#Fail

I want to be quite clear. I adore Chicago. I’ve made it my home. I think the city is beautiful. I love the gorgeous sea of architecture, food, drink and apparently a lot of summer festivals.

But - It lacks.

H and I attended Ignite Chicago this week. For none Ignite educated readers: Ignite is “a high-energy evening of 5-minute talks by people who have an idea—and the guts to get onstage and share it with their hometown crowd.”

Yet that sentence couldn’t be less accurate of what Chicago’s Ignite event was. 

I started my Ignite passion in Lansing, MI. Lansing throws a bangin Ignite event. Talk about high energy…I’m pretty sure they fill the air with happy gas. People are excited, the venue is off the chain, it’s packed full, there are drinks, there are business cards, it’s incredible.

Ignite Chicago….not so much.

The event was held in a conference room on the 15th floor of a skyscraper, on a Wednesday. There was a picnic table of domino’s pizza’s and 2 liter bottles of pop. Everyone stood around awkwardly, not making conversation, and by everyone I mean the maybe 30 people that were there. Then people gradually made their way into a bland room of folding chairs and swivel desk chairs strewn about. People chose their seats, again awkwardness exuded, and stared at the front of the room where a measly projector threw the gorgeous Ignite Logo that I so enjoy on a white screen with a few feet in front of it for presenters. People watched the presentations, they clapped, giggled when necessary, dealt with the cameras that were in our faces to try and make the event look like we loved it, ect. The nine presentations ended, and everyone headed for the elevator.

There wasn’t energy. There wasn’t excitement. There wasn’t passion. It was sad. Meak. Disappointing. 

The presentations were okay. Some better than others…but isn’t that just how it always goes?

H and I decided, then and there, in our own heads because we didn’t want to say it out loud (don’t want to offend anyone) that we were getting involved in the next Ignite Chicago and making it ‘the shit’ that it deserves to be.

I don’t blame the peeps in charge (I mean maybe a little bit..but not entirely) I blame Chicago. Get with it Chicago! There is an entire city of people with the potential to get enthused about life and work and their community. What are they all doing? Getting roudy over a Black Hawks game? I mean I like my teams to win, GO HAWKS!, but I want to see people with passion for their own lives as much as the lives of their sports teams.  So far, Chicago doesn’t have it.

I’ve decided that I semi understand the problem. Chicago is segregated. Passion verse money. Let’s ban together social classes and merge our resources to create a city of power. I know I’m not the only person into startups in the city. Really..I’m not, have you met H? Or my new roomie B-man-man and his counterpart GA? Or my WHOLE OFFICE!? or Ron May? Yeah…everyone in Chicago tech knows Ron. So why aren’t we all hanging out together?

(Actually Ron, you’re not invited, you make me nervous with all your questions and your life goal to kill the dreams of every startup in the universe. You tried to talk to me once at a Tech Cocktail event, I noticed you trying to get my attention, and grabbing my arm to get me to turn around. I was just afraid to talk to you so I pretended I didn’t notice. Sorry about that. Hope all is well!)

Jake - you said it today in your #FF - it’s time for a Gumball Chicago. Let’s make this happen. K? Super.

-C