturbing or suitable only for mature audiences.
  • Presenters cannot present at two Ignite Barrie events in a row. So if you presented at Ignite Barrie #1, you cannot present at Ignite Barrie #2, but may present at Ignite Barrie #3 or beyond. Why do we do this? In order to ensure that we keep the presentations and presenter lineups diverse. However, we know that people have more than one passion, so that’s why we only require presenters to take a one-event hiatus before submitting another presentation idea.
  • The rule above though does not cross over to Ignite Barrie After Hours, or Food, where if you presented at one (ex: Ignite Barrie #1) you are unable to submit to the next event (be it Food or After Hours).

That covers pretty much everything, doesn’t it?

Download Presentation Templates Here

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION TEMPLATE
POWERPOINT PRESENTATION TEMPLATE